Tier 1 (General) Extensions
- Currently on a Tier 1 Visa? We can help with Tier 1 Extensions!
- We may also be able to deal with applications on a same day basis.
Call the London Office for a Tier 1 consultation or appointment.
Can you apply for a Tier 1 Extension?
You can apply to extend your stay in the UK under Tier 1 (General) if you are already in the UK with permission to stay in one of the following immigration categories:- Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
- writer, composer or artist
- self-employed lawyer
- Tier 1 (General)
Points
You need to score at least 95 points if you currently have permission to stay in the UK as:
- a Tier 1 (General) migrant under the Immigration Rules in place before 19 July 2010;
- a Highly Skilled Migrant;
- a writer, composer or artist; or
- a self-employed lawyer.
Qualifications
| Bachelor's | Master's | PhD |
|---|---|---|
| 30 points | 35 points | 50 points |
Age
The points awarded for Age differ for those switching over from HSMP and for those extending an existing Tier 1(General) visa.
| Extension Applications for current HSMP visa holders | |
|---|---|
| Under 28 years of age | 20 points |
| 28 or 29 years of age | 10 points |
| 30 or 31 years of age | 5 points |
Previous Earnings
Previous earnings will be calculated from any consecutive 12 month period within the previous 15 months that you worked in the UK before applying for an extension. Exceptions to this rule exist if you were absent from work during this period due to maternity leave or adoption-related leave.
| In pounds per year | Points scored |
|---|---|
| £25,000 - £29,999 | 5 |
| £30,000 - £34,999 | 15 |
| £35,000 - £39,999 | 20 |
| £40,000 - £49,999 | 25 |
| £50,000 - £54,999 | 30 |
| £55,000 - £64,999 | 35 |
| £65,000 - £74,999 | 40 |
| £75,000 - £149,999 | 45 |
| £150,00+ | 80 |
UK Experience
It will also be possible for you to claim 5 points for UK Experience, if you could not previously do so. However, you must be able to claim points for Previous Earnings and have 16,000 GBP of those earnings made in the UK during that period.
English Language Ability
You are not required to prove English Language ability again when applying for an extension unless you were granted an HSMP visa after the rules put in place on 5 December 2006.
Maintenance
If you have enough money to cover your living expenses in the UK, you will score 10 points. In order to meet this requirement, you must:
- be able to support yourself throughout your stay in the UK. You will not have access to most public funds during your stay; and
- show that you have £800 available in personal savings, if you apply before 14 June 2012; or
- show that you have £900 available in personal savings, if you apply on or after 14 June 2012.
- have been in your bank account for 90 consecutive days before your date of application;
- not include earnings made from UK employment while you were in breach of UK immigration laws (because, for example, you were in an immigration category that did not allow you to work);
- be held in an account (including savings accounts and current accounts, even if you need to give notice to withdraw money from those accounts). Other accounts, shares, bonds, overdrafts, credit cards, pension funds or agreed overdraft facilities are not acceptable; and
- be held at a financial institution that can be verified by the UKBA.
Transitional Measures
If you are unable to qualify for an extension to your highly skilled migrant visa, there are transitional arrangements in place to allow you to move to another Tier, such as Tier 2 for skilled workers. If you have been working in the same position for the last 12 months and you have held an HSMP visa for more than 12 months, or you have worked in the same position for 8 months and have held an HSMP visa for 12 months or less, your employer can apply for a work permit for you without the need to show that a British or European Union citizen could not be found to fill the job.
When transitioning to another Tier, time spent in the UK under Tier 1 will qualify towards the time required to qualify for settlement under the target tier.
