How to extend your Student Route Visa in the UK

If you already have a Student Route visa and want to extend your visa in the UK, to study at the University of Birmingham, you will need to meet all the requirements for a student visa application.

If you want to extend your visa outside the UK see the Entry Clearance page and to apply for your family, use our family pages.

When to Apply

We recommend that you check whether you need ATAS clearance to study in the UK and make your application to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 6 months before your visa is due to expire.

The earliest you can submit your Student Route visa application is 3 months before your course starts or if you are continuing on the same course, you should submit your application up to 3 months before your current visa expires. However, you can start planning straightaway and ensuring you have the correct documents and enough funding in your bank account.

Please note that you are responsible for your immigration status. The International Student Team (IST) will send email updates 90 days before, 60 days before and 30 days before your current course end date and will provide you with information on the visa workshops that will help you prepare for your visa application but you are responsible for ensuring that you abide by the conditions of your visa. It is very essential that you understand these conditions and take them seriously, failure to do so could result in the loss of your visa.

You can attend the visa workshops that IST carries out or contact the IST if you require any information on extending your visa in the UK.

How to Apply

The IST run a series of visa extension workshops where we explain in detail how to make a visa application. We recommend that you attend one of these workshops if you are planning on extending your student visa.

Getting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic document issued to students who need to make a Student Route visa application. Your CAS is only valid for 6 months, and you can only use it once. Your CAS number which is required on your visa application will be found on the CAS statement email you receive from the University.

New students will be sent a CAS number as part of the admissions process.

Students that need to extend their visas to continue their studies, need to request a CAS and book onto a visa document checking workshop at least 10 working days before your visa expires.

You need to have your documents checked by the IST before your visa expiry date in order to be assigned a CAS. You cannot apply for a Student Route visa without a CAS number. It is the University of Birmingham policy to only issue a CAS to a continuing student if the student has provided IST with their visa application documents, and the IST considers them to meet the UK visas and immigration (UKVI) requirements at least 10 working days before the expiry date of the current visa.

Making an application for a Student Route visa - UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS)

There are various options to apply from within the UK. Please note that these options cost different amounts:

£490 to extend the Student Route visa
the healthcare surcharge - check how much you’ll have to pay
£19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken

You can apply for a faster decision on certain visa applications inside the UK. If available, you can pay an extra:

£500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days
£1000 for the super priority service to get a decision by the end of the next working day

Student Route Application Process

Students in the UK must submit all necessary evidence and personal information, in support of their Student Route visa application quickly and securely through an online application and process. You will be led step by step during the UKVI online visa process for what supporting documents are required, application fees to pay, how to submit your biometric information in a UKVCAS booked appointment or using the UKVI ID app.

You will be required to make your Student Route visa application online only. After all fee payments has been made you will directed to the UKVI commercial partner, seperate Sopra Steria (UKVCAS) website to book a biometrics appointment at a local UKVCAS centre (Service Point). You will have the option of either uploading copies of your supporting documents on the Sopra Steria website before you attend your scheduled appointment or, you can take your evidence on the day of your appointment to be scanned and uploaded (additional fees will apply). You must take your original passport to the appointment.

When and where are appointments available?

You will be able to book an appointment at one of 6 core locations in major cities during office hours on a free to use basis or take advantage of enhanced user-pay service in 50 local libraries with process starting from £60. Appointments are available at evening, weekends and on short notice (on the day/next day) with pricing starting from £100.

All appointments must be pre-booked before you attend a Service Point. Standard free appointments are normally available but longer to wait. There are other more urgent appointment types/times; fee starts from £60 depending on location and time.

You can book an appointment:

Up to 28 days in advance
The same day
The next day
Outside of standard hours

Are there any other services available?

Sopra Steria can also provide the following additional services. Please note there is an additional charge of any additional services you wish to use. The most up to date charges can be found directly on the UKVCAS website.

Document Checking: service to check supporting documents are correctly uploaded.
Interpretation: arrange for an Interpreter over the phone for customers who require language assistance.

There are also value added services provided by Sopra Steria partner BLS which have additional charges.

Document Translation: professional Translator who translates documentation within 3-4 days.
Premium Lounge: this is a Service for customers who desire a service with added comfort and privacy, high-speed wifi, scanning and printing.
VIP Service: the VIP Service is a mobile service where trained team members visit customers in their home and complete the same process. You would need to call UKVCAS to obtain a quote.
On Demand - Pop Up: provides application facilities for organizations with 10 or more customers.

