Making an application to extend your Student Visa in the UK

If you are currently in the UK on an existing visa, you may be eligible to submit a Student Visa application from within the UK, if you meet the following UKVI criteria:

Non-permitted Visa Types

To be eligible to submit a Student visa application within the UK, you cannot currently be in the UK on any of the following categories:

• Visitor Visa
• Short-term Student Visa
• Parent of a Child Student Visa
• Seasonal Worker Visa
• Domestic Worker in a Private Household Visa
• Pending visa application
• outside the Immigration Rules.

If you hold current immigration permission in any of the above categories, you are not eligible to make an in-country Student Visa application. You must provide evidence of your exit from the UK before a CAS can be assigned.

Visa expiry

If you hold current immigration permission in a permitted category (for example, as a Student or a Graduate), your new course must start no more than 28 days after the expiry date of the current visa.

If your new course will start more than 28 days after the expiry date of your current visa, you are not eligible to make an in-country Student Visa application. You must provide evidence of your exit from the UK before a CAS can be assigned.

If you are eligible to make an application from outside of the UK (usually from your home country) and satisfy the standard pre-CAS checks, you must provide evidence of your exit from the UK before a CAS can be assigned. For further information about University processes and requirements for applications made from outside of the UK, please email international.admissions@tees.ac.uk.

Next steps

If you meet the criteria to be eligible to apply for your Student Visa application from within the UK, please upload a valid share code to the applicant portal so the University can verify your eVisa with UKVI.

If you are issued an unconditional offer letter, our International Advice Service will provide further advice and visa support. Your visa application must be submitted prior to current visa expiry.

Documents required

An International Adviser will provide bespoke advice about the specific documents required. Standard documents are listed below:

• Valid in-date Passport
• eVisa
• ATAS Certificate (if ATAS is a requirement of course, as stated on your Offer Letter)
• Evidence of Maintenance Funds
  • You will automatically meet the financial requirement and do not need to provide evidence of maintenance funds to the University or UKVI if you have been continuously living in the UK with valid immigration permission for 12 months or more.
  • You must provide evidence of maintenance funds in line with UKVI requirements if:
    You have not been continuously living in the UK with valid immigration permission for 12 months, or
    You have been living in the UK with valid immigration permissions for 12 months or more, but have spent 3 months or more outside of the UK in the last 12 months (at the point you submit your Student visa application).

If you have dependants with you in the UK, the International Advice Service can provide further advice about criteria and requirements.

Costs

• Student Visa application fee (standard service): £558
• Student Visa application fee (priority service): £1,058
• Immigration Health Surcharge fee: £776 per year of leave that would be granted
  Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application

Studying on a pending Student Visa application

You are only eligible to enrol and study while your Student visa application is pending in certain circumstances. The University will confirm this to you. Common visa types:

• Graduate Visa holders
  If you currently hold a Graduate Visa, this visa type does not hold general study permissions so you cannot enrol and study while your Student Visa application is pending. You must be successfully granted the Student Visa before you are permitted to enrol and study.
  
  It is very important you consider the specific timeframes to ensure you allow sufficient time to obtain the Student Visa before the course enrolment deadline. Depending on course deadlines, the University may only permit an in-country Student Visa application if this is submitted via UKVI Priority Service processing.
• Student Visa holders
  If you currently hold a Student Visa, once you have submitted your new Student Visa application, you are permitted to enrol and study while the Student Visa application is pending, although you do so at your own risk as if the Student Visa application should be refused, you will be required to follow Home Office instruction and leave the UK, which will disrupt your studies. Please be aware you would be liable for payment of Tuition Fees in line with University regulations.

International Advice Service

Our International Advice Service supports unconditional offer holders currently in the UK to make their Student Visa application to UKVI, subject to final checks and CAS assignment. If you meet the eligibility criteria to make a Student Visa application from within the UK and are issued an unconditional offer, your case will be referred to the International Advice Service via CAS Shield once the standard pre-CAS checks have been completed. You will then be allocated an International Adviser who will contact you directly by email.

If you intend to make a Student Visa application from inside the UK you should contact the International Advice Service for initial advice by email: International@tees.ac.uk.

You will be designated an International Student Adviser who will liaise with you via email and will arrange an appointment with you, as required.

