UK Student Visa Extension and Post-study Options
If you want to remain in the UK to continue your studies or after you have finished studying, you have a few options available to you as an American citizen.
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If you want to stay in the UK to carry on studying or as a graduate, you have a few options available to you. You can apply for a Student Visa extension and remain in the UK if you want to carry on studying on your current course or undertake a different course at the same level.
You will need to meet certain eligibility requirements, the most important of which is to have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from your educational provider.
If you want to remain in the UK after you have graduated, you can apply for the new Graduate Visa, which will be open from the summer of 2021.
How can IAS help?
IAS can help you decide on your best options to stay and advise you on all post-study work visa UK options. Following our initial assessment, your lawyer will perform a full document check and complete your application forms to a professional standard. They will guide you through the application process.
Your lawyer will also prepare a Letter of Representation to accompany your application. This document provides details of your case and its merits, as well as references to relevant UK immigration law. We can help you whether you are applying for a Student Visa extension, a new visa or a Graduate Visa.
Contact the expert lawyers at IAS on +1844 290 6312 or use our online contact form for more information.
Can I Apply for a Student Visa Extension?
If you want to remain in the UK to carry on your studies, you may be able to extend the UK Student Visa. You could apply for a Student Visa extension to carry on studying on your current course, or to begin studying on a new course in the UK.
In order to be eligible for a Student Visa extension, you must:
- Be in the UK on a Student Visa or a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa
- Have been given a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
- Be able to show that your studies will be at a higher academic level than your current course
If you have been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself whilst you are in the UK.
How Do I Need to Show ‘Academic Progress’ to be Eligible?
If you are already in the UK as a student, you may need to show that your new course or continuation of studies will be one of the following:
- At a higher academic level than your current course
- At the same level, and related to, your previous course or career aspirations. (It must be at degree level or higher at a Higher Education Provider)
- Intercalated to a medicine, dentistry or medical science course you started studying under a Student Visa/Tier 4 (General) Visa
However, depending on your circumstances, you may not need to show this information.
When Should I Apply for the Extension?
The earliest you can apply for the extension is 3 months before your course is due to start. Also, you must apply within six months of getting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
It is important to keep in mind that you must apply for the extension before your current visa expires. If you remain in the UK after your visa expires, you will face disciplinary action, including the possibility of deportation.
You must not leave the UK for the U.S (or any other country) whilst you are waiting for a decision on your Student Visa extension application.
What is the Application Process?
You will need to provide certain information and documentation, most of which will be the same as for a standard Student Visa application.
This information includes your valid passport or other travel document, and information about your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
The current fee for a Student Visa extension is £475. You will also need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge. As a student, you will receive a 20% discount on the surcharge, which means you will have to pay £470 per year for the surcharge.
You must apply online for an extension, and it usually takes around eight weeks to receive a decision. However, it might take longer if some of your information needs to be verified, or you are asked to attend an immigration interview.
Can my Family Still Stay with Me?
Yes, your family members/dependents will be able to stay in the UK as a dependent of you.
You can apply to extend your dependent’ visas at the same time as yours. Alternatively, you can apply at a later date, but this must be before the current visa expires.
Their visa expiry dates will be the same date as yours should your applications be successful.
Can I Stay in the UK After my Course Finishes?
The Tier 4 (General) Student Visa was revamped and renamed as the Student Visa in 2020. One of the major changes to the revamped visa was the creation of a post-study immigration route known as the ‘Graduate Visa’.
This visa enables graduates of an undergraduate course (or higher) the opportunity to live, work and look for work in the UK for up to two years. PhD students can stay in the UK for up to three years with this immigration permission.
This new visa route will open in the summer of 2021 and is open to American students graduating from a recognised course in the UK from the summer of 2021.
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Last modified on August 9th, 2021 at 10:20 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
You may not need to show evidence of your new studies as academic progress if one of the following is true:
- You are resitting exams or repeating modules
- You are applying for the first time to complete a course at a new institution which was started at a different institution which subsequently lost its student sponsorship licence
- You are applying after working as a student union sabbatical officer to complete a qualification which you started studying under your last Student Visa/Tier 4 (General) Student Visa
- You are continuing a medical, dentistry or medical science degree after you have completed an intercalated course
- You want to extend your stay in the UK to complete studies because you have, or want to, undertake a work placement or study abroad programme
As a student in the UK, there are certain things which you will not be able to do.
You cannot:
- Claim any benefits
- Be self-employed
- Work in certain jobs such as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
- Study at an academy or a local authority-funded school
Yes, you can work in the UK as a student but there are certain restrictions.
You can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time. Your job must not interfere with your studies.
Also, you cannot carry on working in your job if you stop your studies.
The Immigration Advice Service is a leading immigration law firm operating throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. We are perfectly placed to help American nationals apply for UK visas and visa extensions.
If you are looking to apply for a Student Visa extension, we can support you every step of the way. One of our UK immigration lawyers will work with you through the entire application process, ensuring your application is completed to the very highest standards. This includes full support with your portfolio of evidence.
Visa applications and extensions can be a stressful time. With our expert guidance and support, we can help to melt away some of that stress.
To find out more about how we can help you to continue with your studies in the UK as an American national, please get in touch.