Graduate visa

You must apply for the Graduate Visa before your student visa expires. You can apply as soon as your course provider has informed you that you have successfully completed your course of study, you do not need to wait until you have officially graduated.

You must apply online whilst you are in the UK, you can do this by using the online application form available on the gov.uk website. As well as filling in the application form, you will also need to prove your identity as part of your Graduate Visa application. If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein you can usually do this by scanning your passport or national identity card on the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. If you are from a country outside the EU or EEA you can prove your identity by scanning your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) in the app. If you cannot scan your BRP then you will need to attend an appointment to have your biometric information taken (your photograph and fingerprints).

Once you have completed the application form and proven your identity you can expect to receive a decision about your visa application within 8 weeks.

The Graduate Visa cannot be extended, however, if you would like to continue living in the UK after your Graduate Visa expires, you could be eligible to switch to other types of UK visas such as the Skilled Worker Visa.

To be eligible for the Skilled Worker route you must have a job offer from a registered UK sponsor company, you will also need to meet other eligibility criteria like the minimum salary requirements. As a Skilled Worker, you will be able to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years, after which your visa can be extended or you could be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Other visas that you could be eligible for include:

• The Health and Care Visa – if you’re a medical professional who has been offered a job with the NHS
• The Start-up Visa – If you plan to start an innovative business in the UK
• A partner visa – if you are married to, in a civil partnership with, or in a long-term relationship with a British citizen or settled person

Graduate Visa refusal

As one of the newer UK visas, the process for dealing with a Graduate Visa refusal is similar to the other routes. Some of the most common reasons for a Graduate Visa refusal include the following:

• Applying from outside the UK (you must apply for this visa inside the UK)
• Failing to provide proof of your identity
• Not holding the correct immigration status
• Failing to submit the correct supporting documents
• The applicant doesn’t respond to Home Office requests for further information
• You do not have a job offer from an eligible Home Office-approved sponsor at the required skill level
• You cannot provide evidence that your job will meet the minimum salary threshold (typically at least £25,600 or the going rate for the job)
• You do not have the required level of English language skills (B1 on the CEFR Scale)

If your visa is refused, you may be eligible to apply for an administrative review. You must submit your request for administrative review within the given timelines in your refusal letter (usually 14 days).

The potential outcomes of an administrative review include:

• The review is successful and the Home Office withdraws their decision
• The decision is maintained for the original reasons given
• The decision is maintained but for different reasons

The best course of action could be to work with an experienced immigration lawyer to discuss your case and develop a course of action based on your circumstances. If you need support or advice with your case, contact our expert immigration lawyers today for further advice and support.

How can IAS help?

The graduate route is very new to the UK immigration system which means it can be difficult to work out exactly how to make a successful application. Here at IAS, our lawyers are trained in all the latest changes to the UK’s immigration system, including the new graduate route.

We can assist you with every step of the graduate route application process, from assessing whether you are eligible to apply, to helping you complete the application form accurately and gather all of your supporting documents. Our lawyers have a track record of success when it comes to UK visa applications, they will ensure that your application is completed to the highest standard.

For more information about the immigration services that our lawyers provide, get in touch with our team today on 0330 057 4866 .