The UK government has launched a crackdown on international students who remain in the country after their visas expire, following similar action against asylum seekers.
According to British media, foreign students have been warned that overstaying their visa will result in deportation. The Home Office has reportedly issued thousands of warnings through emails and text messages to students whose visas are nearing expiry.
Officials explained that this move comes in response to a sharp rise in asylum applications from students after their visas lapsed.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the government had even received asylum claims from students whose home countries had seen no significant change in circumstances.
Reports revealed that over the past year, nearly 14,800 asylum requests were submitted by individuals who originally entered the UK on study visas. Among them, Pakistani students topped the list with 5,700 applications, followed by applicants from India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria.
It is worth noting that just a day earlier, the British government temporarily suspended new applications for refugee family reunification. The Home Secretary clarified that, for the time being, asylum seekers will not be able to file fresh requests for bringing their families to the UK.