UK warns foreign students on overstaying as deportation drive begins

The United Kingdom has launched a new campaign warning international students that overstaying their visas could lead to deportation.

The Home Office confirmed on Monday that it has begun sending direct messages to students by text and email, marking the first time such an approach has been deployed.

According to the BBC, about 10,000 students whose visas are close to expiring have already received the warning, with tens of thousands more expected to be contacted in the coming months.

“If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you,” the Home Office message reads. It also cautions that asylum claims “lacking merit” will be rejected without delay.

The initiative comes amid what ministers have described as a troubling surge in asylum applications from students whose visas have expired.

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Official figures show that between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 41,100 asylum claims were lodged by people who had initially entered the UK legally on visas, with international students forming the largest group.

In 2024 alone, 16,000 students filed asylum claims — nearly six times the figure recorded in 2020. While the number has since declined by about 10 percent, ministers insist the drop is not sufficient and further reductions are needed.

The Home Office also noted that asylum applications from skilled worker visa holders have fallen, contrasting with the trend among students.

Earlier this year, the government tightened post-study visa rules, reducing the period foreign graduates can remain in the country after completing their studies from two years to 18 months.

Officials say the latest campaign underscores the government’s determination to prevent visa abuse and restore confidence in the UK’s immigration system.