Student Dependant - Switch to Graduate Visa - Time of Absence

[hanif54]

Hi. There are 3 parts to my query. I am a PhD student on a student visa which expires on 30 April 2026.

1. I intend to register my fiance as my dependant when we get married this November 2025. We intend to apply for dependant in December 2025. When approved, she will come to the UK in January 2026. Is there going to be an issue considering the short time left (4-5 months) on my student visa?

2. I secured a job in the UK which requires me to obtain a graduate visa in January 2026. When my partner arrives in the UK in January 2026, can both of us immediately switch to Graduate Visa? Or is there a certain period the dependant has to be in the UK before applying for it?

3. Since she has commitments back at home country, she intends to leave the UK right after obtaining the Graduate Dependant. May I know how long she could be outside the UK without affecting her Graduate Dependant status when re-entry later?

It would be amazing if someone could answer these. Thank you.

[sah10406]

None of these things matter.

You seem to be imagining or reading extra rules and requirements from somewhere.

[hanif54]

Thank you. My CAS states that my course end date is 30/12/2025. I will apply for the visa around early December 2025. Some suggested to put the visa expiry date (30 April 2026) rather than the course end date in the visa application for the 'Course End Date' section.

My concern is that if I put the date same as the CAS, it may cause refusal if its too close to the date? If I put the visa expiry date, it would be a misleading information compared to the CAS letter. What date would be best to put? Thank you so much in advance.

[sah10406]

Some suggested to put the visa expiry date (30 April 2026) rather than the course end date in the visa application for the 'Course End Date' section.

That is only a suggested possible workaround if the Course End Date has already passed. There is an error on the form when it asks for Course End Date not visa end date, and the field will only future date in that field. None of this is relevant to your dependant's application because they are applying before your course end date anyway.

My concern is that if I put the date same as the CAS, it may cause refusal if its too close to the date?

It will not. Again, you are imagining secret or discretionary rules which simply do not exist.