Student Visa UK Solicitors — Applications and Extensions, Fixed Fee £750
A wrong financial evidence date, a CAS your university issued incorrectly, or a missed timing window can put the application at risk before the stronger parts of your file are even considered.
Quick answer: The UK Student visa lets international students study full-time at a licensed UK institution. KQ Solicitors checks your CAS, verifies financial evidence dates, reviews documents, and submits the application so the details are right before the Home Office processes it.
The Student visa is more technical than it looks. The financial evidence rules have specific date windows, extension cases involve strict timing, and a CAS error can undermine the whole application. The Home Office can decide the case on what was submitted, so the application needs to be right before it goes in.
What Is the UK Student Visa?
The Student visa replaced Tier 4 (General) on 5 October 2020. It allows international students to study full-time at a UK institution holding a valid Student sponsor licence. Your institution must issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, known as a CAS, before you can apply.
The route can lead to the Graduate visa after successful completion of an eligible course, provided your Student visa or protected Section 3C leave is still valid at the point of application. Graduate route rules and duration can change, so timing your studies and applications matters.
For guidance on working hours or the detailed extension process, use dedicated Knowledge Hub guides once published. This page is the solicitor service page for applications and extensions.
Who Can Apply Through KQ Solicitors?
New student visa applications
You are outside the UK and have received a CAS from a licensed UK institution. You need to apply before travelling.
In-country extensions
Your current Student or Tier 4 General visa is approaching expiry and you want to continue studying at the same or a new institution.
CAS disputes and university issues
Your university has refused to issue a CAS and you believe an Appendix Student exception may apply. We can advise on the relevant exception and, where needed, write to the university formally.
Dependant applications
Most international students can no longer bring dependants from 1 January 2024. Exceptions remain for research-based higher degree students, PhD and doctoral students, and government-sponsored students on courses lasting more than 6 months.
Warning: You cannot extend from inside the UK if your visa has already expired without Section 3C leave protection. You also cannot switch from a visit visa, short-term student visa, or some other categories. Ask before expiry, not after.
We Can Help If…
- Your CAS has errors in course dates, RQF level, fee amount, sponsor details, or spelling.
- Your university has refused to issue a CAS for a resit, repeat year, or same-level course.
- You are unsure whether your bank statements meet the 28-day holding period and 31-day application date window.
- You have been in the UK for less than 12 months and need to provide financial evidence.
- Your extension timing is tight and your visa expires within weeks.
- You are changing institutions and need to confirm academic progression.
- You want to bring dependants and need to confirm whether your course allows it.
- You have a previous refusal, overstay, or suitability concern.
Not sure where your application stands?
Book a consultation and we will check the CAS, financial evidence timing, and any extension risk before you submit.
Key Student Visa Requirements
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
Your institution must issue a valid CAS: no more than 6 months old on the date of application, single use only, and from a sponsor holding a current Student sponsor licence. Check the Register of Student Sponsors before submitting.
Caseworker insight: CAS details are checked in real time. A CAS that has been withdrawn, already used, or issued by a sponsor whose licence has lapsed can lead to refusal.
Financial evidence
You must show sufficient funds for course fees and maintenance unless you have held valid UK permission for at least 12 months on the date of application. Where financial evidence is needed, funds must be held for 28 consecutive days and the end date of that period must fall within 31 days of the application date.
Practical check: Work backwards from your planned application date. Identify the latest acceptable statement end date, then check the full 28-day holding period is covered continuously.
Academic progression
For in-country extensions, the new course must usually be at a higher level than the previous course. Exceptions can apply for resits, repeat modules, same-level courses and work placements. If the university refuses a CAS, check the relevant Appendix Student exception before accepting the refusal as final.
English language
Most students must demonstrate English at the level required for their course. For in-country extensions, you generally do not need to re-prove English if you already demonstrated it for a previous UK Student or Tier 4 visa.
Genuine student and suitability
The Home Office must be satisfied that you are a genuine student intending to study at the institution named on your CAS. Previous refusals, overstaying, deception, or criminal convictions can also affect the application.
Student Visa Fees and Costs in 2026
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| KQ Solicitors fixed fee | £750 |
| Home Office application fee — new application outside UK | £558 |
| Home Office application fee — extension or switch inside UK | £558 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge for students | £776 per year / £388 per 6-month block |
| Priority service, where available | +£500 — 5 working day target |
| Super Priority, where available | +£1,000 — next working day target |
Estimated total — new application, 1-year course, standard: From £1,696 (£750 KQ + £558 Home Office fee + £388 IHS for 6 months).
Estimated total — in-country extension, 1-year course, standard: From £1,696 (£750 KQ + £558 Home Office fee + £388 IHS for 6 months).
The IHS amount depends on the visa length granted, not simply the course length. Each dependant pays their own fees separately. Home Office fees and IHS rates can change.
What Our Student Visa Service Includes
- Initial eligibility assessment — we confirm whether you can apply in-country or need to apply from abroad.
- CAS verification — we check course dates, RQF level, sponsor licence status, fees and academic progression.
