Have you ever wondered about staying and working after studying your degree in the UK?
On 1 July 2021, the UK Government launched a graduate visa route to allow international students on a student visa to remain living and working in the UK after they graduate. Graduates do not need to work in the field related to their degree, allowing for great flexibility for graduates to gain work experience. Students can apply after completing their undergraduate or graduate (postgraduate) degree and can work in the UK for up to two years.
Therefore, if you’re an international student studying in the UK and are hoping to stay in the UK longer to gain employment, this is your chance!
Graduate Route Visa – Application Process
You can only apply for the Graduate visa from inside the UK while your Tier 4/Student visa is still valid. We recommend contacting your university’s immigration officer before you graduate to prepare you for the process.
Once you have successfully completed your degree and your university has informed the Home Office, you will need to have successfully completed your current course/degree (i.e. been notified of your official award) and your university will need to have reported your successful completion to the Home Office before you can apply. Once your status is processed by your university, your university will update your immigration record.
The current graduate visa application fee is £715 + the healthcare surcharge, which is usually £624 per year you will be in the UK.
Once you’ve applied and provided all necessary documents, it can take up to 8 weeks to get a decision on your visa. You will be able to continue living in the UK under the conditions of your Tier 4/Student visa until an outcome is received. You cannot travel outside of the UK while your Graduate visa application is pending.
Here is the link where you can apply for the Graduate visa: https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa/apply
Here is the link to the documents you will need to apply: https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa/documents-youll-need-to-apply
After Getting Your Graduate Visa
After your Graduate visa is approved, you are free to search for work, work in most jobs, be self-employed, and travel in and out of the UK. As noted above, your Graduate visa will last for 2 years, but note that it cannot be extended. At this point, if you want to remain in the UK, you might be able to switch to another visa, such as the Skilled Worker Visa, or Tier 2 Visa (if a job will sponsor you).
Did you know that US visitors will need to apply for an ETA to visit the UK? Check out our article here.
Need to speak to an advisor about studying in the UK? Check our Services webpage to see what the best available options are for your needs.
About the Author:
Ashley Jeanson is an international education expert with over 9 years of experience in the field. She’s worked for a mixture of study abroad providers, universities in the US and the UK, and third-party providers, mostly specializing in helping American students attend UK universities. In her spare time, she travels the globe and is eternally in search of the best cup of coffee.
