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► Staying for a short holiday
Staying in the UK for a Short Holiday After Your Stuidies
If you or your partner is from the European Economic Area, this information does not apply to you.
The EEA consists of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
All undergraduate students should now be automatically granted permission to remain in the UK until 31 October in the year of graduation.
Postgraduates should be given an additional four months past the expiry date of the U-card. If you have not be granted this you can apply for an extension on the FLR(S) form via the University Batch scheme. If you want to stay on beyond this time you will need to change status to visitor.
VISITOR RULES
The requirements of the immigration rules for permission to remain in the UK as a visitor are:
• The visit must be for 6 months or less
This is the maximum time allowed for a visit. It is not possible to extend beyond six months.
• Intention to leave
This is probably one of the most important conditions. At the time of the application you should intend to leave the UK at the end of the visit.
• Financial support and accommodation
You will need to show you are able to cover your living expenses and accommodation without working.
• No study at maintained school
You will not be able to attend a state-funded school. However, there is an exception for the children of students who have been studying at a state school and need to complete the school year. Please seek further advice before making your application.
MAKING THE APPLICATION
You will need to complete the FLR(O) form, available from the Home Office website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Please note you do not need to complete Section 2 of the form.. If you have any dependants they must each complete an FLR(O) form and pay the fee.
You will only need to provide the following:
• Passport
• Police registration certificate if applicable
• 3 months bank statements
There is now a charge of £335 for postal applications and £500 for applications made in person.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How much money do I need to show to get a visitor’s visa?
There is no set amount of money. Basically you need to show you have enough money to cover your living costs for the time you intend to remain in the UK without working. For most single people this means a minimum of about £400 a month to cover rent and other costs.
I don’t have much money in the UK as I mainly use my credit card from my home country, is this OK?
Although it is easier if you have money in a UK bank account, you can show you have sufficient resources by providing your credit card statements. These should show that you have been paying for your food and other items here in Sheffield.
I want to travel to Europe whilst I am a visitor here in the UK. Will I be able to re-enter the UK?
The visitor permission granted here in the UK acts as a single entry visa. In other words if you leave the UK to travel to Europe you cannot use it to re-enter the UK. Whilst this not a problem for a non-visa national who can ask an Immigration Officer at the port of entry for fresh permission to re-enter the UK, it is potentially a problem for a visa national who should obtain a fresh visa from a British embassy in the country they are visiting.
However, in practice we have been informed by the Home Office that provided you can show that you are coming back to the UK to pick up your belongings/attend your graduation before returning to your home country, you will be allowed to re-enter. As a precaution you should always carry the following documents in your hand luggage:
• return ticket to home country(if available)
• evidence of graduation ceremony
If I switch to visitor status will I be able to switch back to student status?
One of the conditions of getting permission to remain in the UK as a visitor is that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit. This means if you have already decided to do another course at the time of applying for the change of status to visitor, you should seek advice as to whether you can qualify for permission as a student awaiting enrolment on a new course.
If the course does not start within a four month period you will need to return home and apply for the appropriate entry clearance.
If you decide to do a course after you have switched to visitor status you should seek further advice.