How to extend your visa after a Tier 4 student visa?
Staying in the UK after graduation
[ssbp] Updated: April 2016After you finish your studies, you can switch to several different visa categories from inside the UK:
Option 1. Tier 2 General
This is the route to take employment after you graduate. The initial visa is granted for up to three years with a right to extend it further, as long as your total stay is not more than six years. After five years, you have a right to apply for an indefinite leave to remain.
Your employer should be listed as a Tier 2 Sponsor and provide you a certificate of sponsorship.
The job you’re offered as a graduate must have a particular skills level and pay £20,800 or more, depending on the job.
To apply within the UK, you need to demonstrate that you have been awarded a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a UK university, a postgraduate certificate in education or a professional graduate diploma of education (PGDE). Otherwise you must leave the UK and make your application from abroad.
Maintenance funds: You need to show that you can support yourself during your stay. The requirement is £945 continuously held on your bank account for 90 days before you apply. Alternatively if you sponsor is A-rated, you can provide your sponsor’s certification that they can support and accommodate you for the first month you’re employed.
Proof of English language skills: You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply. A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a UK university is considered to be a sufficient proof.
Option 2. Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine, credible and innovative business idea, this type of visa is for you. The initial visa is granted for one year with a right to extend it for another year.
After that, graduate entrepreneurs usually switch to Tier 1 Entrepreneur with an investment of £50,000 or Tier 2 General with an exemption from the Labour market test.
To apply for this type of visa, you need to obtain a UK recognised bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD and an endorsement from a UK higher education institution or UK Trade and Investment (the Sirius programme).
There is a limit on the amount of graduates that higher education institutions (HEI) can endorse each year, so most universities organise competitions to choose the best business plans for endorsement. In 2015 to 2016 UKVI set a limit of:
In order to extend your visa after the first year, you need to show a letter from your endorsement body proving that you’ve made a satisfactory progress in developing your business.
Maintenance funds: You need to show £945 in savings if applying from inside the UK or £1890 if applying from outside the UK - this is to prove you can support yourself and you must have had this in your bank account for 90 consecutive days before you apply.
Proof of English language skills: You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply. A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a UK university is considered to be a sufficient proof.
Option 3. Tier 1 Entrepreneur
This visa is an alternative to or a next step after a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa.
The initial visa is granted for three years with a right to extend it for further two years. After five years, you have a right to apply for an indefinite leave to remain.
To apply for this visa you do not need an endorsement from an institution. So you may consider this visa if you have not got an endorsement for the Graduate Entrepreneur route. However, you do need to secure funding for your company from the approved sources, such the UK entrepreneurial seed funding competition and UK government departments(please note, from 11 July 2014 you can no longer use funding from venture capitalist firms for this purpose).
There are two main routes within this category, to invest £50,000 or £200,000. However, after Tier 4 visa you can apply within the UK only with £50,000 investment that you obtained from approved sources. After Tier 4 student visa you are not permitted to apply with £200,000 for a leave to remain inside the UK.
Maintenance funds: You also need to show £945 if applying from inside the UK or £3,310 if applying from outside the UK - this is to prove you can support yourself and you must have had this in your bank account for 90 days consecutive before you apply.
Proof of English language skills: You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply. A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a UK university is considered to be a sufficient proof.
Option 4. Tier 4 Student visa
You can apply for another Tier 4 visa but you need to demonstrate academic progression. This means your new course should be of a higher NQF level than the previous course, e.g. master’s programme after bachelor’s programme.
If your new course is at the same level as the previous course, it may exceptionally be considered to represent academic progression if you are applying to study at a university (HEI) and:
a. the new course is related to the previous course for which you were given Tier 4 leave (meaning that it is either connected to the previous course, part of the same subject group or involves deeper specialisation); or
b. your previous and new course combined, support your career aspirations.
If you are not able to demonstrate academic progression, you can still make a new Tier 4 application from overseas.
Option 5. Dependant visa
You can switch from Tier 4 to a dependant visa in the UK. For example, if you partner has a Tier 2 General or Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, you can apply for a dependant visa without leaving the UK.
It means that after graduation you can apply for Tier 4 dependent visa in the UK. However, if your partner has a Tier 4 dependant visa, they cannot switch to Tier 4 Student visa inside the UK and need to make an application from abroad.
Disclaimer: Please note that this document is a simple summary for information purposes and should not be regarded as a substitute for immigration or legal advice. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information herein, Fastrack Education can accept no responsibility for errors or omissions.
Hello, I did MBA from university and try my best to get a job in uk but unfortunately unable to succeed. How I can get an employer who sponsor me for a job it’s so difficult.
Hi, thank you for your comment. Have you tried applying for graduate programmes? Many large companies have special programmes for recent graduates. Of course, they are very competitive, as all good jobs are. But if you succeed, the offer will come with a visa sponsorship. You can search for a graduate programme on http://www.milkround.com/
Another option would be to apply for relatively low-qualified jobs in large companies, may be even temporary positions. It’s always easier to get for a new job within the same company, and get a visa sponsorship.
And good luck with your job search!
Hello. I would like to ask you where I can get a proper advise in extension visa uk
And my visa expires 28 of may but I registered online and payed standard fee. But the problem that I didnt know that I should send original documents. So I am waiting my documents from abroad. I dont know what to do.
Dear Nur,
If you are applying from inside the UK via the online application processor and using the standard service, the date of your application will be taken on the date when the online application is submitted (it must be submitted before your visa expires).
After submitting your application online you will then have 15 working days (even if it is already after your current visa has expired) to send all your original documents by post.
When did you submit your online application and made a payment? Would it be possible to receive your original document by DHL or other special delivery within 15 working days since then? It is also important to know what exactly documents are missing in original and whether you have used them in your previous visa extension applications in the UK. I hope it is helpful
Hello!
