General Visit Visa - Extension

[Sunshine_R]

Hello,

My parents was issued a visit visa from April to September. They stayed in UK from April to mid June.

1. Can they apply for their visa extension from September for another 6 months as they have not stayed for complete 6 months?
2. Can they apply for extension from home country?

Kindly clarify my doubts as the internet is full of contradicting information.

[CR001]

No, an extension is ONLY possible within the UK.

They will have to apply for a new visitor visa. Not sure they will get one so soon though.

[Casa]

Visitor visa extensions are only issued in extreme & compelling circumstances, not because a visitor wants to stay on longer. If your parents apply for another 6 month visa immediately on their return it will be refused. They should be spending no more time in the UK in a 12 month rolling period than they
are spending in their home country.

Edit: Beaten by CR001

[Casa]

See also Home Office guidance for Immigration Officers:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... e_v4_0.pdf

In particular the sections on Assessing an applicant’s personal circumstances
and
Frequent or successive visits: how to assess if an applicant is making the UK their main home or place of work

You should look at:
• the purpose of the visit and intended length of stay stated
• the number of visits made over the past 12 months, including the length of stay
on each occasion, the time elapsed since the last visit, and if this amounts to
the individual spending more time in the UK than in their home country
the purpose of return trips to the visitor’s home country and if this is used only
to seek re-entry to the UK
• the links they have with their home country-consider especially any long term
commitments and where the applicant is registered for tax purposes
• evidence the UK is their main place of residence, for example
o if they have registered with a general practitioner (GP)
o send their children to UK schools
• the history of previous applications, for example if the visitor has previously
been refused under the family rules and subsequently wants to enter as a
visitor you must assess if they are using the visitor route to avoid the rules in
place for family migrants joining British or settled persons in the UK
There is no specified maximum period which an individual can spend in the UK in
any period such as ‘6 months in 12 months’. However, if it is clear from an
individual’s travel history that they are making the UK their home you should refuse
their application.