Visitor to Tier (PSW)

[frisfris]

My situation:

Need to apply before 25th Nov.

In U.K right now on either student visitor/visitor/business. (I don't know I;m from Mauritius and you dont need a visa for 6 months stay). I have been under general tier 5 student visa for the past 5 years. It expired this August.

I know that I cannot change from student visitor to psw, but I'm just here for a re-sit and I never needed a re-sit visa. (Mauritians dnt need to apply for visa for 6 months stay).

Is it worth trying to apply in person? Is it too late? Should I send it by post anyway?

thanks! hard nut !

[Lucapooka]

Need to apply in what category? You can't extend a visit visa in the circumstances you have described and nor do you have any options to switch into a different category. If your visit visa is expiring I think the best you can do is leave the UK and try to be re-admitted again as a visitor. Obviously this will be an arbitrary decision for the UKBA and carries some risk of refusal if you have already been in the UK for some considerable time. The fact that you have an exam re-sit (and evidence of this) may help.

However, I'm confused. If your Tier 5 expired in August and you then left and re-entered as a visitor, surely you have current leave up until February? Or was your usual six month entry visa curtailed to some lesser period by the officer?

[frisfris]

'm sorry i wasnt tier 5 I was tier 4 general student.

It's not about staying in the u.k, but more about not letting the chance of a psw visa go away. I have a postgraduate degree and the date of award will reach a year very soon.

That's my issue. I am currently either a student visitor or a visitor in the country. I have all documents ready; bank statements, letter of award, certificates etc. I just dont know if I apply via post is worthwhile, or even trying to apply for poe ( so late now i guess).
Thats about it!
Thanks

[Lucapooka]

You can't apply for PSW from inside the UK (not from the position of a visitor, student visitor, whatever); and you actually confirmed your understanding of this in your initial comment. You will have to leave the UK and apply from your home country or another country where you have legal residence. There are no exceptions to this.