“Leave or we’ll remove you” — UK authorities to students with expired visas

The United Kingdom (UK) authorities have warned international students who overstay their visas to leave the country or risk facing deportation.

According to the BBC, the UK authority have contacted about 10,000 students, whose visas are due to expire, to leave the country as soon as possible.

The authorities also declared that asylum claims would be swiftly refused should they be determined that they lacked merit.

This is an initiative, as described by the minister, to curb the idea of students applying for asylum, which he said is on an exponential increase.

According to data from the Home Office, between July 2024 to June 2025, 41,100 asylum claims were lodged by people who entered the UK legally on visas, with students making up the largest group.

The stats further showed that in 2024, 16,000 asylum claims were filed by international students, nearly six times the figure recorded in 2020.

While acknowledging that the number had reduced significantly, the authorities insist that they look forward to a drastic reduction in the numbers.

Earlier this year, the UK cut the length of time foreign graduates can remain in the country after completing their studies, from two years to 18 months.