The Compliance Reality: International Student Data
The Compliance Reality
Do international students cost the country or contribute to it?
Data from the UK, USA, and Australia reveals that the "Overstay Myth" contradicts statistical reality.
The "97% Rule" of Global Compliance
Across major Anglophone destinations, the vast majority of students leave or extend their visas legally.
Departed on time or granted legal extension (ONS/Home Office Exit Checks).
Only 3.6% of F-1/M-1 students overstayed their visa terms (DHS Entry/Exit Data).
Germany wants students to stay. A 40-50% retention rate is a policy success, not a failure.
Visa Overstay Rates (Estimated)
Percentage of students with no record of departure after visa expiry.
The UK Economic Balance Sheet
Comparing net economic contribution vs. estimated public cost.
The "Health Tourist" Myth
In the UK, students pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (£776/yr) upfront. In Australia and the USA, mandatory private insurance (OSHC) is required. They are net funders of health systems, not drains.
The Canadian Context
Canada has seen a rise in asylum claims (~1.5% of students), but this remains a small minority. The vast majority use the legal PGWP (Post-Grad Work Permit) route designed by the government to retain talent.
The "Brain Gain" Strategy
Germany and South Korea actively design visas to keep students. They view the departure of a graduate as a "lost investment," contrasting sharply with the Anglo-Saxon "migration fear" narrative.