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Many people come to the UK on a visa for various reasons. If you would like to extend your visa to stay for longer, read on and find out how in our guide.
UK visa extensions: which visas are eligible?
Before you begin trying to extend your visa, you should know whether your visa is eligible to be extended to begin with. Some visas are temporary, and so, you will not be able to extend them. We will cover which ones cannot be extended in the next section.
A list of some of the UK visas can be extended includes:
- Family Visas (such as the Spouse Visa)
- Global Talent Visa
- Innovator Founder Visa
- Health and Care Worker Visa
- Religious Worker Visa
- Representative of an Overseas Business
- Secondment Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility Visa)
- Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility Visa)
- Service Supplier Visa (Global Business Mobility Visa)
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Student Visa
- T2 Minister of Religion Visa
- UK Expansion Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility Visa)
There may be other visas that can be extended as well, even though you may assume that they are not extendable. You can find out the details of which visas can be extended if you visit your visa’s page on the UK Visas and Immigration’s website. The list of links at the top of the page will help you navigate to your visa, or you can use the search bar.
For example, some Temporary Worker Visas can be extended, even if their nature of being for temporary work makes it sound like you cannot do so. The Religious Worker Visa is one example from the above list.
Please note that some visas, such as the Secondment Worker Visa and Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, can only be extended for short periods of time if you have not yet met the maximum stay of your visa.
Which visas can NOT be extended?
There are a number of visas that might seem like they could be extended, but they cannot be under any circumstances.
However, one obvious visa that cannot be extended, is the Standard Visitor Visa. This visa allows you to visit the UK for up to 6 months. You can also have a Long-term Visitor Visa that is valid for up to 2, 5, or 10 years, but you must only stay in the UK for a 6 month period unless you are in the UK for academic or medical reasons.
A list of visas that cannot be extended includes:
- Graduate Visa
- Graduate Trainee Visa (Global Business Mobility Visa)
- Seasonal Worker Visa
- Short-term Study Visa
- Standard Visitor Visa
- Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
The Graduate Trainee Visa is the only Global Business Mobility Visa that can not be extended in any way.
Although you cannot extend any of these visas, you can apply for one again once you have returned to your home country, as long as you still meet the requirements.
What are the requirements for a UK visa extension?
Just like with a normal visa application, no UK visa extension application will be exactly the same. The process will differ slightly depending on the visa you are on.
For example, work visas will require that you provide documents proving that you are still employed at the same place for the same job.
Another example is the Student Visa, which will require you to prove that you are still studying in the UK. This can be either on your current course, or on a new course altogether.
However, there are some more general requirements. You will need to prove that you can continue to financially support yourself and any dependants you have with you.
Additionally, you must prove that you need to continue your stay in the UK. This ties to the previously mentioned points of proving that you are still working or studying.
If you are unsure what the specific requirements of your UK visa extension are, then you should seek assistance from a legal professional. This is something we can assist you with.
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UK visa extensions and Further Leave to Remain
As we briefly mentioned earlier, extending your visa is also known as Further Leave to Remain. When you apply for your UK visa extension, FLR is essentially what you are applying for.
There are several different types of FLR application which depend on what visa you currently hold. For example, those in the UK on a Spouse Visa will need to apply for FLR (M).
Also, there are other types of FLR that are not just based on what visa you hold, but also your current circumstances. For example, discharged members of the Armed Forces can apply for FLR (AF).
If you would like to learn more, we have a guide that covers the most common types of FLR, which are FLR (IR), FLR (M) and FLR (FP)
Can I apply to extend my visa after it has expired?
No, your visa cannot have expired. If you are still in the UK after your visa has expired, you will be overstaying. If you have not left within 30 days of your visa expiring, you could be deported. Additionally, if you apply for another visa in the future, having a history of overstaying could lead to a rejection of your new visa application.
If you have applied for your extension before your visa expires, but your visa then expires whilst you are waiting for a result, then do not worry. This is perfectly fine, as you have the right to remain in the UK until you receive a decision.
Make sure that you apply to extend your visa before it expires to avoid any issues.
How we can help
Our expert law team has assisted people with various immigration applications, whether it be an application for settlement, a visa, or a UK visa extension. They can help you understand what the requirements are for your visa extension, and whether your visa can be extended to begin with.
If you would like to receive their helpful guidance, then get in touch with us today. You can either arrange a free 10-minute assessment to discuss what your issue is with the team and see how they might be able to help, or you can contact them via email and see what they say.
After your initial contact, you may then be able to book a longer, paid consultation during which you will be given advice and guidance. You can either choose a 30-minute consultation, or an hour long one.
Alternatively, if you are just interested in asking one or two questions about an issue you are experiencing instead of having a long consultation, we have 15 minute consultation available.
Additionally, our law team can assist you with every aspect of your UK visa extension application, so as to ensure that you get the best result possible, and avoid as many difficulties as possible.
Get in touch with us today to see what our law team can do for you.
Ready for assistance?
If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment with one of our legal experts, contact Woodcock Law today. Call us on +44 (0)20 7712 1705 or email info@woodcocklaw.co.uk.
