Hey there for students who are looking forward to settling in the UK!
So, if you’re thinking about staying in the UK after your studies, you are reading the perfect article.
More and more international students are making the UK their permanent home these days, and the country really wants to keep bright minds like yours around.
Anyway, while there’s a clear path to follow, you’ll need to know what you’re doing to make it happen.
Therefore, we have collected all the information that you must know in order to grant your PR in the UK.
Understanding Your Post-Study Options
There are several ways that you can stay in the UK after graduating.
One of those is the Graduate visa, which is pretty new. It came out in 2021 and allows you to stick around for two years after graduation.
Moreover, if you’ve done a PhD, you get three years in total.
To be honest, it’s a great chance to get some work experience and figure out what you want to do.
On the other hand, the Skilled Worker visa is another solid option if you want to head straight for permanent residence through a job.
Note: If you’re particularly talented or want to start your own business, check out the Global Talent visa or Start-up visa for more opportunities.
Key Requirements for Permanent Residence
Let’s talk about what you need for permanent residence.
In this case, you’ll need to live in the UK for five years without any big gaps. Specifically, you can’t be out of the country for more than 180 days in any 12-month period.
Moreover, you’ll need to prove that you can speak English well (at least B1 level) and pass a test about life in the UK.
Oh, and keep your nose clean – they’ll check your criminal record and make sure that you’ve followed all the immigration rules in the perfect way.
The Skilled Worker Route
This is the main way that most people get permanent residence.
Speaking of which, you’ll need a job with a company that can sponsor visas, and they’ll need to pay you enough. Usually at least £26,200 a year, but it depends on your job.
In your case, if you’re moving from a student visa, you’ll need to time everything right to keep your residence on the correct path.
In fact, your job needs to be skilled enough, too, as in usually at RQF level 3 or higher.
Graduate Immigration Route
This is an easy option after your studies.
If you’ve finished your UK degree and still got your student visa in hand, you can apply for this route.
The plus point in here is that you don’t need anyone to sponsor you.
Isn’t that great?
Note: While it won’t count directly towards permanent residence, it gives you some time to find a job that will.
Building Your Case for Settlement
In this case, you’ll need to keep track of everything.
These include, where you’ve worked, where you’ve lived, and proof that you’ve always had the right visa.
Moreover, have your financial records to show that you’re making enough money, and hang onto your certificates from your degree and English tests.
Note: Consider about the reference help too. Just think of it as building a portfolio about your life in the UK.
Cost Considerations
Let’s be real about money, as you may already know, settling in the UK isn’t cheap.
Right now, applying for permanent residence costs over £2,400 per person.
Moreover, you’ll also need to pay for health coverage, the Life in the UK test, and English certifications as well.
Plus, if you wish to get a lawyer, you must expect to pay between £1,000 and £3,000 to that person in advance.
Timing Your Application
Start planning about a year before you want to apply.
Usually, applications take 6 to 8 months to process, but you can pay extra to speed things up.
Anyway, just make sure that your current visa doesn’t run out while you’re waiting.
This is because overstaying isn’t something good to have in your profile.
Becoming a permanent resident in the UK after studying there can be really amazing after going through a lot.
Anyway, it is true that you must spend your time and money on this, but lots of graduates find it’s worth it to build a life in the UK.
Whatever it is, just keep an eye on any changes in immigration rules, and get help if you need it.
This is because your chances of success are much better when you know what you’re doing.
Contact TEVS a UK student visa consultants in Sri Lanka for more details.