Visa switch

[principium]

Hello,

I am currently a work permit holder and I want to study for an accountancy qualiciation, which means I will have to switch to a student visa.
In this case, will I have to leave the country and apply again from the overseas office or can I switch to a student visa while being in the UK?

Many thanks

[John]

I think you can apply in the UK and would use Form FLR(S) to make the application.

I think the clue is that if you look at that form you will see that it specifically says at the start of Section 5 :-

You should only complete this section if your last period of stay was for the purpose of study.

In other words if switching to a student visa in the UK was not permitted why would they include those words?

[olisun]

"You should only complete this section if your last period of stay was for the purpose of study." <== in this case the OP is currently on WP and not on a student visa.

"In other words if switching to a student visa in the UK was not permitted why would they include those words?" <== I am confused with your response

[John]

Olisun, what I meant was this.

That form FLR(S) clearly caters for where a student visa holder wants to apply for more time in the UK as a student visa holder. Such a person would complete the form including Section 5.

However the form also says that if the person is not already a student visa holder they should not complete that Section 5. A look at the questions in that section will show why that is the case.

All the FLR forms are for when someone is already in the UK and now wants a further time-limited visa issued in the UK. As far as the form FLR(S) is concerned, the fact that those words are there at the start of Section 5 clearly shows that IND envisage people already in the UK .. but yet having a student visa .... using the form FLR(S) to apply for a student visa.

Is that clearer?

[vin123]

Hello,

I am currently a work permit holder and I want to study for an accountancy qualiciation, which means I will have to switch to a student visa.

Many thanks

This is just a blind suggestion -

Rather than becoming a full time student, why not consider other options such as going part time or Open University for the desired accountancy qualification that you are after.
I think its perfectly legal to do with your WP status.

[philgeorge999]

Why would you want to study for 'an accountancy qualification' as a student anyway? To get one of the proper certifications from ICA, ACCA etc you need to study the material as part of a 3-year professional training contract anyway, in which case you would get a work permit.

Any other 'accountancy qualification' would give you at best 1 year's exemption from these organisations' exams, so there really is no point.

Hello,

I am currently a work permit holder and I want to study for an accountancy qualiciation, which means I will have to switch to a student visa.

Many thanks

This is just a blind suggestion -

Rather than becoming a full time student, why not consider other options such as going part time or Open University for the desired accountancy qualification that you are after.
I think its perfectly legal to do with your WP status.

[principium]

Hello, and thanks everyone who replied.

My contract and therefore work permit expires early February 06. If I find job and a new work permit sponsor - it is fine, if not, I want to persue my accountacy qualification and move to student visa.

By the way, I have a new question: at the workingintheuk website I have just read that a company should apply for a work permit at least one month before FLR expires. How true is this? what will happen if an employer applies say only 2-3 weeks before?

Many thanks for your comments and help.

[philgeorge999]

The 4 weeks advice is just so that, if there are problems with the application, then the Home Office can get back to the employer before the LTR runs out if there are problems with the application.

If the app was submitted only a week before the end of the existing LTR, and they then had to return it 2 weeks later unprocessed because it was badly completed, you'd end up being an overstayer... and then you couldn't re-submit it.

4 weeks gives then long enough time to be able to give all applications a cursory check.

Hello, and thanks everyone who replied.

My contract and therefore work permit expires early February 06. If I find job and a new work permit sponsor - it is fine, if not, I want to persue my accountacy qualification and move to student visa.

By the way, I have a new question: at the workingintheuk website I have just read that a company should apply for a work permit at least one month before FLR expires. How true is this? what will happen if an employer applies say only 2-3 weeks before?

Many thanks for your comments and help.

[principium]

The 4 weeks advice is just so that, if there are problems with the application, then the Home Office can get back to the employer before the LTR runs out if there are problems with the application.

Philgeorge, thanks!
Yes, I am aware of these risks. However, I also called them up and they told me that the rquirement to apply strictly one month before LTR expires applies only to WP EXTENSIONS.

But generally speaking - the earlier the better.

Thanks for your advice.

Hello, and thanks everyone who replied.

My contract and therefore work permit expires early February 06. If I find job and a new work permit sponsor - it is fine, if not, I want to persue my accountacy qualification and move to student visa.

By the way, I have a new question: at the workingintheuk website I have just read that a company should apply for a work permit at least one month before FLR expires. How true is this? what will happen if an employer applies say only 2-3 weeks before?

Many thanks for your comments and help.