Student visa extension?

Hi everyone,

Well, I got the results today after the exam board met, and as I feared, I have to re-sit 2 exams that I failed last January (2010).  I am in a Master's program.  The good news is that I passed my dissertation and am not required to make any changes to it.  So there's that at least.  But I am feeling pretty down-hearted because of the two fails.  I was hoping they would reconsider after reviewing the rest of my course work but no such luck.  This means that I will not be graduating in January 2011.  My course ended in Sept, and my visa is valid til the end of January. I knew that if I couldn't apply for my post-study work visa, that I could (at least according to the uni) apply for a student visa extension, since basically my course is extended until I complete my exams, and then I should be granted leave to stay until the end of May - 4 months after my exam in January.

Here's the glitch, only one of the courses is offered this fall, with a January exam.  The other is not offered until 'spring' beginning in January.  So that exam will not be given until the end of May.  So does that mean I should be granted leave to stay until September 2011, 4 months after the May 2011 exam?  Has anyone here ever had to resit exams and/or apply for an extension on their student visa?  I have been a wreck awaiting the news, and of course wouldn't you know that I did not receive the email until nearly 5 pm today, Friday, too late to call the international dept at the uni to get some information.  So I have the whole weekend to continue to stress over all of this.  I just want to be done and get a real job instead of these temp jobs that pay c#*p.  But since it will be another year before I can apply for PSWV, I have to take what I can get, since I cannot accept a permanent position on my student visa. 

Should it be fairly easy to get an extension?  Surely they will not make me return home before I have retaken my exams?  Anyone?  Thoughts or ideas?  Thanks!

It is up to your university whether they are happy to sponsor you for a Tier 4 extension, so you need to check this with them.  I can't see any reason why they wouldn't.

Thanks, sah!!  I think the uni will probably sponsor me for one, since as you said, there's no reason why they shouldn't.  I am just hopeful that it is just a matter of routine for it to be approved.  I can meet the financial requirements, so hopefully there won't be any issues.  I guess I am just worried that they (UKBA) may want me to go home! 

I guess I am just worried that they (UKBA) may want me to go home! 

As I say, it's your university's call, not UKBA's.

Can't sleep and I know that you may not have anything to add, sah, or anyone, but the uni has said today that they are not sure they are able to sponsor me until the May exam (and other students affected by having to resit and the exam being offered in May instead of January, and apparently there are a fair number of them).  I may not have an answer for over a month, and possibly not even until January, and my visa expires on Jan 31.  It's going to make studying for that January exam even more stressful than it already is.  I can't believe I would have to go home, to the US, return in May to resit the exam, and then turn around and go home again and wait another few months to be conferred with my degree before I can apply for PSWV.  In the meantime, giving up my flat, leaving my boyfriend, which will break both of our hearts of course,  etc.  And how can I resit my exam in May when I will not have a visa?  Is that even allowed?  And all the expense of going back and forth, giving up my temp job here, etc etc. Funnily enough, I did well on my dissertation, and if I had to do a rewrite or make corrections, then there would be no question about them extending it, they said they definitely would have under those circumstances.  Sorry to be whining but I guess I am still in a state of shock at being told that I may have to leave at the end of January.

You might be able to enter as a student visitor in May to resit your exam. It will allow you to stay up to 6 months but in the end you would still need to return to the US in order to apply for the T1 PSW and you would not be allowed to work while on the Student Visitor.

Thank you, WebyJ, that is a very good idea, if I cannot work out anything else.  It would be difficult not to work, but worse to be away from my partner for so long.  If anything, I could wait tables again and live with my family when I was at home (US) from end of January to May, and save some money to live on when I returned to the UK in May. I am feeling a little better knowing that this is at least an option.  Thanks again.

Just make sure you double check with your university that it can be done before you try it and try to push them for the T4 extension as it would definately make things easier for you.

Good luck with whatever happens!