UK VISA: Extension

This section explains how you can apply to extend your temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (we call this temporary leave to remain).

To apply for permanent residence (we call this indefinite leave to remain), you should see the section on settlement.

If you have temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom, it may be possible for you to extend this and stay longer. However, if you came here as a visitor, you will be allowed to stay for a maximum of six months. You will not be allowed to extend your visa beyond six months or to apply for a new visitor visa. In some circumstances, you may be able to transfer to a different category of visa

After you have lived in the United Kingdom for five years, you may be able to apply to live here permanently, depending on the category of visa you have. The settlement section gives more information about this.

To apply for an extension to your visa, you will need to complete an application form. Before you do this, you should ensure you meet any requirements to be allowed to extend your stay. These will vary according to the category of visa you have.

Application types for extending your stay.
You can download application from UK VISA : Application Forms section of this blog.
If you applying extension under PBS or Tier 1 check out in Tier 1 General: Extension

Form FLR(BUS)
You should form FLR(BUS) if you are applying to extend your stay and obtain a biometric immigration document (identity card for foreign nationals) as:

• a retired person of independent means; or
• a sole representative.

Form FLR(BID)
You should use form FLR(BID) if you are applying to extend your stay and obtain a biometric immigration document (identity card for foreign nationals) under one of the following categories:
as an academic visitor;

• as a domestic worker in a private household;
• on grounds of your UK ancestry; or
• as a visitor for private medical treatment.

Form FLR(M)
You should use form FLR(M) if you are applying to extend your stay and obtain a biometric immigration document (identity card for foreign nationals) as a husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried/same-sex partner

Form FLR(O)
Use form FLR(O) if you are applying to extend your stay under one of the following categories:

• as a general visitor
• as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife;
• as a private servant in a diplomatic household
• as a dependant of exempt HM forces personnel; or
• for other purposes/reasons not covered by other application forms.

Form HPDL
Form HPDL is for extension applications by people who have been given humanitarian protection or discretionary leave to remain. You should complete form HPDL if you were refused asylum but given:

• exceptional leave to remain for a period of less than four years, or for separate periods making four years in all;
• discretionary leave to remain; or
• humanitarian protection.

What documents you need to send us to support your application to extend your stay or stay permanently in the United Kingdom

You should send the original documents, not a copy. In exceptional circumstances, they may accept a photocopy that is certified as an accurate copy by the body or authority that issued the original or by a notary. You must include a letter explaining the reasons for providing a certified copy rather than the original document.

Photographs
You should send us four recent passport-size photographs of yourself and of each of your dependants applying on the same form. The photographs for each person must be provided in one strip, not cut into single photographs. On the back of each strip of photographs, you should print the name of that person, and his/her date of birth and the reference number given by the Home Office, UK Border Agency or port of entry to the United Kingdom.

Passport
You must send us your current national passport or travel document, if you have one. If we give you permission to stay longer in the United Kingdom, we will stamp this in your passport or travel document. You must also send the passport or travel document of each dependant who is applying on the same form.

Evidence of immigration status
To confirm your immigration status, you should send one of the following documents for yourself and for each dependant who is applying on the same form:

• current national passport;
• travel document;
• Home Office or UK Border Agency status letter (this will have an official document number on it - ICD.0716, GEN 19, ICD.0358, or RON 58); or
• immigration status document (this will have an official document number on it - ACD.2155 or ACD.2158.

Supporting documents depending on your current visa.

Check the information of complete documentation in UK VISA: Complete procedure section

If you wish to apply to extend your visa, you must do so before your existing visa expires.

What is my immigration status while my application is being decided
If you make an application before your authorised stay ends, your existing immigration status will continue until your application is decided, even if the decision is not made until after the end of your permitted stay. If your existing visa or other permission to stay here allows you to work, you can continue to do so until your case is decided.

Sponsored students
If you are in the United Kingdom as a postgraduate doctor or dentist or as a student and are being sponsored, or if your sponsorship ended in the last 12 months, we must receive consent from your sponsor to give you permission to stay. If your sponsor does not give this permission, we will refuse your application. If you received private sponsorship during your studies, we do not need your sponsor's consent. You should send an original letter from your sponsor giving us their consent for us to allow to you stay in the United Kingdom.

Check out:
General Visitor : Extension
Student Visa Tier 4-Adult: Extension
Tier 1 General: Extension