Andrei Bazanov (right) was cared for by foster father Bob Roper
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School pupils have started a petition to protest against the deportation of a 19-year-old illegal immigrant back to Europe's poorest country.
Andrei Bazanov, from Moldova, smuggled himself into the country aged 15, but since then has gained four A-levels and a place at Bournemouth University.
The government now wants to send him back - but a host of ex-teachers and friends say they want him to stay.
Reading West MP Martin Salter said this would boost people smuggling.
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The life I was missing finally started
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Andrei left Moldova after his father died and his mother was taken into a psychiatric hospital.
He was discovered on arrival at Poole and transferred into the care of Bournemouth social services who placed him with a foster family.
"In order to survive in a new society you have to integrate the best you can," said Andrei.
"I learned the language, found friends and got an education. The life I was missing finally started."
'No compassion'
Andrei has just started studying software engineering at Bournemouth University - which he is funding himself - after leaving Bournemouth Grammar School with four A-levels.
"I've been in care so money has been spent on me, but now I'm trying to pay some of it back they don't want to know about it," he added.
It will now be up to a Home Office tribunal to decide if Andrei can stay.
His foster father Bob Roper said: "This is an appeal on compassionate grounds and they are not acting with any compassion."
Martin Salter, MP for Reading West, said the government's policy was clear.
"If exceptions were regularly made once people turned 18 then it would be effectively fuelling the trade in under-age people trafficking in Europe," he said.
"It's an awful dilemma - I'm sure Andrei would make a great contribution," he added.
"This is a pretty heart-rending case, there's no doubt about it."
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