Can I extend my visit visa in the UK?

If you are currently in the UK on a visit visa, you may be able to extend your visa; however, this will depend on a few factors, which we discuss below.

Usually, a UK visit visa is granted for a period of 6 months. UK visit visas can also be granted for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years, however, you are usually only permitted to stay in the UK for a maximum period of 6 months on each visit.

If you are granted a UK visit visa with duration of less than 6 months, you may be able to apply to extend your visa for up to a total of 6 months, including the time that you have already spent in the UK.

If you wish to stay in the UK beyond the 6-month period, you may be able to do so in certain circumstances, for example, for medical treatment or for academic purposes.

Medical Treatment

If you are in the UK on a visit visa and you need to stay for more than 6 months for medical treatment, you may be able to apply for an extension of your visa.

As part of your application you will need to provide a number of supporting documents including letters/documents from UK medical practitioners regarding your treatment/condition and evidence that you will be able to fund said treatment. 

The Home Office may allow you to stay in the UK for a further 6 months and, if necessary, you can continue extending your visa.

Academia

If you are in the UK on a visitor visa as an academic, you may be able to extend your visa for up to a total of 12 months, including the time you have already spent in the UK.

As part of your application, you will need to evidence that you are highly qualified in your field of expertise, you were working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas prior to your arrival in the UK, and that you are not filling a permanent teaching post in the UK.

Other circumstances?

There are other circumstances where the Home Office may permit an extension of your visit visa, including if you need to retake a Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test or to undertake a clinical attachment or dental observer post. The Home Office may also extend visit visas in other very exceptional circumstances; however, this will depend entirely on the facts of the case, and the documents you are able to provide in support of your application.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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