Extend or Switch Your UK Visa
If your permission to stay is coming to an end, the right next step depends on your current visa, your circumstances and the route you may qualify for. We can help you understand your options and prepare an application that fits your situation.
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Your Visa Is Ending. What Should You Do Next?
An approaching expiry date can bring a lot of questions. Can you extend your current visa? Are you eligible to switch to another route? What happens if you have already submitted an application and are waiting for a decision?
There is no single answer for everyone. The earliest date you can apply, the requirements you must meet and the effect of an application on your current permission depend on the visa route.
At AHJ Immigration, we start by understanding your situation. Your case is managed by a qualified, authorised and regulated immigration adviser. AHJ Immigration is the online brand of Knightsbridge Immigration Ltd, and immigration work is managed under the company name of Knightsbridge Immigration Ltd.
Extend Your Current Visa or Switch Routes
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to:
- Extend your current permission if you continue to meet the requirements of your route.
- Switch to another immigration route if the rules allow you to apply from within the UK and you meet that route’s requirements.
- Get advice about timing and next steps if your permission is close to expiry or your circumstances have changed.
Some routes do not allow switching from within the UK, and some have specific application windows or requirements. A visitor visa, for example, does not allow switching into many work or study routes from inside the UK. It is important to check the rules for the route that applies to you before making plans.
When Should You Apply?
For many routes, you must submit your application before your current permission expires. However, there is no general rule that everyone should apply in the final 28 days. The earliest date you can apply varies by route, and applying too early can affect the time you receive or your future plans.
Check the requirements for your specific route and allow time to prepare the application and supporting evidence. If your expiry date is approaching, get advice promptly.
What Happens While You Wait for a Decision?
If you make a valid application before your current permission expires and it remains undecided when that permission expires, section 3C leave may extend your existing permission while you wait.
This does not apply to every situation. The application must meet the relevant validity requirements, and the effect on your rights and conditions depends on your circumstances. Do not assume that submitting any application automatically extends your permission.
How We Can Help
Understand Your Options
We look at your current visa, immigration history, plans and any deadlines to identify which routes may be relevant.
Check the Requirements
We explain the requirements that apply to the route, including eligibility, supporting evidence and any timing restrictions.
Prepare the Application
Where the matter is suitable and within our scope, we can help organise your evidence and prepare the agreed application.
Explain What Happens Next
We’ll explain the next steps, including what you need to do while your application is pending and what to consider if your circumstances change.
Explore Our Services
Read Our Scope of Work
Routes We May Be Able to Help With
Our work includes applications across a range of personal and business routes. The correct option depends on your circumstances and whether you meet the relevant requirements.
- Spouse and Partner Visas
- Family and Dependant Visas
- Skilled Worker Visas
- Student Visas
- Citizenship and Settlement
Not every route can be extended or switched from within the UK. We’ll check whether the service you need falls within our scope before agreeing to act.
Clear Advice About Your Case
An application can affect your immigration position, so it is important to understand what is being submitted and why. We’ll explain the work we can undertake, what information we need from you and the fee before work begins.
We do not guarantee Home Office decisions. If your matter involves a refusal, an appeal, litigation or complex issues outside our scope, we’ll explain this and discuss appropriate next steps.
Talk to Us Before Your Visa Expires
If you are unsure whether to extend your current visa or switch to another route, tell us what permission you hold and when it expires. We’ll listen to your circumstances and explain what the next step may be.
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Book a Consultation
Leave to Remain: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does “Leave to Remain” mean?
It means permission to stay in the UK. An application may ask to extend your current permission or, where the rules allow, switch to another immigration route.
2. Should I apply in the final 28 days before my visa expires?
Not as a general rule. The earliest you can apply depends on your route. In many cases, you must apply before your current permission expires, but you should check the timing rules for your specific visa.
3. Can I work while waiting for a decision?
In some cases, section 3C leave continues your existing permission and conditions while a valid, in-time application is pending. Whether it applies depends on the validity and timing of your application and your circumstances.
4. How long will my application take?
Processing times vary by route and can change. Check the current Home Office processing information for the application you are making. A particular decision time cannot be guaranteed.
5. Can I switch to another visa from inside the UK?
Sometimes. It depends on your current permission and the route you want to apply for. Some visa categories cannot be switched to from within the UK, so check the route-specific requirements before applying.
6. Can my partner or children apply with me?
Some routes allow eligible family members to apply as dependants, while others have separate requirements or do not allow dependants. Each person’s eligibility should be checked against the relevant route.
7. What if my visa has already expired?
Get advice promptly. The options and consequences depend on your circumstances, and section 3C leave does not generally apply to an application made after permission has expired.
