can i switch from student visa to general visitor visa ?

[copper7765]

My student visa expires on oct 30 . I was wondering if i can switch to general visitor visa without leaving the country.

[vinny]

No >

It is not possible to switch to become a visitor while in the UK where a person is in the UK in breach of immigration laws or has entry clearance or leave to enter or remain for another purpose.

[Obie]

Quite strange that a person who has been in the UK for a lengthy period wants to switch to visitors visa.

It will make a mockery of the rules, if it was possible for a person to do this.

[cs95tdg]

Quite strange that a person who has been in the UK for a lengthy period wants to switch to visitors visa.

It will make a mockery of the rules, if it was possible for a person to do this.

I know this isn't possible now. But it was possible around 15 years ago, though I don't think I applied to switch, can't recall the details other than having the HO stamp on my old passport. At the time I applied for a visit visa in country, as I spent 6 months travelling with the need to re-enter the UK several times over that period. This was after graduation and before my student visa expired.

As with many other immigration categories I'm guessing this was misused by many applicants and has resulted in the changes seen today.

[Obie]

A person is entitled to apply to extend a visitors visa. However applying for a tourist visa after living in the UK for a while is not acceptable.

[cs95tdg]

A person is entitled to apply to extend a visitors visa. However applying for a tourist visa after living in the UK for a while is not acceptable.

In my particular case, I made a in country visit visa application while I had leave to remain in the UK as a student - all be it during the last month left after graduating. So things have definitely changed since then, as it wasn't an application to extend a existing visitor visa. In essence I made the application in the UK without returning to my country of origin to apply, and began my 6 months of travel from the UK rather than from there.

[noajthan]

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.’
(LP Hartley)

[vinny]

I remember a time, probably prior to 2003, when leave to remain applications were free.

[cs95tdg]

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.’
(LP Hartley)

Very true. It is interesting to see the way it's evolved over the years.

I remember a time, probably prior to 2003, when leave to remain applications were free.

An interesting read.

[Obie]

I remember a time, probably prior to 2003, when leave to remain applications were free.

A friend of mine that i studied with , mentioned the same thing.

The evidence indicates that over the last decade, the UK Immigration system has grown progressively hostile, to immigrant in all form.

[Wanderer]

I remember a time, probably prior to 2003, when leave to remain applications were free.

The evidence indicates that over the last decade, the UK Immigration system has grown progressively hostile, to immigrant in all form.

Yes, very true, because of all the abuse.