You are unable to send you application to the Home Office any more than 5 weeks before your present leave/visa is due to expire. Applications made before that time will be rejected. You can apply up until the last date of your leave, but your application must arrive at the Home Office before the last day. If it arrives after this date you will be considered an over-stayer and will have no right to appeal if you application is rejected.

NB it is advisable to start completing your form and collecting the required documents around 2 months before your leave is due to expire.

If you want to extend as a student you will need to complete an FLR(S) form, this can be downloaded from: http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/filestore/newFLR(S)Aug03.pdf

You will also need to complete this form if you wish to extend to write up your thesis or to re-sit an examination.

If you need to extend your leave to remain to attend your Graduation Ceremony or to travel after you studies you will need to extend as a visitor and it is therefore necessary to complete an FLR(O) which can be downloaded from: http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/filestore/newFLR(O)Aug03.pdf

Please note that it is illegal for visitors to work in the UK.

Documents you will need to provide:

Your Application Fee. If you want to take advantage of the Student Batch Scheme the only method of payment accepted is postal order (this is obtainable from the Post Office and will cost you approx £10 to buy) Under 'please pay' write Home Office Leave to Remain and detach the receipt part. We are unable to accept cash or cheques/debit/credit cards as they take 3-4 days to clear and this will delay the processing of all student applications in the batch.

A 'To whom it may concern' letter stating that you are a student of the College, your completion date, including the date of your graduation ceremony, if you plan to stay for this. This can be obtained by completing a form in the Registrar Office.

Proof of attendance and progress. This covers part 3 of the form. If have just commenced your studies here at Birmingham you will need to provide results from the previous course that you studied and/or a letter of attendance stating where you were studying. Alternatively you can get the institution to complete session 3 and stamp it with their official stamp. If you have already been studying in Birmingham you will need to obtain a letter from your department stating that your progress is satisfactory.

Proof that you have enough finances to cover you tuition fees and living expenses. This can be in the form of your last 3 months of bank statements (if you are self funding), your parent's last 3 months of bank statements or a letter from their employer stating what they earn and that the job is of a permanent nature, plus a letter from them stating how much they are able to give you each month/year (if you are supported by your parents) or a if you are sponsored, a letter from your sponsor. NB All above documents need to be the originals.

Your Police Registration Certificate, if you are required to register with the police. Please make sure it has your current address on it.
Your un-expired passport.

NB Please remember to photocopy your passport and any other documents you consider important. The Home Office will only accept original documents, photocopies or faxes are unacceptable.

If you need further help on completing the form you can refer to:

http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/images/arrival.pdf