Nearly 6,000 Pakistani Students in UK Have Applied for Asylum

More than 5,000 Pakistani students have applied for asylum in the UK, as the government launched a new campaign against overstaying foreign students.

According to Home Office figures, around 14,800 asylum claims in the past year came from people who had first entered the UK on study visas. Out of these, Pakistan accounted for 5,700 applications, followed by India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria.

The Home Office has launched a direct messaging campaign, sending thousands of students emails and texts warning they will face deportation if they remain after their visa expires. Officials say the step comes after a sharp rise in applications from students at the end of their courses.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that some students are applying for asylum “even when things haven’t changed in their home country.” She said many remain in the asylum system for years, creating pressure on accommodation and hotels.

“We obviously will do our bit to support genuine refugees,” Cooper added, “but if nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course.”

READ MORE: Pakistan Migrants Using Fake Documents to Get UK Visas

So far, 10,000 students with expiring visas have already been contacted, while tens of thousands more will receive similar warnings this autumn. The message states: “If you submit an asylum claim that lacks merit, it will be swiftly and robustly refused.”

The British government has also tightened student visa rules. Universities now face stricter conditions to keep their sponsorship licences and overseas graduates will only be allowed to stay 18 months after finishing their studies, down from the previous two years.

In a further move, new applications for family reunification for asylum seekers have been suspended.