For international students, the UK Graduate Visa category offers the most freedom in terms of work and travel. Graduates with a doctoral qualification such as a PhD can stay in the UK for up to three years, while all other Graduate visas are valid for two years. If eligible, your family members will be able to join you in the UK as dependants, and you and your family are free to travel abroad and return to the country as you wish.
Most jobs are permitted under this visa, including self-employment and voluntary work, and you do not need to have a job offer before applying. You must apply for a Graduate visa before your student visa expires, but you don’t have to wait until you have formally graduated. If you are coming to the end of your student visa, get in touch today for personalised legal support in applying for a Graduate visa.
How can Lexus Law help?
- We will assess your situation and ensure that you meet all the requirements for a Graduate visa. This includes verifying that you can financially support yourself and any dependants during your stay.
- Preparing your UK visa application is a complex and time-consuming process. Our immigration law experts will help you to gather all required documentation, alleviating the stress and giving you the best chances of submitting a successful application.
- It is not possible to extend your Graduate visa, and this route does not lead to settlement. If you’d like to stay in the UK beyond your visa expiry date, we will advise you on the best immigration routes for your circumstances.
Speak to our team
Contact us today to find out how our expert immigration lawyers can help you extend your stay in the UK beyond graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the eligibility requirements for a UK Graduate Visa?
To apply for a Graduate visa, you must already be in the UK on either a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. You must have successfully completed your course, whether that was a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or another eligible course. For your course to be eligible, the provider must be listed with the Home Office as a licenced sponsor that has a ‘track record of compliance’. Approved educators are listed with the status ‘Student Sponsor – Track Record’
You need to have studied in the UK for at least 12 months, if the total length of your course is more than 12 months. If the total length is shorter than 12 months, you need to have studied for the total length of the course.
How long will it take to receive a decision about my visa application?
Most applicants receive a decision on their visa within eight weeks of submitting their application. If your student visa expires before you’ve received a decision, you will be permitted to remain in the UK while you wait for the Home Office’s response.
How much does a Graduate visa cost?
The application fee for the Graduate visa is £715. You and any dependants will also be subject to the healthcare surcharge which is usually £624pp for each year you intend to be in the UK.
Our Process
01.
Contact us to book your complimentary consultation.
If you need trustworthy legal advice regarding immigration in the UK, we would be pleased to help. Fill in our contact form with a brief overview of your situation and we will be in touch as soon as possible to schedule a free consultation with our immigration law experts.
02.
Let us review your circumstances and provide a quotation.
During your free consultation, we will provide guidance on how we can support you with your immigration needs. Once we have assessed your current situation and objectives, we will advise on the best course of action and will supply a quotation for our recommended services.
03.
Leave the complex legal matters to our dedicated immigration lawyers.
Once you have approved the quote, we will supply you with our full terms of business. After the terms have been agreed to, we will work closely with you (or on your behalf where appropriate) to achieve your immediate and long-term UK immigration goals.
“This firm can only be described as excellent. Their knowledge of immigration law is second to none. The fast efficient way that they deal with situations is first-class professionalism at its very best. Once you have used Jay and his team you will never use anyone else.”
CLIENT Testimonial
“Jay Moghal of Lexus Law is extremely professional and has deep and impressive knowledge of all aspects of immigration law and procedure. He is creative and a great communicator, fierce and energising, encouraging the pursuit of his clients’ cases with impeccable judgement. I would not hesitate to recommend Jay. His knowledge and professionalism shines through in every event.”
CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS
“Highly recommended. Jay is a thorough professional, who reviewed the case in depth, looked after all the aspects and his suggestions on what I should submit with the case were spot on. I don’t think my case would have been accepted without his help.”
CLIENT Testimonial
“Lexus Law were an absolute dream to deal with. Jay Moghal was our appointed lawyer and he was excellent to deal with. He ensured we submitted all of the required documents and when our application was delayed with COVID challenges he chased the UK Government to expedite the issue and ensure a successful outcome. Highly recommend Lexus Law and Jay to anyone who needs immigration to support.”
CLIENT Testimonial
“Jay and his team assisted with switching over from a student BRP to a spousal one. All I had to do was show up to my appointment and take my fingerprints/photos. They handled the rest! What a dream.”
CLIENT Testimonial
“Lexus Law was founded in 2020 by Jay Moghal, and is building a reputation acting for corporate clients alongside Moghal’s established position among high-net-worth clients.”
THE LEGAL 500
“Jay was wonderful to work with and he made the process of getting our TIER 1 investment visa smooth and easy. He was responsive, professional yet very personable. Even after we got our Visa, he was always ready and willing to answer questions that helped us feel more secure and steady. Moving and transitioning to a new country is always fraught with a myriad of emotions. Jay was definitely an anchor that helped us feel steady.”
CLIENT Testimonial
“I have a good experience with Mr Jay Moghal. I faced a couple of problems and appreciate his professionalism and transparency to deal with my issues and solve the problem. I highly recommend him.”
CLIENT Testimonial
Who we’ve helped
One of the largest wine producers in the UK
The client previously relied on seasonal workers from Europe to help with their harvest, but following Brexit needed support with sponsoring a senior wine consultant on a more permanent basis.
Who we’ve helped
Specialist consultants supporting tech firms with pricing, growth strategies and competitor analysis
We supported them with a sponsor licence application and continue to provide advice on licence maintenance following a reshuffle of key members. We have also helped with skilled worker visa applications.
Who we’ve helped
A global asset management company with over £30 billion under management
We assisted a publicly-trading company their Sponsor Licence application once they had set up operations in the UK. We also helped with visa applications for senior investment advisers from various global offices to support the growth of the business in the UK.
Who we’ve helped
A public listed tech company specialising in sensors used in vehicles, drones and robotics
The US business acquired a UK-based company who we were previously advising. Following the successful acquisition, we assisted with the transfer of employees and continue to assist with the recruitment of skilled overseas workers from around the world.
Who we’ve helped
A specialist children’s content creation company with offices in the US and the UK
We supported the client with various skilled worker visa applications for their employees.
