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The Immigration & International Student Advice team can offer you information and advice on extending your stay in the UK.
If you already have a UK Visa but want to stay in the country longer, or your circumstances have changed and you need to extend your stay, you may be able to do so. Visa extensions depend on your visa type (and therefore your reason for travel). In some instances, you can’t get an extension but you can switch to another visa if you fulfil the requirements. In others, you must leave the country and apply for another UK Visa from home. Failure to meet the requirements of your visa in the UK can result in you being barred from entering the UK in the future, so it is essential that you understand the rules surrounding your visa and that you abide by them.
In some cases UK visa extensions may be applied for by the candidate themselves, as with Tier 1. However, in other cases for example applying for a UK work permit extension, the application procedure is an employer led one.
IXP Visas, as a UK immigration consultancy can advise you on the right route to immigration to the UK for your needs. Our UK immigration law consultants can assist at all stages of your application for a UK visa, or for a visa extension service and can provide everything you will need including UK immigration lawyer expertise and a comprehensive package of on arrival services. We have been handling UK Visas and associated extensions since 1996, and have a team of OISC regulated advisers ready to handle your immigration case of provide advocacy services if you should need them.
If you have a Tier 1 Visa, you will need to meet the criteria for further leave to remain in the UK in order to extend your current visa.
You will also need to demonstrate proficiency in the English Language by providing either an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score at above band 6, or documentary evidence of a Bachelors’ degree taught in English.
In addition, you will need to reach a points threshold on a points based system similar to that used in your original application.
In terms of education, the points system is the same as that for original applications. However, age is weighted differently to take account of the time elapsed between the original visa application and the new one. Previous earnings will also be considered, based on the length of the original visa granted and will differ as to whether the visa was granted for less or more than 12 months.
The term 'extension' can be misleading with regard to a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (also known as UK Working Holiday). A Youth Mobility Scheme Visa may be granted for up to 2 years. In cases where an applicant was granted less than this, an extension may be applied for. However, this type of visa is only granted once and if you have already had the full 2-year visa you can’t extend it or apply for another Youth Mobility Visa again.
Staying in the United Kingdom beyond this period will require a UK Visit Visa application (often known as a Travel Visa or Tourist Visa) which does not allow you to work in the UK. To find out which is the best pathway for you, you should speak to one of our trained advisors so that we can provide personal advice based on your specific circumstances.
A Tier 4 Student Visa may be extended by applying for Further Leave to Remain. In order to do so, you must demonstrate that you want to stay in the UK to continue your studies, that you have successfully completed your original course of study, and that you will be able to support yourself financially throughout your time in Britain. You will need to apply for an extension well before your original visa expires to ensure you can remain in the UK.