If you currently have permission to stay in the UK, you may be able to extend this permission and stay here longer. For example, we know that many Tier 4 (General) migrants want to stay in the UK to either do another course of study, to work or to settle in the UK with their partner.
If you want to extend your stay, you must apply for permission to do so before your existing permission ends. If your permission has already ended, any future application may be refused unless you submit the new application within 28 days of your permission ending.
Before you apply to extend your permission to stay, you should ensure that you meet the requirements in immigration category you want to switch into.
For example, if you are a Tier 4 (Migrant) in a relationship with a British citizen, you may feel that switching into the settlement route is an attractive option. However, unless you can satisfy all requirements for settlement, such as the financial requirements, it may be better to remain on the Tier 4 route until you can satisfy all the requirements – you can switch into the settlement category at any point and it would be advisable to make this application when you know it will be successful.
You should also note the restrictions on which categories you can and cannot switch into. For example – if you are a non EEA migrant and you are in the UK as the dependant of either an EEA national or a British citizen and want to switch to a PBS visa, you cannot do this in-country and will need to return home to seek entry clearance.
To find out more about the requirements and restrictions of switching in country, feel free to get in touch.
