What should I do before my UK visa is coming to an end?
If your visa is expiring soon, it is important to understand your next steps well in advance of the expiry date, so you can ensure that you do not lose your right to reside in the UK or make the necessary plans to leave and avoid overstaying.
What happens if I let the visa lapse and remain in the UK?
This is called overstaying your visa and means that you lose many of the rights you had while the visa was valid, for example the right to work, and it can also impact your ability to access public funds and housing if this was something you were eligible for during your visa.
Depending on how long you remain in the UK past your visa expiry, this could also impact your ability to make future UK visa applications if you wanted to leave and try to return at a later stage.
It could also mean that the Home Office may try to take action, such as steps to remove you from the UK, and you could become subject to immigration detention or a requirement to report to the Home Office regularly.
What steps should I take?
To avoid overstaying, it is important to get advice on what your options are as early as possible so that an application can be submitted prior to your visa expiry. If this happens, your right to stay in the UK continues until a decision is made.
This might mean applying to extend your existing visa or, if you are eligible to apply for another visa route, we can also advise on switching categories as well as whether you are eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain. The rules on when you become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and the requirements that you need to meet, depend on your visa route, so getting advice on this early is essential.
Also remember that the Immigration Rules change on a regular basis, so you may need to meet different requirements from your previous application.
How we can help
Our team of experts has extensive experience in helping our clients establish what visa routes are right for them and can advise on the following:
- The options available to you and likely prospects of success
- The costs, including Home Office fees
- How to time the application
- The documents you will need
- The long-term considerations for you and, if applicable, when you will likely be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (a right to stay in the UK permanently)
- If you are not eligible for an extension or another visa, we can also advise on the steps you should take to avoid future immigration problems caused by overstaying
If you would like to discuss how we can help with the application process, please get in touch.
