UK releases new visa rules

The United Kingdom government has begun directly contacting tens of thousands of international students with warnings to leave the country once their visas expire or risk forced removal.

According to a BBC report on Tuesday, the Home Office has launched a new campaign targeting a rising number of student visa holders who attempt to remain in the UK by filing asylum claims.

For the first time, students are being proactively contacted via text and email with stern reminders of the consequences of overstaying.

“If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you,” one of the messages reads.

Home Office data shows that about 15 per cent of asylum applications last year—roughly 16,000 cases—came from people who originally entered the UK on student visas. Officials say the trend indicates that some students are abusing the asylum system to prolong their stay after their studies.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the development as “alarming,” stressing that while the UK will continue to support genuine refugees, students should not exploit the system.

“Some are claiming asylum even when nothing has changed in their home country,” Cooper said. “We must protect our asylum system from misuse, and that includes ensuring students leave when their visas end.”

Around 10,000 students whose visas are near expiry have already received direct warnings, while a further 130,000 students and their families are expected to be contacted in the coming months, coinciding with the autumn intake.

The crackdown comes as part of wider Labour government reforms tightening immigration rules. In May, the Home Office announced stricter thresholds for universities on visa refusal and course completion rates to retain their international student sponsorship rights.

Of the 108,000 asylum applications filed in the UK last year, about 40,000 came from legal entrants, including students, workers, and visitors—outnumbering applications from irregular arrivals such as small boat crossings.

Student visa holders made up the largest group among legal entrants applying for asylum, with claims nearly six times higher than in 2020. Though the figure has dipped slightly in the past year, ministers say further reductions are necessary to ease pressure on the asylum system.

The government has also shortened the post-study visa period for overseas graduates from two years to 18 months, further limiting the time students can legally remain in the UK after completing their education.