UK Government Warns Overseas Students on Visa Overstay and Asylum Risks

London, Sep 2 (PTI) — The British government has initiated a direct messaging campaign targeting overseas students, including those from India, to warn against overstaying their visas or seeking asylum in the UK as their study visas near expiration. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed the House of Commons on Monday to outline her plan to revamp a “broken” asylum system, including a comprehensive overhaul of the appeals process.

The 'Immigration White Paper' released earlier this year highlighted a range of concerns surrounding the “misuse and exploitation of student visas”, contributing to a rise in asylum claims from international students at the conclusion of their courses. "We are implementing a series of practical measures to restore order and control to the immigration system," Cooper stated in an interview with the BBC.

According to Cooper, up to 15,000 students annually apply for asylum as their study visas expire, without any substantial change occurring in their home countries. These students often end up staying in the asylum system for years, exacerbating issues with accommodation resources, including a reliance on hotels. “Such misuse needs to be curbed,” Cooper emphasized.

Direct messages from the Home Office are slated to reach thousands of international students at UK universities, serving as a deterrent to potential violations of visa conditions. The messages specify that any request for asylum support will be rigorously evaluated against “destitution criteria” and strongly advise students lacking legal status in the UK to exit the country voluntarily or face deportation.

Latest UK government statistics show a record 111,000 asylum claims in the year ending June 2025, the largest number since records began in 1979. Previously, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis have led the list of claimants who entered the UK on valid visas. The data also indicated a decrease of 11 percent in Indian student visa grants, totaling 98,014 for the year ending June 2025, compared to the prior year.

The National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK stated that the government’s initiatives are beneficial for safeguarding the immigration system from abuse, thereby supporting thousands of sincere international students. “The majority of Indian students in the UK adhere to their visa conditions and contribute positively to UK universities, the economy, and society,” remarked NISAU UK chair Sanam Arora.

“To students, our advice is straightforward: comply with your visa conditions, be aware that there is no need for panic, and contact NISAU for assistance if needed." Arora assured.

Home Office data from 2024 showed Indian nationals ranking sixth among the top 10 nationalities seeking asylum in the UK, accounting for only 1 percent of granted cases. In contrast, Pakistanis and Afghans had a 53 percent grant rate and Iranians 64 percent. Syria, Eritrea, and Sudan had the highest rates of grants.

The issue of asylum has been a contentious topic as the Home Office faces legal challenges regarding the accommodation of asylum seekers in hotels, with opposition parties intensifying calls for the Labour government to hasten deportations.

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