Applying for a visa extension from inside the UK

When to begin your visa extension 

Check your E-visa for your student visa’s expiry date. Please get in touch with the Immigration Compliance team at [email protected] at least 3 months before your student visa expiry date to begin the CAS request process. 

The earliest you can submit your visa extension application is 3 months before your current visa’s expiry date. You must apply before your visa expires to avoid breaching your visa conditions by becoming an overstayer. 

Your Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) will be calculated based on the date you apply for your student visa. Applying very early could lead to an increase in your IHS surcharge. 

Applications made from inside the UK to extend your visa will take up to 8 weeks to process. If you exit the UK while your application is pending, your application is automatically withdrawn by UKVI. If you need to travel urgently, you could apply for priority service to get a decision within five working days, or the super priority service to get a decision within one working day. These options come with a significant additional cost.

Preparing your financial evidence

You will be exempt from needing to provide financial evidence to UKVI as part of your visa application if you have been living in the UK for 12 months or more. However, you may still be asked to confirm you meet the financial requirement to a Home Office case worker, in the event that they request it.

Those who are not exempt will need evidence to provide evidence that they meet the UKVI financial requirements for a visa extension. 

Students from certain countries don't need to provide financial evidence or evidence of academic qualifications with their visa application, but you must still have this financial and academic evidence in the required format in case you are asked to submit evidence later. The following UK government website has a list of countries this applies to.

Please see the guidelines below for demonstrating financial evidence:

Bank statements

• Bank statements show the bank’s letterhead on each page.
• Bank statements are no more than one month old.
• Bank statements show that you have held the required funds for no less than 28 consecutive days.
• Bank statements are in English, or accompanied by a stamped, certified translation.
• Bank statements show that the main applicant has £1136 for each month required for study, up to a maximum of £10,224 (£1136 x 9 months).
• Bank statements show £680 per dependant for each month required for study, up to a maximum of £6120 (£680 x 9 months). 

Parent Letter & Birth Certificate

• A supporting letter from the main applicant's parent (if relying on funds in a parent’s account)
• The main applicant's original birth certificate. This must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.

Additional Notes

• Multiple bank accounts can be used in conjunction to prove this requirement. These accounts must be in your name or in your parents or legal guardian’s names only.
• The money doesn’t need to be in pounds sterling, but should equate to that amount when using the currency converter

Sponsorship letters

• If all or part of your studies will be funded by an official sponsor, you must provide an official sponsorship letter. Official sponsors may include your home government or an employer. Your parents do not count as an official financial sponsor.
• The sponsorship letter must include the sponsor's name and contact details, the validity dates of your funding, and the amount of money you will receive.
• Scholarships from the University of Dundee don’t require you to have a sponsorship letter.

Tuition that you’ve already paid will be confirmed on your CAS letter. 

Supporting documents you’ll need

The supporting documents you need for your application will depend on your situation. The following documents are needed when you apply for your student visa extension: 

• current valid passport
• ATAS certificate (if applicable)

Some students may need extra documents, including:

• official translations of any evidence which isn't in English.
• documents for your dependants
• a letter of consent from your parent or legal guardian stating that they consent to you using their funds for your studies. A template of this letter can be provided upon request.
• your birth certificate if you are      relying on a parent's or guardian's bank statements.
• evidence about any changes to your name
• A letter of no objection from your financial sponsor to your continued studies.

Request a CAS letter 

Please contact the Immigration Compliance team at [email protected] to request a CAS. 

If eligible, you will receive a CAS letter along with your CAS’s terms and conditions.

Submit your visa application

Begin your visa application form on the UK government website.

The date you pay the visa application fee is your official date of application. You will need to pay: 

• the visa application fee of £524
• the Immigration Health Surcharge, at a cost of £776 per year. A half rate fee of £388 is charged for periods of time that are under 6 months long.
• If you need to complete and in-person biometric appointment, these fees vary depending on the date and time of your appointment. 

Any dependants applying with you will pay the same fees as above. 

Submit your documents and biometrics

If you’re eligible to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app 

Using the app, you will upload your supporting documents via mobile device. You can use any mobile device to apply, no personal information is stored on the app. You are not required to attend any appointment to submit biometrics. 

If you’re not eligible to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app 

After paying for your visa application, you’ll be directed to the 'Book an Appointment' page of the application. 

First, create your TLS Contact account. Afterward, use the TLS website to book your biometric appointment. On the TLS website you can upload scans of your immigration and other supporting documents.

There are biometric appointment locations in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. Take all your supporting documents with you to your appointment. At the appointment the staff members will scan your fingerprints and take your photo.  
 
Once you have attended your biometrics appointment, you should then wait to receive a decision within 8 weeks.

E-visa Issued

You will receive email confirmation when your application is successful. You will receive an E-visa. You will need to generate a share code to share this status with the Immigration Compliance team. 

Request a CAS to Immigration Compliance  [email protected]

For immigration advice and support contact [email protected]

This document was produced by the International Advice Service