Returning students applying for a visa extension from outside the UK

When to begin your visa extension 

Check E-visa for your student visa’s expiry date. You should make plans to apply for a  your student visa  at least 3 months before you are expected to return to your course.  

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 outside the UK can take up to 3 weeks to process. You must remain in the country of application until you receive a decision on your application.  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 carry significant additional cost. 

Preparing your financial evidence

You will be asked to meet the financial requirement before a CAS will be considered. 

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.

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.

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.
• A TB test may be required. If you have lived in the UK or other country that doesn’t require TB testing for the past 6 months or more and haven’t been away from that country for more than 6 months when you apply for your student visa, you will not need a TB test.
• 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 using 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 

You can request a CAS letter by contacting the Immigration Compliance team at [email protected]

Submit your visa application

Begin your visa application form on the UK government website

Our team is happy to help advise you at all steps of the process and to meet with you to check over your visa form before you submit it. 

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

• the visa application fee of £490
• the Immigration Health Surcharge, at a cost of £766 per year. A half rate of £388 is charged for periods of time that are under 6 months long.
• Fees for your biometric appointment vary depending on UKVCAS centre rates in your home country

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

Once your application is submitted, email a copy of your completed application to [email protected]

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. This is available to applicants from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

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 (UKVCAS) account. Afterward, use the website to book your biometric 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 3 weeks.

E-visa Issued

You will need to generate a share code to share your evisa with us.