I’ve extended my first Tier 4 visa MBA to another Tier 4 MSc, can I apply after this course for CIMA courses n get another extension?
Or, if I get sponsorship n get a working visa from the employer will I have to work only with them and, in case of leaving that job I should leave the country as well?
Thank you!
Hi Aya. Many students choose to study for a professional qualification like CIMA or ACCA after their masters degree. There are certain requirements to the minimum amount of subjects you need to apply to as you already have a master’s degree.
If you get a tier 2 sponsorship, you have to work for your sponsor. As per the guidance, if you leave your job or your employment cease for other reasons, you have 60 days to apply for a new visa with a sponsorship certificate from a new employer, or leave the UK.
Hello I am khalid. I am in psw and I did my MSc than I got my psw. So after my psw if I want to apply Extended Diploma(Level-7) Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management . Can I do that. Will I get the visa?
Thanks
Khalid
Hi Khlid,
As per the guidance, Tier 4 Sponsor can only give you a CAS for a new course, if your new course represents academic progress from your previous studies. It means it should be either above the level of your previous course, e.g. PhD after a master’s degree. Or if the course is at the same level, the university considers that your new course complements your previous studies.
Hi
I have a doubt regarding Tier 1 entrepreneur visa. I am currently in Tier 4 visa doing MBA but I had a PSW visa prior to starting my MBA. So does that mean I have to show £50,000 or £200,000? Could anyone please clarify. Thanks
Dear Mohammed,
To apply for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa with an investment £50,000, you should be switching from PSW visa. If you had it in the past but currently hold Tier 4 visa, you can only apply for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa if you have secured £50 000 from the approved sources, such as venture capital firms, a UK entrepreneurial seed funding competition, a UK government departments. You can not apply via £200 000 route. Otherwise you need to apply for a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa.
hi,
i am currently in psw visa. my visa will be expired in july 2014. i did my mba( international business ) in uk. currently i am back of house manager (sous chef) in famous restaurant chain. they got sponsorship licence( tire2 general) . my salary is 24000 per annum ( fixed 48 hours a week). i did call them and ask about it. they said they can give sponsership only if i get 35000 per annum ( with 39 hours). are they right? because i heard minimum 22000 is enough with 48 hours. can you please help.
Hi Kare,
The minimum salary for Tier 2 depends on your job and may be higher than £20,500. It also depends on whether you are an experienced professional or a new entrant. To find out what minimum salary is required, you need to find your job in the Code of practice. Please follow the link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-rules-appendix-j
Please also bear in mind that to apply for a Tier 2 visa, your job should be of NQF level 6 and above, or be on the shortage list or PhD occupation list. You can find all these lists if you follow the link above.
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helloo. i want to know who have tier 4 dependent and no work permited. however that person want to apply teir2!!! is that possible?
Hi Davaa, according to the UKVI guidance, it is possible to switch from Tier 4 (with or without working hours) to Tier 2 visa, which allows work, inside the UK. In this case Tier 4 dependent will also need to switch to Tier 2 dependent. Does it answer your question?
hello,
I had done my Masters in UK in 2010-2011 and was on PSW till 2013.Now I am back to my country and want to go UK back. Can you please suggest which course to op after MBA..Msc in Marketing or acca?In which option my visa would be strong?
Thanks
Currently I am pursuing my Masters in Management of IT from Coventry University ended in January 2015. I have some question related to extend my visa like If I didn’t get any sponsor for Tier 2 visa within my student visa, so which are the alternate options to extend my visa,So can anybody suggest me the suitable options to me?
The alternative options will be a Graduate Entrepreneur or Entrepreneur visa, if you aspire to set up your own business. You can also continue your studies in the UK.
Hi
I am currently in Tier-2 General visa, i have few questions here below
1.can my wife study PhD in the same visa category or she should apply to tier 4, if so can she apply being in UK itself or she should apply from home country.
2.once she started her PhD, is it mandatory for me to switch from Tier 2 to Tier 4 as dependent or else can i continue in my valid Tier 2 visa
3.Say if my Tier-2 visa expires in another one year at that time is it possible to switch to Tier 4 as dependent and can i work till my wife completes her PhD
Hi Chan,
If you wife has Tier 2 dependant visa, she can study PhD or switch to Tier 4 should she wish to. In this case you can be on Tier 2 and your wife on Tier 4 visa. You can switch to Tier 4 dependant visa any time if your wife studies at HEI (university). Bear in mind that Tier 4 visa doesn’t lead to indefinite leave to remain in 5 years while Tier 2 does.
hello
I am currently on tier 4 general visa doing ACCA and I’ll be writing my last 2 papers this december but the thing is I decided to apply for MBA in a college, which are likely to sponsor me for my MBA for october intake, so due to that I’ve decided not to register my last 2 papers with my current college which visa runs out april next year, because I’ll need to apply for new visa for my MBA. what do u think my chances are conerning visa application with home office considering I still have 2 remaining ACCA papers to write this december and I’ll be applying for MBA this October and also what will the maintenance fund I’ll need to have in my account for 28 days be? Thanks
Hi Dan,
We can’t comment on your possible visa outcome based on the information you provided. In general, it’s not forbidden to switch the course but you should have reasons for dropping the course before completion (or are you willing to take the remaining exams after you start studying for an MBA?). In your situation for a new visa application you will need to show 9 month maintenance funds.
Hello,
I have completed BSc, MSc and MBA in UK Universities using Student Visas. Between the MSc & MBA I was on a PSW for two years. Please, can I apply for a Tier 4 student visa again to study for a CIMA or ACCA course while in the UK?
Emma