There are a number of things to consider if you intend to make a visa application from inside the UK:

• Your current visa type must be appropriate to extend/ switch
• Your new course must start within 28 days of the expiry of your current visa
• You must have successfully completed your previous course of study (unless you meet any of the UKVI Academic Progression requirement exemptions) If you currently hold a Tier 4 Visa or Student Visa, you must meet the Academic Progression requirement to allow an extension application from inside the UK.
• If you currently hold a Tier 4 Visa or Student Visa, you will need to consider the type of institution that sponsors your current visa.
• If you hold an unconditional offer and wish to make a Student Visa application in the UK to study at Teesside University, you should contact the International Advice Service for initial advice by email: International@tees.ac.uk. Please contact the International Advice Service 6-8 weeks before your visa expiry date to allow yourself enough time to gather the supporting documents required and to apply for your new CAS/ ATAS if required.
• Your application for permission to stay must be made no more than 3 months before the start date of the course as specified on your CAS.

International Advice Service Operational Hours
Monday- Thursday 8.30am-5.00pm, Friday 8.30am-4.30pm

In most cases, you must complete the Student Visa application form. You must first set up an account online and complete the application form in English.

You should follow the instructions to download the UK Immigration ID app and verify your identity using the app if this is possible. If you are not able to use the app you will need to attend a UKVCAS biometric appointment at a Service Point (additional charges may apply).

If you are already inside the UK with valid immigration permission or you are a continuing student, you will need to contact the International Advice Service before a CAS can be assigned. They provide immigration advice for applicants eligible to apply in-country.

You can contact the International Advice Service for initial advice by email: International@tees.ac.uk

You will be designated an International Student Adviser who will liaise with you via email and will arrange an appointment with you, as required.

International Advice Service Operational Hours
Monday- Thursday 8.30am-5.00pm, Friday 8.30am-4.30pm

• A valid CAS (New applicants: CAS@tees.ac.uk, Current students extending their course: LGSComplianceUKVI@tees.ac.uk)
• A completed online application form (you can receive assistance with this from your designated International Student Adviser)
• Your/ your dependants (if applicable) passport and any previous passports used to travel to the UK
• Your/ your dependants (if applicable) BRP card/s
• If you have been living in the UK with a valid immigration permission for 12 months or more on the date of the visa application, you will automatically meet the financial requirement and you do not need to provide any evidence of maintenance funds.
• If you have been living in the UK with immigration permission for less than 12 months, you must provide evidence of maintenance funds. For more details see the 'Maintenance' section.
• A valid ATAS certificate (if applicable). Students applying for postgraduate study in certain sensitive subjects, knowledge of which could be used in programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery will need to apply for an ATAS certificate. You need to apply for this before you receive your CAS (if required) and you should allow at least 20 working days.
• See the UKVI Student Visa Guidance.
• For students applying with dependants, please ensure you contact the International Advice Service to seek further guidance as there will be additional documents you will need to prepare for your visa application
• You will need to be in a position to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for yourself and for any dependants. The Immigration Health Surcharge is currently £776 per year, per person and is charged for the length of leave that you will be granted.
• You will need to be in a position to pay the visa application of £558 (Standard Service) plus £558 for each dependant applying at the same time as you. Priority and Premium Service may be available at an additional cost.
• If you are required to attend an appointment at a UKVCAS Service Point to complete the process of biometric enrolment, there may be an additional charge for this.

If you have been living in the UK with valid immigration permission for 12 months or more on the date of the visa application, you will automatically meet the financial requirement and you do not need to provide any evidence of maintenance funds.

If you have been living in the UK with immigration permission for less than 12 months, you must provide evidence of maintenance funds.

If you are required to provide evidence of maintenance funds

You must show that you have money for living costs for each month of your course up to a maximum of 9 months. The total living costs you must demonstrate should be based on the course dates listed on your new CAS, and be up to a maximum of 9 months.

If you are studying a course at the Teesside University Middlesbrough campus (outside London), the current living costs are £1,171 per month (£10,539 max).

If you are studying a course at the Teesside University London campus (in London), the current living costs are £1,529 per month (£13,761 max).

You must also show any unpaid course tuition fees listed on your new CAS for the required period and in the required format.

If you are permitted to have dependants with you to the UK, for courses at our Middlesbrough campus each dependant must show that they have £680 for each month of immigration permission they will be granted. This is up to a maximum of 9 months (£6,120). For courses at our London campus each dependant must show that they have £845 for each month of immigration permission they will be granted. This is up to a maximum of 9 months (£7,605). If you are unsure if you can include a dependant in your application, please contact: international@tees.ac.uk.

Acceptable evidence:

You can show you have enough money using:

• an official financial or government sponsorship or grant
• a student loan from a government, government sponsored loan company, or a regulated student loans scheme
• your own money
• your parent(s) money (if they provide a letter confirming they agree to you using it this way)
• your partner's money if your partner is present in the UK or applying at the same time

Non-acceptable evidence:

The following are not accepted as evidence to show you have the required amount of money:

• overdrafts
• bitcoin savings
• stocks and shares
• pensions
• bank accounts that are not regulated by the financial regulatory body in the country you're applying from
• bank accounts that don't use electronic record keeping

Evidence you need to provide

If you are using official financial sponsorship:

Financial sponsorship is where an applicant is given money to cover some or all of their course fees or living costs, or both.

