In a significant move to curb illegal immigration, the UK Home Office has announced that international students who overstay their visas face the looming threat of deportation. This warning is part of a newly launched campaign that marks a first for the government, as officials begin reaching out to students directly through text messages and emails.

According to reports from the BBC, approximately 10,000 students nearing the expiration of their visas have already received these urgent notifications. The Home Office plans to extend this outreach to tens of thousands more in the coming months. The message conveyed is clear: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you,” it states. The notice further cautions that asylum claims deemed “lacking merit” will be swiftly rejected.

This initiative follows what the government describes as an “alarming” increase in asylum applications from students whose visas have expired. Data from the Home Office reveals that from July 2024 to June 2025, 41,100 asylum claims were made by individuals who entered the UK legally with visas, with students representing the largest group. Notably, 16,000 asylum claims were filed by international students in 2024, marking an almost sixfold increase compared to 2020. Despite a recent decline of about 10 percent in these claims, government ministers are determined to see this trend continue downward.

In parallel with these measures, the UK has also altered the regulations regarding post-study work opportunities. Earlier this year, the duration for which foreign graduates can remain in the country after completing their studies was reduced from two years to just 18 months, further tightening immigration controls.