Graduate Post Study Visa
In September 2019, the UK Government announced the introduction of the graduate route to international students from 1 July 2021. This includes students who have already started their course, even if due to Covid-19, they have needed to undertake online learning.
Application Process
Although the official guidance has not been published, it is expected that to be eligible, international students must:
have a valid Tier 4 visa at the time of application.
have completed an eligible course at a UK Higher Education Provider
demonstrate a track record of compliance with the government’s immigration requirements
Applicants don’t need to be sponsored by a university or employer during their stay on a post-graduate visa.
How long can I stay on the graduate visa?
Successful applicants on this route at bachelor’s or master’s level will be able to stay in the UK and work or look for work, at any skill level for 2 years. Doctoral students will be able to stay for 3 years.
Graduate visa fees:
It will cost £700 to apply. Additionally, an Immigration Health Surcharge (£624 per year) must be paid.
Does this route lead to settlement?
No, the route is non-extendable and does not count towards settlement. However, graduates may apply to work routes, including the Skilled Worker, which is a route to settlement.
COVID-19 Impact.
On 16 June 2020, the UK Government confirmed that international students studying remotely will be eligible to apply for the Graduate route provided they are in the UK by 6 April 2021 and meet the other requirements of the route.
We are prepared for the launch of this route and committed to achieving the best possible outcome for our clients. International students can be assured that with the legal advice of Sterling Law, they will be able to continue their professional careers in the UK.
CONSULTATIONWe value your time. After the consultation, we will let you know what the next steps are. We will request the documents we need, and only call you when necessary. We are proactive, will update you on your case as soon as we have any news so that you don’t need to call, meaning you can rest assured that no actions are needed from your side.
We haven’t forgotten about you, but we believe you’d rather spend time doing something that really matters than on the phone with a lawyer.
Student migration constitutes a significant share of immigration to the UK. The number of international students relocating to the UK increased over the decade of the 1990s and 2000s, with a particularly sharp increase in 2009. Student visas issuing decreased from 2010 to 2016.
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Key requirements:
You must have an offer to study from a licensed sponsor (a school or university)
To prove this, you sponsor will provide you with a reference number called CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)
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Individuals who want to study a short course in the United Kingdom can apply for a Short-term study visa. From 1 December 2020, this route is only for students who intend to study between 6 and 11 months. For courses up to 6 months, individuals can instead apply for a ‘Standard visitor’ visa.
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International students may need to extend their student visa in order to complete their program. This may be because they have made a change to their course, need to repeat a year, or wish to defer some of their assessment. Applications can be made from both within and outside the UK.
More informationTier 5 visa is a temporary visa allowing applicants to enter the UK for a period of 6-24 months usually for the purpose of work, internship, or work experience.
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