UK Student Visa Extension

Students may apply for their visa extension 3 months before their course will start and within six months of getting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is an electronic document issued to students for their visa application. The unique CAS is only valid for 6 months and can be used just once. Your CAS number which is required on your visa application will be found on the CAS statement email you receive from the University.

Students must apply for a visa extension before their current visa expires. If you remain in the UK after your visa expiry date, it risks disciplinary action, including the chance of deportation. With this visa, there is no ‘grace period’  for students following the expiry date of their visa. A student will become an ‘overstayer’ if he or she is in the UK the day after their visa expires without having submitted a valid application for further leave or having obtained other valid immigration permission.

While waiting for the decision on the visa, they cannot leave the country.

The application for extending a student visa must be done online.  As part of the application, it will require proving your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport or residence permit you have.

Depending on your nationality, you will either do it on the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document, where you’ll create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Or, provide your biometric information for a biometric residence permit at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UK VACS) service point near you.  You will be instructed on which option to do at the time of your application.

Typically, it takes 8 weeks for a decision on your new visa.

The supporting documents for the student visa extension application may include the following:

• A current passport with at least one blank page or other valid travel documentation
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
• Proof you have sufficient fees to support yourself and pay the course fees (This will vary depending on your circumstances)
• Have a valid ATAS certificate (if applicable)
• Parental or legal guardian consent if you’re under 18 and proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian
• Tuberculosis test results (if applicable)
• Consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs

The supporting documents should be the original documents and need to be submitted in English or Welsh.

You need to show that you have enough money to support yourself in the UK. You will need to be able to prove that you have this sufficient money for 28 consecutive days, and the end date of this period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for the visa

The financial requirements you need to prove is:

• £1,334/month for up to 9 months for courses based in the city of London
• £1,023/month for up to 9 months for courses based outside the city of London
• £2,668 per month four the Doctorate Extension Scheme is based in the city of London
• £2,046 per month for courses outside London if based outside the city of London

The fee for a Student Visa extension costs £475. Students are also required to pay the annual immigration health surcharge but, as a student, you will receive a 20% discount on the surcharge, which means you will have to pay £470 every year towards the surcharge. You will be asked to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of your Student Route visa online application. Once you have made the payment, an IHS reference number will be inserted into your visa application.

If you want a decision faster than the standard 8 weeks for your new visa, you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 10 working days or £800 for the super-priority service to get a decision within just 1 working day.