GRADUATE VISA
International students with an eligible UK degree can apply for a Graduate Visa. This visa category allows UK degree holders to stay in the UK for two years. During this period, the applicant can work or look for work in the United Kingdom, once he has completed his degree. Those applicants who have been awarded doctorates can apply to stay in the UK for three years.
This visa category does not directly lead to UK settlement. However, the UK Graduate Visa applicant can switch to other work-visa options to settle in the United Kingdom.
Graduate Visa Requirements
To obtain a Graduate Visa, you must assure the UK Visas & Immigration that:
- You have successfully completed a UK degree, or other eligible course
- You have studied at a Higher Education Provider which is a student sponsor with a track record of compliance
- You have spent a minimum period of time studying in the UK;
- You are applying from within the UK and have valid leave as a Student or Tier 4 Student at the date of application
- You have not previously held permission on the Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES), or the Graduate route
- You do not fall for refusal on grounds of suitability
The requirements you need to fulfill to acquire a Graduate Visa may vary from application to application, depending upon the situation of the applicant. For expert advice, you should consult an immigration lawyer.
Graduate Visa Eligible Courses
If the applicant wants to extend his stay in the UK on the grounds of the Graduate Immigration Route, he must have completed a UK bachelor’s or postgraduate level degree programme. He can also apply for a visa extension if he has taken a professional course that requires him to study at UK bachelor’s degree level or above, in a profession with reserved activities that are regulated by UK law or UK public authority.
The applicant can also apply for a Graduate Visa if he has been sponsored to take the responsibilities of a Student Union Sabbatical Officer once he has acquired eligible qualifications in his most recent grant of permission to study.
Graduate Visa Minimum Study Period in the UK
The applicant needs to spend a minimum period of time studying in the UK to qualify for a UK Graduate Visa. They have to enroll in an eligible course in the UK to apply for a Graduate Visa. The duration of your stay will depend upon the length of the course you have enrolled in.
You will need to have studied the whole course in the UK if you have completed a course that lasts 12 months or less. you will need to have been granted permission for at least 12 months on the Student route if the duration of your course is more than 12 months. You must also have spent that time studying in the UK.
Graduate Visa Sponsorship
Being an unsponsored route, the Graduate Visa Route doesn’t require the applicant to have a job offer or a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to be eligible.
Job-Seeking and Employment on the Graduate Visa Route
People who have graduated on the grounds of a Graduate Visa are allowed to apply for jobs in the United Kingdom. Once they have been employed, they can flexibly work in the UK. Graduate Visa holders can work at any skill level. They don’t need to satisfy the minimum salary requirement, unlike several other visa routes. Successful applicants are also allowed to switch jobs.
HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY IN THE UK ON THE GRADUATE IMMIGRATION ROUTE
Graduate Visa holders who have completed their graduate or post-graduate degree on the Graduate Visa Route are allowed to stay in the United Kingdom for two years. On the contrary, Doctorate students can stay in the UK for as long as three years
Graduate Visa Extensions of Stay
Being an unsponsored route, the Graduate Visa Route doesn’t require the applicant to have a job offer or a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to be eligible.
WHY CHOOSE UK RESIDENCY FOR UK VISITOR VISA?
UK Residency is the smart gateway for foreign students who want to move to or extend their stay in the UK to continue their education. The immigration advisors on our team will lay out the best immigration options for students and help them understand Immigration Rules so that they can start their course of study without wasting any time.
You may qualify for a Tier 4 (General) Student visa if you are over the age of 16 and have been offered an unconditional place on a course with an educational institution holding a Tier 4 Sponsor License. Children aged between 4 and 17 years old can apply for a Tier 4 (Child) Student visa.
Get in touch with one of our immigration consultants to discuss options to enter the UK.