BUNAC Blue Card --> Student Visitor --> ?: Questions about Changing Visas

Hello.
I'm an American currently living and working in the UK on a Blue Card (which is valid through February 2009, if that helps). I have recently decided that I would like to begin a 12-week postgrad certificate program at the University of London, SOAS on January 5th. I know I cannot study full time with a Blue Card and I won't have enough time to go home and apply for a Student visa, so I am currently making plans to go to France to apply for a Student Visitor visa. I am having a bit of trouble ascertaining how risky it is to change so quickly -- I imagine I'll get some credibility points from the IO for not simply breaking the law and studying and of course I will have proof of funds, return ticket to US, course acceptance, etc. My question is, what are the odds that I will be bounced and sent back to the US? Any tips on avoiding problems?

My next questions have to do with the Post-Study Work visa. I have scoured the Home Office website and it is still not clear to me whether I will eligible to apply for this visa upon completion of my certificate if I study as a Student Visitor. It doesn't seem to me that Student Visitors as explicitly banned from applying, since the "Student" category seems very vague on the calculator. Is this simply a grey area or are Student Visitors ineligible? Assuming I meet all other requirements, is there any possibility that I could be considered?

Many thanks for any information you may have. I am trying to book time with a lawyer, but I am just so anxious about all this...

My next questions have to do with the Post-Study Work visa. I have scoured the Home Office website and it is still not clear to me whether I will eligible to apply for this visa upon completion of my certificate if I study as a Student Visitor.

    * There are no provisions for Student Visitors to extend their leave in the UK or switch in-country to any other category. If you wish to follow a further course of study you must return to your home country and obtain a student visa.
    * Any leave granted to you in this category will be counted as a period spent as a visitor for the purposes of considering an in-country application for visitor leave.
    * Only those of 18 years and over may apply in this category.

Visa nationals who wish to enter the UK under this category should apply for a visa prior to arrival in the UK. Non-visa nationals do not need a visa prior to arrival but will need to declare their intentions to the Immigration Officer on arrival and will be required to show evidence that they can meet all the requirements of the Immigration Rules, Paragraph 56K.

Yeah, I did read that. I interpreted "extend leave in the UK" to mean that you cannot extend your visa from WITHIN the UK. But what about applying from outside the UK for the Post-Study visa?

See also Guidance - Points Based System Tier 1, Post-Study Work (INF 25).
Post-study workers.

Yeah, I did read that. I interpreted "extend leave in the UK" to mean that you cannot extend your visa from WITHIN the UK. But what about applying from outside the UK for the Post-Study visa?

It's fine to apply from outside the UK.  Your strategy of channel hopping to apply, however, is problematic.  You'll need to establish a basis for your application at the British consulate in Paris, and without documentation, that could be difficult.

I am not sure you would qualify for the PSW if you have only done a 12 week post grad course.

Vicky

Sorry, I should have specified: I don't plan on applying for the PSW from France. I would go back to the US to do that. I would only go to France to become a Student Visitor.

Also, according to the rules of PSW as far as I can understand them (maybe I am just wrong), those with postgrad certificates from approved UK institutions qualify, period. It is indeed a very short course, but it is intensive and I will have the cert. at the end if I pass.

That's what I was referring to, i.e., a student visitor.  Your strategy is to go to France just off the back of a BUNAC and buck the spent leave rule.  You are in the footsteps of about 20 gazillion BUNAC's before you who tried the same thing.  They know about it.  It's not really a tenable strategy.