If your official financial sponsorship is not recorded on your CAS you'll need to show a letter of confirmation from the official financial sponsor. If you are not sure ask your sponsor. The letter must show:

• the date of the letter
• the length of time the official financial sponsorship will cover
• the amount of money that is being given or confirmation that all of your fees and living costs will be covered

If you are using a student loan:

A student loan can be provided by:

1. a government;
2. a government sponsored student loan company; or
3. an academic or educational loans scheme which is provided by a financial institution regulated for the purpose of issuing student loans by either the Financial

Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or, in the case of overseas accounts, the official regulatory body for the country the institution is in and where the money is held.

Your student loan letter should:

• be dated no more than 6 months before the date of application
• confirm the loan is a student loan provided by either the relevant government or a government sponsored student loan company or an academic or educational loans scheme (as above)
• confirm there are no conditions on release of the loan funds other than a successful application to study
• confirm the amount of the loan
• confirm the loan is for you
• be on official stationery
• confirm the funds will be available to you, or paid directly to the sponsor, before you begin your course

If you are using your own money (or that of a parent or partner):

Cash can be held in a:

• current account
• deposit account
• savings account
• pension savings
• investment account

Cash must be in an account that allows you immediate access.

Funds must have been acquired legally and if you were in the UK you must not have earned them when working illegally.

If you're using your own money, or that of a parent or partner you'll need to show you have the required amount of money in an account. You can provide:

• bank statements
• building society passbooks
• certificates of deposit
• a letter from your bank or building society

Your evidence should:

• be on official stationery
• be printed or electronic
• include the account holder(s) names
• include the account number
• include the date of the statement
• include the name of the bank or building society
• include information about the bank, such as contact details or a branch code
• show transactions and amount held over time
• show the closing balance on the account

The evidence you provide must demonstrate that the required funds have been held for a period of consecutive 28 days.

The bank statement must not be more than 31 days old on the day you submit your visa application.

The UKVI may conduct verification checks with your bank. If they are unable to verify the funds your application may be refused.

You, or the account holder (such as your parents or partner), must have control of the funds you are relying on.

Using money held by parent(s)/legal guardian(s):

If you are relying on money held by your parents(s)/legal guardian(s), you will need to provide one of the following official documents:

• your birth certificate showing the names of your parent(s)/legal guardian(s); or
• your certificate of adoption showing the names of both parents(s) or legal guardian(s); or
• a Court document naming your legal guardian(s). The copy used must be the original legal document or a notarised copy.

If you are relying on money held by your parents(s)/legal guardian, you must also show that your parent(s)/legal guardian have given their permission for you to use this money. You will need to provide: a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) which confirms:

• the relationship between you and your parent(s) or legal guardian(s); and
• that your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have given their consent to you using their funds to study in the UK.

Money in other currencies

If your money is held in a foreign currency this will be converted into pound sterling (£) using the spot exchange rate on OANDA for the date of the application.

Full details can be found using the links below:

UKVI Student and Child Route guidance
UKVI Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants
UKVI Immigration Rules Appendix Finance

You should ensure you have an appointment booked with your designated International Student Adviser before you submit your application.

During your submission appointment:

• You should complete the online declaration.
• You should pay your Immigration Health Surcharge.
• You should select the service of your preference (Standard Service, or Priority/Premium Service).
• You should pay your Student Visa application fee for the service that you require.
• You should upload your supporting documents.
• You should download a copy of your application form and document checklist for your reference.
• If directed, you should register your UKVCAS account, upload your supporting documents and book an appointment to complete your biometric enrolment. You must complete all required processes within the given timescales or your application may be rejected.
• Your designated International Student Adviser will inform the International Compliance Team once your visa application has been submitted.

After your appointment:

• Once you have uploaded your supporting documents (and submitted your biometric information either via the UK Immigration ID Check app, or via a UKVCAS appointment), your application will be considered by a UKVI caseworker.
• Your designated International Student Adviser will keep you fully informed with the progress of your application.
• Your visa application decision will be communicated via email, normally to your designated International Student Adviser directly, who will notify you of the decision.
• You should receive your BRP to the postal address as specified in your visa application. Once you have received your new BRP, you should send a copy of the front and back of this to your designated International Student Adviser directly.
• You should follow any instructions from UKVI about returning your old BRP as it will no longer be valid. You may be subject to a financial penalty of up to £1,000 if you fail to return your old BRP.