If you are a national of a country outside the EEA or Switzerland, you will need a student visa to study in the UK. Most of you will have applied and been granted a student visa prior to arriving in the UK or will already have a student visa for a previous course. The vignette or stamp in your passport indicates the length of time you are permitted to remain in the UK as a student. You may need to extend your leave to remain, particularly if you start a new degree programme, or if you require more time in which to complete your degree.

Make a note in your diary to apply for an extension well before your visa expires. The Home Office will automatically refuse anyone who has overstayed their visa by 28 days or more (up to 6 months in exceptional circumstances) and you will not have a right of appeal against a refusal if your application is made after that expiry date. Also check that your passport is not about to expire. If it is, try to renew it through your Embassy or High Commission a long time before you need to extend your visa.

The International Student Office can assist you with your application by providing the appropriate forms, offering advice and, in most cases, sending it to the UK Border Agency through the Batch Scheme on your behalf.

To make the visa extension application, you must have:

• Tier 4 (General) application form available from the UKBA website for the main applicant and 
• PBS Dependant application form for each dependant
• valid passport 
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the Registry Student Centre 
• Two passport-sized photographs (taken within the month prior to making your application and on a pale background) of yourself and any dependants (with names written on the back) Photograph guidance can be obtained from the UKBA website
• Original bank statements showing the required amount of money for 28 days, this must be in your name or your parents
• If your parents are paying your fees and living costs you must also provide your Birth Certificate and a letter from your parents to confirm that they are funding you - all these documents must be in English
• Original bank statements showing the required amount of money for dependants,this must be in your/your spouse's name
• Transcript from your current course or other document as required in the CAS 
• Police Registration Certificate for you and your dependants (if you are required to register with the police)with your current address in the UK
• ATAS certificate if you are studying a PhD or Masters in science or engineering
• Payment of £394 for the main applicant and £197 per dependant if application made with the main applicant. Dependants applying separately from the main applicant will pay £561 each.

From 6th April 2012 you will be required to show the following amounts for maintenance (living costs):

Main applicant: £800 per month for the required amount of time

Each dependant: £450 per month for the required amount of time

We recommend payment by postal order or banker's draft.

Please note - all documents must be originals, not photocopies.

You can go to the Home Office in person at the address below but you will need to make an appointment before you go. The nearest railway station is East Croydon. There is a premium charge for this service of £716 for the main applicant and £358 per dependant if applying with the main applicant. Dependants applying separately from the main applicant will need to pay £867 each.

UK Border Agency
The Home Office
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon CR9 2BY
Tel: 0870 606 7766

Opening times: Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm

For all information about visas and other immigration matters, please contact the International Student Office. You will not need to make an appointment but please note the office hours are 9.30am – 12.30am and 2pm – 4pm each week day. Outside these hours information can be obtained from the UKCISA or contact the Students' Advice Line (tel: 020 7107 9922). This telephone line is open Monday-Friday 1pm – 4pm.