The U.K. Post-Study Work visa deadline extended

The previous entry deadline for international students to be able to qualify for the new U.K. Post-Study Work visa has been extended by U.K. Government. This is also referred to as the U.K. Graduate Route.

An official publication – Covid-19: Guidance for Student sponsors, migrants and Short-term students: Temporary concessions in response to Covid-19 – lays down “an extension to the date by which international Students who began their course in 2020, and are studying overseas by distance learning, are required to enter the UK to be eligible for the Graduate route. They must now enter the UK by 27 September 2021 or before their visa expires, whichever is sooner.” [Version 10.0 of the official Guidance, published on June 11, 2021.

This will now be similar to the date for students who begin study overseas in the U.K. in 2021.

The move has been welcomed by Indian students, the largest group of international students enrolled at the universities in U.K. for study abroad. The U.K. Post Study Work visa allows international students in the U.K. to stay on in the country – for 2 years – after the completion of their studies in the U.K. Such students can make use of the duration to either work in the U.K. or explore job opportunities in the country.

Announced in 2019, the new U.K. 2-year post-study work visa for international students – also referred to as the U.K. Graduate Route – will be opening for applications in July 2021.

As per the visa application requirements, international students enrolled in U.K. universities that were taking their courses online or off-campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic were expected to be in the U.K. by June 21, 2021 in order to qualify for their Post-Study Work Visa for the U.K.

https://youtu.be/EnOKFZCTRds

 This entry deadline has now been extended until September 27, 2021.

 As per the updated U.K. Home Office guidance –

Applicants who began their studies in Autumn 2020 have until September 27, 2021, to enter the U.K. with permission as a student [updated from the previous date of 21 June, 2021] in order to be eligible to apply to the graduate route. Students who began their studies in January or February 2021 will need to be in the U.K. by September 27, 2021.

New international students that have not yet applied for a U.K. visa but want to start a course – that they intend beginning overseas through distance learning before travelling to the U.K. for transitioning onto in-person learning – must be issued a CAS and obtain permission under the Student or Child Student route before they travel to the U.K.

New international students that have not yet applied for permission under the Student or Child Student routes but intend starting a course in the U.K. – to be fully studied overseas through distance learning – do not require sponsorship under the Student or Child Student visa for the U.K.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to the UK, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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