Planned changes contained in the UK government's Immigration White Paper risk hurting students and others from Hong Kong, imposing new and unfair roadblocks to integration for British National (Overseas) visa holders. Use the tool below to email your MP and help us ensure that every student, regardless of where they come from, has a fair chance to thrive.

The British National (Overseas) status is a special type of British nationality created in 1987 as part of the UK’s preparations for the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. Residents of Hong Kong who registered for BNO status were granted a 'BNO passport', which serves as a travel document and offers consular protection but does not grant the automatic right to live or work in the UK.

In 2020, the Chinese Government imposed the National Security Law on Hong Kong, which was widely regarded as violating previous international agreements and the human rights of Hong Kong residents. In response, the UK introduced the BNO visa scheme, a humanitarian pathway that allows BNO status holders and their families to live, work, and study in the UK, with a route to settlement after five years.

However, controversial measures contained in the UK government's Immigration White Paper risk undermining this scheme, including the proposed doubling of the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) requirement from five to ten years, and the shortening of the Graduate visa to just 18 months. 

Since the scheme’s launch, over 180,000 Hong Kongers have relocated to the UK, including thousands of students seeking safety and opportunity. Yet despite the humanitarian intent, BNO students are still classified as international, meaning they must pay significantly higher tuition fees until they qualify for ILR.

Here’s the catch: while BNO students in Scotland can access home fee status after just three years, BNO students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland must wait five years and now, potentially ten. That’s a decade of financial strain and uncertainty, simply to access the same education as their peers.

On September 8th at 4:30pm, Westminster will debate whether to retain the five-year ILR rule for BNO visa holders. NUS UK is urging MPs to attend and advocate for home fee status and student finance eligibility. This isn’t just about policy, it’s about principle. In February, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed concern over the barriers BNO visa holders face, calling for guaranteed access to education and financial support.

Now is the time to act. If you believe in equality, opportunity, and justice, email your MP today and ask them to stand with BNO students.