How quickly will you obtain a UKVCAS Appointment?

You will be offered an appointment within 5 days of submitting your online Student Route visa application.

What happens during your UKVCAS Appointment?

At your appointment your ID will be checked and you will be able to submit your biometric information including photos, fingerprints and signatures at one single appointment. If you have not already done so, you can upload any supporting documents that you are required to submit in support of your Student Route visa application digitally at your appointment. You will then leave the UKVCAS centre with your original documents and your passport.

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION

It is important to note that although you will retain your original documents and passport you will be unable to travel outside of the UK and the Common Travel Area while your visa application is in progress, as doing so will automatically withdraw your visa application and this may affect your ability to continue your studies and/or re-enter the UK.

What to do if you have any difficulties with this process

If you have any difficulties with this process then please log a query online or visit our IST reception. Submit your online enquiry via Student Help: www.studenthelp.bham.ac.uk

Current Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) not assigned by the University of Birmingham

The earliest you can submit your Student Route visa application is up to three months before your course start date once you receive a CAS from the University of Birmingham.

Current Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) assigned by the University of Birmingham

If you are continuing on the same course that the Student Route visa was granted for, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) advise that you can apply 3 months before your current Student Route visa expiry date.

If you are starting a new course, you have a choice as to when you apply for your new Student Route visa:

You can apply 3 months before the course start date OR
You can apply 3 months before your visa expiry date.

We would recommend that you use whichever date is sooner, so that you make a Student Route visa application as early as possible.

My Student visa has already expired

If your Student Route visa has already expired you must contact the IST immediately. If you are working you must stop straight away.

Once your visa expires, you automatically become an overstayer. Please note that overstaying your visa is a criminal offence which will have serious implications for you and any visas you may apply for in the future.

It is University policy not to assign a CAS to a student who is an overstayer. This is because as an overstayer you no longer hold a correct Student Route visa permitting you to undertake a course of study.

There is no "grace period" within which you can lawfully overstay your visa. If you overstay your visa expiry date by:

(a) 90 days or less, where the overstaying began before 6 April 2017
(b) 30 days or less, where the overstaying began on or after 6 April 2017

You will be barred from coming back to the UK for at least 12 months. This is because overstaying in the UK is a criminal offence. Overstaying can have an adverse impact on any subsequent visa application.

Please do not submit any further visa application without first having an appointment with IST. We can advise you on your possible options and answer your questions.

Immigration Health Surcharge

Since 6 April 2015 there has been an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to pay if you are applying to extend your Student Route leave in the UK. This charge must be paid even if you have your own private medical insurance, and your visa application will not be granted unless you have paid the surcharge.

How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

The surcharge is calculated at £776 per year for each year of leave that you are applying for. If the leave includes a period of less than 6 months, the part year is charged at £388. Please note that the charge is calculated on the basis of the total length of visa permission granted, so any additional time before or after your course will be taken into account.

You can check the amount you need to pay before you apply.

How to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge

You will be directed to make payment for the IHS as part of your Student Route visa online application (intergrated application). Once you have made payment, an IHS reference number will automatically be inserted into your visa application. You will need an IHS reference number even if you are exempt from paying the healthcare surcharge.

UKVI 5 year time limit cap on UK study at undergraduate level only

You must not be applying to study at degree level for longer than the maximum time limit (cap) on studying with a Student Route visa: this is five years on courses at degree level. The limit is extended if you completed a 4-year undergraduate degree, and there are also some exceptions to certain subjects.

For further information on the ‘five-year cap’ please visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.

If you are unsure whether you will be affected by the five-year cap, please contact us so that we can assess your individual situation.

For detailed information on immigration requirements for documents read the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Student Route caseworker guidance.

What to keep for University registration

Visa application times in the UK can take 8 weeks. If you are starting a new course, the University will need to see proof that you have made an application before you can be registered. You will need to provide the evidence of your visa extension application as your online Right to Study check. More guidance can be found on the Right to Study page.

Further details on the documents that you will need to provide in order to complete your University registration are available on the Online Registration page. It is your responsibility to provide this proof; without proof you cannot be registered.

Visa Workshop

The International Student Team (IST) will be running a series of workshops delivered via Zoom for international students on how to extend your Student route visa from inside the UK. The details can be found on our Workshops web page.