The brothers fled the Taliban in Afghanistan
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An Afghan asylum seeker who studied in Bristol before winning a place at Oxford University is appealing against efforts to deport him and his brother.
Azim Ansari, 18, fled the Taliban with his brother Wali in 2001 and was granted extended leave to stay in the UK until August 2003.
A further extension was refused and Mr Ansari is now appealing, but faces deportation if unsuccessful.
The Home Office told the BBC that it could not comment on individual cases.
Azim gained two As and a B in physics, maths and computing at the City of Bristol College and is currently studying engineering at St John's College.
He said: "It is not safe in Afghanistan now. I want to finish my education. I have put so much hard work into it. This government has invested in me for my studies.
"I can't focus at the moment. I am here to work as hard as I can, but because of all the court hearings and my unknown future, I can't focus or concentrate as much as I want to. We are positive as long as people support us."
Paulette North, from Bristol defend the asylum seekers campaign, said: "If Azim's case is turned down, he faces being put in a detention centre and deportation."
Mr Ansari's case, heard before an adjudicator and a home office representative, was postponed on Thursday to mid-December at his request to give his solicitor more time to prepare.
Ms North added: "We are striving to get him indefinite leave to stay.
Parents
"He would then move to refugee status, which has a different set of rules, and after four years, could apply for British citizenship.
"Two or three years ago we were more hopeful as the system was not in the state it is in now.
"The hearings have become quite political and a game of numbers.
"We play each one as it comes."
Government conditions
A Home Office spokeswoman added: "Prior to April 2003 we were unable to enforce the return of failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan as the country was deemed to be too unstable.
"Our assessment of the situation is that now we are able to return single men safely.
"The asylum system is purely about providing protection to people who would be in danger were we not to do so.
"It is not about helping people to study or gain employment. Any foreign nationals wishing to pursue a bona fide course of study in this country can apply for a visa from their home country."
If Mr Ansari were to be deported and apply for this visa, he would need:
To have been accepted on a course of higher education
Say that he intends to leave the UK at the end of his studies
"Does not intend to engage in business or to take employment, except part time or vacation work undertaken with the consent of the Secretary of State for Employment"
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Two or three years ago we were more hopeful as the system was not in the state it is in now
