4-year Student Visa Dilemma

[paperclip]

Hi, I'm studying for a bachelor's degree in London. At first I applied for a 4-year student visa because I was planning on doing a 3rd year placement year, but I have since decided not to and will only do a 3-year degree. When I went through immigration recently, I was asked if my student status had changed. I didn't know what to answer, so I said no, because technically it hasn't changed yet since I'm only in my 2nd year. After reading other posts on the board about people not being granted visas because of overstaying or false statements about their visas, I got worried. What should I do next time I'm asked that question? When I get to the end of my 3rd year, should I 'surrender' myself to the Home Office? Also, I really want to stay in the UK, but I'm getting the impression that unless you're highly qualified (I'm studying for quite a general degree), your visa application will be rejected. How do young graduates manage to stay in the UK then? Can I apply for a working holiday visa right after graduation, or will they see through my 'ploy' for staying in the UK?
This is very troubling for me, please help! Thank you

[Wanderer]

Hi, I'm studying for a bachelor's degree in London. At first I applied for a 4-year student visa because I was planning on doing a 3rd year placement year, but I have since decided not to and will only do a 3-year degree. When I went through immigration recently, I was asked if my student status had changed. I didn't know what to answer, so I said no, because technically it hasn't changed yet since I'm only in my 2nd year. After reading other posts on the board about people not being granted visas because of overstaying or false statements about their visas, I got worried. What should I do next time I'm asked that question? When I get to the end of my 3rd year, should I 'surrender' myself to the Home Office? Also, I really want to stay in the UK, but I'm getting the impression that unless you're highly qualified (I'm studying for quite a general degree), your visa application will be rejected. How do young graduates manage to stay in the UK then? Can I apply for a working holiday visa right after graduation, or will they see through my 'ploy' for staying in the UK?
This is very troubling for me, please help! Thank you

Just either return home after the third year or apply for IGS which is effectively a one year work permit, then take if from there.

Don't hang around for the fourth year not studying, cos the terms of ur visa are that u r studying and making satisfactory progress etc....

[ball1333]

When your degree course is finishing, consider switching to the new IGS:
http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/workin ... cheme.html

SEGS, the old scheme, was just for science and engineering graduates. The new IGS covers graduates in all subjects.

As long as you are a) going to university and b) your visa is still valid, you are all right. There should be no penalty when you apply to switch to IGS. In fact having more time on your visa than you *need* to complete the degree course may work in your favour if your case is in the queue for a bit. You would have to be careful about accepting a full-time job offer before your IGS status is official.

[paperclip]

Thanks for the reply! I did not know about IGS before. I have a few more questions though. Should I already have a job offer before I apply for IGS? If I apply for it in the middle of my 3rd year, it should be okay if I include a letter explaining that I won't be doing a 4th year, shouldn't it? And is it common for people on the scheme to stay on after the 12-month period?

[sakura]

Thanks for the reply! I did not know about IGS before. I have a few more questions though. Should I already have a job offer before I apply for IGS? If I apply for it in the middle of my 3rd year, it should be okay if I include a letter explaining that I won't be doing a 4th year, shouldn't it? And is it common for people on the scheme to stay on after the 12-month period?

You don't need a job degree or anything, you just need to have graduated..that is, you need your results showing you have passed. All degree classifications are accepted, as long as it is a pass. e.g. if you finished this year, and you get your results in August, then you apply in August with your transcripts. That's what I read from the rules. You can't apply during your course, of course.

This is a new scheme so it's hard to tell how many students will stay on after wards.