Student visitor visa: can i stay in the uk just beyond 6 months (cumumulative)?

Hi, I'm a non-visa national coming into the uk on a short exchange course (just less than 6 months) as a student. I've applied for my entry clearance and was given a 6 months student visitor visa. I'm intending to arrive a week prior to the start date of visa (and my course) just to tour the uk and perhaps a bit of europe. The visa ends sometime in june but i wish to leave only in july to take advantage of travelling europe in the summer.





Will I need to (or can I) say, first enter the uk as a visitor (i'm a non-visa national), perhaps leave for france just before my course start date and re-enter the uk with the student visitor visa, then stay for less than 6 months, leave the uk in june and re-enter the uk as visitor for about 2 weeks? Will I be granted re-entry as a plain visitor in june? Thanks.

Student visitor visa: can i stay in the uk just beyond 6 months (cumumulative)?
Yes as long as you do exactly what you say. Enter as a visitor which is exactly what you will be at first, leave and then enter on your student conditions at the start date of your visa. You must leave the UK at the end date of your visa and then you can return as a visitor on your way back home.





Now the important part - have evidence of your intention to travel to Europe when you arrive at the UK Border the first time so that the Immigration Officer can see exactly what you intend to do. That could be tickets to Europe or hotel bookings etc. When you return to the UK at the end of your travels ensure that you have your ticket home booked or the officer may think that you intend to stay in Europe indefinitely. It will help when you enter the first country in mainland Europe also as the Immigration control there will want to know that you intend returning home especially after, by then, nearly seven months away. Having evidence of your ability to fund your travels will also help as well as documentation relating to your continued studies or prospects after your exchange course.


You are a non-visa national and as long as you have good evidence of your intentions you shouldn't have problems. If you attempt to enter as a visitor before your visa is valid without the plans to travel out of the country and return then that could be difficult.


It is a regular travel routing for US students and it would not be unreasonable to expect someone to take advantage of the travel possibilities after a semester of studying. The key is evidence, evidence, evidence of intentions.
Reply:When issued with a visa you are being issued a visa to enter the UK legally for a set period of time, you can not overstay your visa in the UK, you are then illegal. It is as simple as that.





~To extend your stay you will need to apply for a residence permit at the Border and Immigration Agency.
Reply:If you leave, you may not get back in.You are on a computer, Use it.
Reply:You need a valid visa to get into the UK and will be checked on how and why you are supporting yourself while here. You are unlikely to be allowed re entry.