Some 130,000 students and their families in total are due to be messaged via text or email reminding them that their visa is coming to an end, with an explicit warning that bogus asylum claims will be refused.

The message, which has already been sent to 10,000 students, reads: “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.”

It forms part of a raft of measures announced today to crack down on what the Home Office has called an “alarming” increase in the number of international students applying for asylum when their visas are nearing expiry.

In May, the government’s immigration white paper took aim at this trend, pointing out that half of all asylum claims for people already in the UK on a legitimate visa route were people issued a study visa. However, a closer look at Home Office data shows that students only account for 16% of all asylum claims.

If you submit an asylum claim that lacks merit, it will be swiftly and robustly refused
_{^{Text to international students}}

Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper claimed that some international students were applying for asylum “even when things haven’t changed in their home country” and staying in the UK for years afterwards, which then has a knock-on effect on existing asylum accommodation.

She said that while the UK government wants to support “genuine refugees”, students should not be claiming asylum at the end of their program if nothing has changed in their country while they have been studying abroad.

“We need to clamp down on that kind of abuse, and that’s why we’re sending these messages – to be very clear to people the asylum system is not for people who just want to extend their visas,” she said.

In response, the University and College Union general secretary, Jo Grady, called the measures an “attack on international students” that had “very little to do with visa overstays” and more to to with the ruling Labour party “aping” the anti-immigration Reform party, which has been gaining popularity in the UK.

‘With [Reform leader Nigel] Farage talking up mass deportations and migrant prison camps, Labour continuing to demonise immigrants and refugees isn’t just immoral, it’s political suicide,” she added.

“Labour will never outflank Reform on division and bigotry. They should instead be making the case for a welcoming and economically strong Britain, of which international students and a world-leading higher education sector are an integral part.’

Although the latest data released around the time of the immigration white paper suggests students made up 16% of asylum claims, according to the Home Office this is six times as many students who claimed asylum five years ago.

This number has dropped by 10% since the immigration white paper was released – but the government is still keen for this trend to continue.

Those arriving on student visas, around 16,000, were the biggest group in this cohort.

International education has undergone seismic change in recent years. Technology has reshaped how students discover universities, how families make life-changing decisions, and how agents deliver trusted services. Yet, in this evolving landscape, one truth has become clear: success is no longer measured only by scale or speed, but by the integrity and impact of the ecosystem you build. Few embody this ethos better than Rahul Sachdeva, founder of Unizportal, UnizHome, and XTravel World.

Sachdeva’s story begins not in a global capital, but in Karnal, Haryana. From this small town, he has built ventures now valued at over ₹500 crores, connecting students with opportunities across 1,200+ global universities. His journey is compelling not because of the numbers, but because of the vision: technology as a bridge between aspiration and access, anchored in trust.

A platform beyond applications

Unizportal was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, when physical counselling offices were shuttered. Instead of seeing disruption as a setback, Sachdeva identified an opportunity: create a centralized, digital-first platform where students could safely engage with verified education agents and where agents could manage applications transparently.

But Unizportal has grown far beyond student applications. Today, the ecosystem includes UnizHome, offering secure, pre-verified student accommodation abroad, and XTravel World, a travel-tech solution designed for education consultants and agents to manage flights, group bookings, and commissions. By weaving these services together, Sachdeva is not just solving one pain point—he is building a comprehensive infrastructure that supports students before departure, at arrival, and beyond.

Building trust through transparency

One reason the study abroad industry has often faced scrutiny is the lingering perception of opacity in admissions, visas, and payments. Unizportal tackles this head-on by making every step 100% digital and traceable. Students and parents can track progress in real time; agents are held accountable through the system; even Sachdeva’s own team operates exclusively within the platform.

This commitment to transparency signals a model for the future—one where technology safeguards trust at scale.

From brain drain to brain gain 2.0

Critics often ask whether sending students abroad drains India of its brightest minds. Sachdeva offers a different lens. The diaspora, he notes, contributes over $100 billion annually in remittances. Many return as entrepreneurs, innovators, or university collaborators. The industry also fuels job creation within India – spanning visa experts, EdTech teams, and travel services. Platforms like Unizportal amplify this by empowering thousands of small-town agents to grow sustainable businesses, extending the benefits of global mobility deep into India’s economy.

Success with purpose

Perhaps what sets Sachdeva apart most is his insistence that impact is inseparable from business. UnizHome, for example, has pledged its first two years of profits to support girl child education in India. This is not a CSR afterthought; it is embedded in the business model itself. “Success is not just numbers or revenue,” Sachdeva reflects, “it is when a student from a small town says, ‘Because of your team, I made it to Canada.’”

A voice of the future

Rahul Sachdeva represents a new kind of leadership: visionary, yes, but also deeply values-driven. He is creating ecosystems that enable growth while insisting on accountability and social responsibility.

In an industry sometimes criticized for being transactional, Sachdeva reminds us that the real measure of success lies in the lives transformed and the trust sustained. His story is not just inspiration – it is a blueprint for what the future of international education should look like: impact with integrity.

In a bold move to revolutionize early childhood education, The Banyan, India’s premier preschool and daycare provider, has announced the integration of artificial intelligence across its centers.

Specifically designed to enhance learning for children aged 6 months to 12 years, the AI companion includes features such as voice recognition, sentiment detection, and personalized learning adaptation. Its introduction signifies a paradigm shift in education, making The Banyan an industry trailblazer.

With the global AI in childcare market on a steep rise, The Banyan stands at the forefront, offering advanced interactive learning experiences while prioritizing child safety through comprehensive safeguards and parental controls.

(With inputs from agencies.)