Foreign students warned not to overstay visas

Tens of thousands of foreign students are being contacted directly by the government and told they will be removed from the UK if they overstay their visas.

The Home Office launched the new government campaign in response to what it has called an “alarming” spike in the number of international students arriving legally on student visas then claiming asylum when they expire.

As part of the campaign, the Home Office has for the first time proactively contacted international students directly by text and email.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC some international students are claiming asylum “even when things haven’t changed in their home country”.

Around 15% of asylum applications in the UK last year, some 16,000, came from people who arrived on a study visa, according to Home Office data.