Are you a student studying in the UK? If so, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to extend your Student Visa. Navigating the process of extending your Student Visa in the UK can be a complex task, but fear not! In this blog post, we will guide you through the detailed steps on how to successfully extend your student visa.
So, if you’re ready to ensure your stay in the UK remains uninterrupted, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about extending your Student Visa in the UK.
Check this out if you are interested in studying in the UK:
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What is Student Route?
On September 10, 2020, UK Visas and Immigration introduced the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 707, which brought about a comprehensive reform of the student visa system. This bill officially came into effect on October 5, 2020. The Tier 4 (General) and Tier 4 (Child) Routes have been replaced by the new student visas known as the Student and Child Student Routes. These visas are designed for all international students, irrespective of their EU or non-EU status, who wish to pursue their studies in the UK.
The primary objective of these changes is to simplify the visa application process, ease the requirements for proof of funds and language proficiency, allow applicants to apply within 6 months of their intended travel to the UK, and facilitate easier transitions between different visa types.
This visa category is specifically tailored for individuals who intend to come to the UK for educational purposes. As long as you have received an acceptance letter from a UK educational institution eligible to admit international students, and can demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency and financial capability, you are eligible to apply for a student visa.
When Can I Apply to Extend My Student Visa in the UK?
If you are applying to extend your visa in the UK, it is important to note that you must submit your application within 6 months of receiving your new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), but not earlier than 3 months before the start date of your course as indicated on your CAS. To illustrate, let’s say you receive your new CAS on October 1, 2022, and your classes are scheduled to start on June 1, 2023. If your current visa expires on April 1, 2023, then you can only apply for the visa extension between March 1, 2023, and April 1, 2023.
When extending your visa within the UK, it is essential that your new course commences within 28 days. If you are transitioning from another type of visa to a Student Visa, you must apply before your existing visa expires.
What Do I Need to Extend My Student Visa in the UK?
- You need to be in the UK.
- Obtain an Unconditional Offer from a UK university that accepts international students. The Unconditional Offer from a government-recognized institution can be exchanged for a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), which is required for applying for a student visa. This document is crucial for student visa applications in the UK or any other country.
- Prepare documents that demonstrate sufficient funds to support your studies in the UK. The most common method is to provide evidence of having enough money in your bank account.
Tips on Certificates of Deposit
- Regarding the date of application: If you are applying online, the date of your application is considered the date when you pay the visa fee online.
- Regarding the 28-day deposit requirement: The bank deposit slip, current account statement, or certificate of deposit must demonstrate that the required funds have been deposited for a minimum of 28 consecutive days leading up to the date of paying the visa application fee online. The final balance date on the document should fall within 31 days prior to the payment date of the visa fee. For instance, if you pay the visa application fee online on December 1, 2022, the bank deposit slip, current account statement, or certificate of deposit should show that you held the funds for at least 28 days, with the final balance date falling between November 1 and November 30, 2022.
- Regarding the amount of money to save: In addition to your tuition fees (as stated on the CAS), you need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses for the academic year leading up to your graduation, or, if you are not yet graduating, for the next academic year.
Examples of Certificates of Deposit
Tom, who will graduate from graduate school in September of this year, needs a visa in March. He must provide evidence that he has sufficient funds to cover his tuition fees until September.
Jerry, on the other hand, will be graduating from undergraduate school in September of next year but requires a visa in August of this year. He needs to prove that he has enough tuition fees to cover the following year’s expenses.
The UK government has set the latest living costs at around £1,334 per month for 1 month and £12,006 for 9 months in Inner London, as well as £1,023 per month for 1 month and £9,207 for 9 months in Outer London. You can find detailed information regarding living costs in the official statement. The tuition fee can be found on the Offer Letter or CAS Letter provided by the school.
Therefore:
Students living in Inner London need to prepare: Tuition fees + (9 months x £1,334 per month living expenses = £12,006)
Students living in Outer London need to prepare: Tuition fees + (9 months x £1,023 per month living expenses = £9,207)
What Application Materials Do I Need to Prepare to Extend My Student Visa in UK?
- CAS Letter
- Valid passport
- BRP (Biometric Residence Permit)
- Recent photo ID: 45mm x 35mm color photo. No sunglasses, hats, or bandanas. Both ears should be visible, and there should be no excessive facial expression, open mouth, or exposed teeth. The height of the headshot (from chin to top of head) should be at least 29mm. The background color should be white or light grey, and your name should be written on the back of the photo.
- Completed application form
- ATAS Certificate (Academic Technology Approval Scheme)
- Written consent from your sponsor for the last 12 months (if applicable)
How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a Student Visa?
Application Fee
When Applying for a Visa, You Can Choose Between Different Service Levels:
- Standard Service: Visa result within 8 weeks, costing £490.
- Priority Service: Visa result within 5 working days, costing £990.
- Super Priority Service: Visa result within 1 working day, costing £1,290 (£1,490 as of October 4, 2023).
Medical Surcharge
According to the Latest UK Government Policy:
From April 6, 2015, non-EEA citizens applying to come to the UK for work, study, or family reunion for more than 6 months are required to pay a medical surcharge. Those who have paid the surcharge are entitled to the same National Health Service (NHS) benefits as UK permanent residents. The medical surcharge is £624 per year and £470 per year for students. Accompanying family members are usually required to pay the same amount as the main applicant. Note: Applicants must pay the surcharge online before submitting their visa application. If your visa application is rejected, the medical surcharge you previously paid will be automatically refunded. Additionally, there is no need to provide proof of a tuberculosis test when applying for a renewed student visa in the UK.
Bio-data Entry
All applicants are obligated to provide personal biometric information, which includes fingerprint entry and photographs. Starting from August 1, 2021, applicants will no longer be permitted to visit Post Office Branches for this purpose. Instead, they will need to schedule an appointment at the Service and Support Center (SSC) or the UK Visas and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) Centre. There is no fee for the biometric data entry process.
How Long Does It Take to Receive the Results of My Student Visa Application?
While the current online information states that the visa result can be obtained within 8 weeks, it is normal to receive the outcome within 6 months. Additionally, starting from April 15, 2015, the UK implemented a bio-information card policy for Chinese nationals applying to stay in the UK for 6 months or longer. All visas are issued in the form of Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), which is an official card. It is crucial to keep the BRP as losing it is equivalent to not having a visa anymore, and you will need to apply for a reissue. For more information about the UK BRP card, you can refer to the article provided by our team.
FAQ
If you have a Tier 4 (General) or Student visa in the UK, you can extend it to continue your current course or pursue a new one. To be eligible for an extension, meet these requirements:
- Be in the UK on a Student or Tier 4 (General) visa.
- Obtain an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
- Show that your intended course is of a higher academic level than your current one, with some exceptions.
International students in the UK or those applying for a student visa can bring their family members under the Student Dependent Visa UK. This visa permits spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, and children under 18 to apply for a dependent visa and join the student in the UK. To qualify, the student must be enrolled full-time in a recognized UK educational institution and hold a valid Tier 4 (General) Student Visa.
The cost of applying for a Student visa from outside the UK is £490, and the same fee applies for extending or switching to a Student visa from inside the UK.
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