Renewing Your Student Visa
Important information for International Postgraduate Students
Frequently Asked Questions
In Person – you can go in person to the Public Enquiry Office (PEO). Contact details for all the PEO’s are on the first page of the application form guidance notes. You can only go to the PEO if you have made an appointment and the appointment date is before your current visa expires – never accept an appointment for a date after your current visa has expired, instead you will need to post your application before your visa expires. When attending an appointment at a PEO you must take with you all the requested original documents (see Question 7).
4. How much will my visa extension cost?
By post - FLR (S) £295
FLR (O) £395
FLR (IGS) £395
In Person FLR (S) £500
FLR (O) £595
FLR (IGS) £595
5. How do I make my payment?
You can pay by cheque, postal order, credit card (visa / mastercard only), debit card (maestro, switch, delta) and by bankers draft.
· Postal order – this is the quickest, most reliable way to make your payment, if you pay by one of the other methods there is always a risk that your payment may be rejected and therefore, your application may be delayed.
· Maestro – if you are applying by post, the Home Office will
· Do not under any circumstances send cash.
· Cheques / postal orders should be made payable to Home Office Leave to Remain.
· For further informati
6. What if I have dependants on my Visa?
You only have to complete one application form and pay the fee only once. You need to include details of all dependants in the
7. What documents do I need to include with my application?
All students must provide the following original documents. Failure to include any of the following documents will result in a delay in your application as the Home Office will not issue a visa extension without the following documents;
Ø Valid passport for you and each of your dependents.
Ø 2 passport photographs for you and each of your dependants. Please write the name and date of birth on the back of each one. Information on size and colour of photographs can be found page 3 of the Home Office guidance notes.
Ø Original Police Registration Certificate if applicable (your current visa stamp will say if you need to register with the Police).
Ø A letter c
Ø Certificates from any courses previously studied in the
Ø Results transcript (if any available) for your current course of study at the
Ø 3 most recent months of your bank statements, please note - internet bank statements will not be accepted.
Ø If you are currently sp
Ø Evidence of a private sponsor, such as your parents, relative or friend. They must provide a recent, signed letter.
Ø Financial evidence from your sponsor such as bank statements, evidence of income and evidence of employment.
In additi
Ø A letter from your tutor / supervisor c
8. What is my Home Office Reference Number?
If you do not have a Home Office Reference Number or you do but you can’t find it, d
9. How to answer Section 4 – FLR (S)
Section 4.4 – list all the Colleges, Universities that you have studied at since arriving in the
Section 4.5 – this section must be completed by your course tutor / supervisor.
10. How to answer Section 5 – FLR (S)
Section 5.1 to 5.5 – all these sections are questions about your current studies at the
Section 5.6 – this question is about studies you might want to do in the future.
Section 5.7 to 5.11 – leave these boxes blank unless the questions apply to your situation.
11. How do I make sure my documents are safe in the post?
The best way to make sure your documents are safe in the post is to send them by Recorded / Special delivery. Keep hold of your receipt somewhere safe. You can use the 13 digit reference number to track your parcel at www.royalmail.com
12. Do I need to do anything when I get my passport back?
Ø If you need to register with the police, you must go to the Police Station within seven days and update your details with them.
Ø Take a photocopy of your passport and new visa in case your passport is lost / stolen in the future.
Ø Make a note in your diary to remind you when your visa will next expire.
Particular Circumstances You Might Be In
1. I forgot my visa needed to be renewed and it is now only a few days before it expires, am I too late?
No! As long as you have evidence that it was posted to the Home Office even one day before your current visa expired it will be fine. If you send it by Recorded / Special delivery the receipt that you keep will show the date that it was posted.
2. It’s only a few days until my visa expires, I can’t get all the documents in time what should I do?
DO NOT LET YOUR VISA EXPIRE!!! Send your application along with any documents you do have to the Home Office before your visa expires. You will need to include a covering letter explaining which documents are missing and when you expect to be able to get them to the Home Office. Once you have the requested documents you must send them to the Home Office using the address given in the FLR (S) Guidance Notes – NOT the address where you sent the original application to!! When you send the missing documents you need to include a covering letter explaining that you have already submitted your application and make sure the 13 digit reference number from the original parcel is quoted on the letter, this way the Home Office can match the documents with your application form.
3. My visa has already expired what should I do?
You must complete the correct form as soon as possible. You need to make sure there are no mistakes on the form, that every document requested has been included with your application. You will need to write a covering letter explaining why you didn’t apply in time and you will need to request a supporting letter from your tutor confirming that you are a good student who is expected to do well in their studies, should they be allowed to stay in the UK.
Because your visa has already expired you will have automatically lost your right of appeal. This means that if the Home Office decides not to extend your student visa you will be required to leave the
