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Thousands of international students have been instructed by authorities in the United Kingdom to leave the country when their visas expire or face removal.
The BBC reported on Tuesday that a new campaign aimed at tackling what it describes as an “alarming” rise in student visa holders attempting to stay in the UK by claiming asylum has been launched by the Home Office.
In an unprecedented move, the government is reaching out to students proactively through text and email to issue formal warnings about the consequences of overstaying.
The development comes amid concerns that students in Whitehall use the asylum system as a way to remain in the country after the conclusion of their studies.
According to the BBC, the students got the following message: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who spoke with the BBC, revealed that some students are “claiming asylum even when things have not changed in their home country.”
“We obviously will do our bit to support genuine refugees, but if nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course,” she added.
Cooper further disclosed that the growing number of students entering the asylum system is placing added pressure on already overstretched asylum accommodation and hotel services.
“If you submit an asylum claim that lacks merit, it will be swiftly and robustly refused.
“Any request for asylum support will be assessed against destitution criteria. If you do not meet the criteria, you will not receive support.
“If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you,” the full message to the students reads, as reported by the BBC.
