The student visa break: Our letter to the Home Office and their response
On 4 March 2026, the Home Office announced that they would be applying an “emergency brake” on student visas from Afghanistan, Sudan. Cameroon and Myanmar. The Government cited an increase in asylum applications by students from these countries as justification for this decision.
As the Russell Group Students’ Unions, we strongly oppose these measures. They are disproportionate and risk causing significant harm to prospective students seeking to study at UK universities, including those participating in prestigious programmes such as the Chevening Scholarship. In response (full letter below), we wrote to the Home Secretary urging the Government to:
Immediately reverse the decision to suspend visas from the four affected countries.
Remove international students from the net migration figures.
Meet with sector representatives to discuss the role of higher education within your ministerial portfolio and how we can work together to support students.
In April, the Home Office responded, maintaining that the measures are proportionate given the rising costs associated with supporting asylum seekers and the planned introduction of new safe and legal routes for asylum - although these routes have yet to come into effect.
While we remain firmly opposed to both the policy and the rationale behind it, we welcome the Home Office’s engagement with the sector. At RGSU, we will continue to engage with Ministers and policymakers to protect the rights and opportunities of international students across the UK.