FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2026
London, UK: A UK Parliament petition is calling for a review of more than £114 million in potential international student visa overcharging, following independent research by Inforens into a legislative drafting error was acknowledged by the Home Office. The petition urges the Government to identify affected students, notify those impacted and establish a clear, accessible refund process where appropriate.
The campaign began after Inforens identified concerns relating to UK Student and Child Student visa fees and launched an investigation into the potential impact on international students. The issue was originally highlighted by the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, and the Home Office has acknowledged that a drafting error existed in the legislation.
To assess the scale of the issue, Inforens launched its Fairness & Transparency Survey reaching out to International Students across UK universities. Responses received from students at more than 40 UK universities, representing over 10 nationalities, provide insights into student awareness, experiences and the potential extent of the overcharges.
The petition calls on the UK Government to:
- Review student visa applications that may have been affected by the overcharges.
- Notify all individuals who may have been impacted.
- Establish a transparent and accessible process for refunds where appropriate.
The petition is now open for public signatures. Once this petition receives 10,000 signatures, it will necessitate an official Government response, while reaching 100,000 signatures will put it forward for consideration for debate in Parliament.
International students make a substantial contribution to the UK’s higher education sector and economy. More than 1.4 million international students have studied at UK higher education institutions over the past two academic years. Based on Home Office data and prudent modelling assumptions, Inforens estimates that visa fee overcharges would likely have exceeded £114 million during that period.
“This campaign is about fairness, transparency and accountability,” said Yash Gulati, Founder and CEO of Inforens. “International students deserve to know whether they were affected, how these overcharges occurred and, where appropriate, to have access to a straightforward refund process.”
Inforens will continue working with students, universities, policymakers and the media to raise awareness, gather evidence and promote greater transparency on issues affecting international students.
Petition link - Review and refund overcharged UK Student and Child Student visa fees - Petitions
Relevant links -
Text extract from the above link:
Refund requests must be made within five years of payment. Former students who’ve since graduated and left the UK can also claim refunds, as the Home Office’s five-year window runs from the date of payment, not the date of your visa’s expiration.
Text extract from the above link:
The Home Office has allegedly overcharged international students for visa fees in excess of the amount prescribed by law since 2023. According to an analysis from The Times, an estimated £120 million in surplus has been accumulated by the Home Office from student visa applicants to the UK.
This error was reported by the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC), who pointed out that the Home Office has raised immigration service fees beyond the amount prescribed by the legislation.
3. https://www.hallamstudentsunion.com/news/article/6013/uk-visa-overpayment/
4. Manchester - https://manchesterstudentsunion.com/news/article/international-student-visa-refunds-university-of-manchester-students
About Inforens
Inforens is a student support and advocacy organisation dedicated to improving transparency, trust and informed decision-making for international students. Through independent research, data analysis and evidence-based advocacy, Inforens works to strengthen the international student experience across higher education.
Media Enquiries
Lavina Dixit
Inforens Communications Director
lavina@inforens.com