Changing status from Tier 4 to visitor
My Tier 4 visa expires on August 17, 7 days after my work committment is finished. I have a US passport. I will be travelling in the UK and Ireland until August 19 when I fly from Edinburgh to Geneva. How can I change my status from Tier 4 to visitor for the two days between August 17 (expiration date) and the date I leave, August 19? Is there any grace period?
Do I actually need to leave the country before expiration of my visa and return as a visitor to spend the extra two days in the UK?
Best Answer
There is no grace period on a Tier 4 visa (see here). Therefore, you have to leave the country and re-enter not to overstay.
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Can I change my visa category?
For most economic routes, it is possible to switch from any visa, other than those listed above, as long as you are able to meet all other requirements for the particular visa you want. However, some categories are stricter.Can you change your visa status in the UK?
No. Unfortunately, you cannot switch from a Visitor Visa to any other visa in the UK. The Visitor Visa is intentioned as a way of coming to the UK in order to visit and not for permanent stay in the UK. The UK offers many alternative visa routes for this possibility but the Visitor Visa is not one of them.Can I switch from Tier 4 to Tier 1 visa?
Can I Switch To A Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa From A Tier 4 Student Visa? Yes, though there are very specific eligibility criteria to meet. If you can meet the criteria, the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa is one of the more generous on offer and a quick route to gaining Indefinite Leave to Remain.Can I change my Tier 4 visa in the UK?
As a Tier 4 Student Visa holder, you can switch to a Skilled Worker Visa (formerly the Tier 2 Visa) from within the UK if you have a job offer from an employer with a sponsor licence and meet all the eligibility requirements (as explained below).SWITCHING VISAS INSIDE UK | HOW TO CHANGE UK VISA STATUS
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Answer 2
As the other answer notes, you need to leave and reenter the UK in order to change your status. In fact, technically, you must leave and reenter the "Common Travel Area", which means that you can't achieve this by traveling to Ireland.
The only other option is to apply for another visa. As long as your application is being processed, you would not be overstaying. However, the visas to which you can switch from Tier 4 are unlikely to be applicable in your case. You cannot make an in-country application for a visitor visa.
In addition, you should expect to face extra scrutiny at the border when you reenter. The Home Office are especially wary of people returning soon after the end of a long term visa. Be prepared to present your itinerary and financial documents showing you have enough funds for your stay. Make sure you don't have anything essential left to do in the UK (such as returning house keys) on the off chance that you are denied entry.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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