Study Abroad: UK extends Post Study Visa Deadline to 27th Sept - Get Complete Details Here

Study Abroad: As per the latest update, the Home Office revised its guidance last week to extend the deadline of the UK Post Study Visa till 27th September 2021. The Indian students undertaking their courses long-distance given the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were expected to be present in the UK by 21st July to qualify for the Graduate route. However, the deadline has been extended.

As per the Home Office updated guidance, “Applicants who began their studies in Autumn 2020 have until September 27, 2021, to enter the UK with permission as a Student (updated from the previous date of June 21, 2021) in order to be eligible to apply to the Graduate route. Students who began their studies in January or February 2021 will need to be in the UK by September 27, 2021.”

Campaign for Extension of Deadline

The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU) was among the student representatives campaigning for an extension ever since India was placed on the ‘red list’ travel ban on 23rd April amid a spike in Delta variant infections. While Indian students with a valid UK student visa are permitted to fly to the country, many have had to postpone their plans in the face of the health impact of India's second wave and also the additional cost burden of around GBP 1,750 associated with a compulsory 10-day hotel quarantine on arrival in Britain.

The Home Office Statistics

As per the most recent Home Office statistics from earlier this month, there was a 6,391 increase in the number of study visa grants to Indian nationals in the year ending March 2021. Marking a 13% hike over the previous year. It indicates that most Indian students remain keen to take up their courses in the UK despite the constraints of the pandemic and travel requirements. UK universities are, meanwhile, preparing for the new semester in September, with a range of measures expected to be in place for overseas students.

Graduate Route Visa

This was launched by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel last year. The Graduate route visa, commonly referred to as a PSW visa, allows eligible overseas students to work, or look for work, for two years after completing their courses. Indian students, as one of the largest groups of international students enrolling at UK universities over the past year, are set to benefit from an extension to the entry deadline to qualify for the new post-study work (PSW) visa.