Extending Ancestry visa while not working

[AncestryAussie]

Hi all,

I saw this thread on applying for ILR while not working
http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=4072

My question is slightly different b/c I became resident in the UK 3 months after my ancestry visa became valid, so it will run out before 2 months before I'm able to apply for the ILR. The IND advised me to apply for an extension of my Ancestry visa for this time so I'm eligable for the ILR.

The complication is that I'm studying an MSc at UCL this year, not working. I got pretty terse advice from the IND public enquires email address saying I HAD to be working to extend it, just wondering whether this really is the case?

I worked in IT for 3 years in London before I started the MSc, and have the contracts to prove it. I'd rather not move onto a student visa because I understand this will reset the clock on my residency.

Any tips?

thanks

[Dawie]

The easiest thing to do in your case would be to get a part-time job (say as a bartender or waiter or some other part-time work that would fit in with your studies).

It's pretty clear you need to be employed or intend to be employed for this visa.