- Financial evidence review — we calculate your 28-day holding period and 31-day application date deadline.
- Academic progression advice — we assess whether the new course meets progression rules or whether an exception applies.
- Application preparation and submission — we complete the online form, organise documents, and submit the application.
- Biometric appointment guidance — we advise on UKVCAS, the Visa Application Centre, or the UK Immigration: ID Check app where applicable.
- Post-decision support and eVisa check — we advise you to verify your eVisa conditions before accepting employment and plan Graduate visa timing where relevant.
Our Application Process
- Initial consultation and eligibility check — we confirm whether you can apply in-country or from abroad and identify any timing, CAS, financial evidence or suitability issue.
- CAS verification — we check course title, dates, RQF level, sponsor licence number, fee amount and academic progression confirmation.
- Financial evidence review — we calculate the exact evidence window and confirm whether the 12-month exemption applies.
- Application preparation — we complete the form, prepare representations where needed, and organise documents.
- Submission and biometric guidance — we submit the application and advise on the biometric process.
- Decision, eVisa check and next steps — once decided, we explain the outcome, eVisa status, work conditions and Graduate visa timing. If refused, we assess Administrative Review or fresh application options.
How Long Does a Student Visa Take to Process?
| Application type | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| New applications outside the UK | Usually around 3 weeks from biometrics |
| In-country extensions | Up to 8 weeks from biometrics |
| Priority, where available | 5 working day target |
| Super Priority, where available | Next working day target |
Priority services are targets, not guarantees. Paying for priority does not improve the approval prospects; it only shortens the target waiting time.
Travel warning: Leaving the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while an in-country extension is pending can cause it to be treated as withdrawn, usually without a refund.
Common Student Visa Mistakes That Lead to Refusal
| Mistake | Why it causes problems | How we help |
|---|---|---|
| Financial evidence end date too early | The 28-day period end date must fall within 31 days of the application date. | We calculate the exact window before statements are requested. |
| CAS expired, incorrect or invalid | A CAS more than 6 months old, already used, or containing errors cannot support the application. | We check CAS details and sponsor licence status before submission. |
| Academic progression not met | Extensions normally require a higher-level course unless an exception applies. | We identify whether an exception applies and advise on the university approach. |
| Wrong timing for in-country extension | Overstaying without Section 3C protection changes the legal position. | We review the timeline and flag deadline risk before submission. |
| New course starts too late | If the new course starts more than 28 days after visa expiry, you may need to apply from abroad. | We check the course start date against visa expiry. |
| Travelling while extension is pending | Leaving the Common Travel Area can cause withdrawal. | We make this clear before submission. |
| Suitability issue not addressed | Previous refusals, overstaying or breaches can affect the application. | We review immigration history before submission. |
| Wrong dependant eligibility assumed | Most students cannot bring dependants from 1 January 2024. | We confirm dependant eligibility before including them. |
When Should You Speak to a Solicitor?
If your CAS is straightforward, your financial evidence clearly meets the requirements, you have no previous refusals, and your timing is well within the window, you may be able to submit the application yourself.
But if your financial evidence dates are close to the deadline, your university has refused a CAS, your visa expires within weeks, or you have any previous refusal or suitability concern, legal advice before submission is cheaper than a refusal and the complications it creates for your Graduate visa.
Do not assume UKVI will contact you to fix missing or incorrect documents. They can decide the application on what was submitted.
When This Service May Not Be Right for You
This fixed-fee service covers new Student visa applications from outside the UK and in-country extensions. It may not be the right fit if you are on a route that cannot switch in-country, need detailed working-hours advice, need a Graduate visa application after completion, or have a complex appeal, human rights case, or Home Office investigation.
If you are unsure whether your situation fits this service, contact us and we will tell you. There is no obligation.
Ready to Apply? Talk to KQ Solicitors
The student visa has technical requirements that catch even well-prepared applicants. A financial evidence date outside the window, a CAS issued incorrectly, or an academic progression exception that was never identified can lead to refusal before the caseworker considers anything else.
KQ Solicitors handles student visa applications and extensions for a fixed fee of £750.
Frequently Asked Questions
KQ Solicitors charges a fixed fee of £750 for student visa applications and extensions. This is separate from the Home Office application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
The Home Office fee is £558 for both new applications from outside the UK and in-country extensions. The Immigration Health Surcharge for students is £776 per year, or £388 per 6-month block, paid upfront. Add the KQ fee of £750 and the realistic starting total is from £1,696 for a 1-year course, excluding any priority service.
It depends on where you study and what level your course is. Students at Higher Education Providers on degree-level courses can usually work up to 20 hours per week during term time. Students at some other institutions may have no general work rights. Check your eVisa conditions before accepting any job offer.
Yes, if your current Student or Tier 4 General visa is still valid. Your new course must usually begin within 28 days of your current visa expiry. If your visa has already expired without Section 3C leave protection, you cannot extend in-country.
There may be an exception under Appendix Student that covers your situation, including resits, same-level courses, work placements, or other circumstances. We can advise on which exception applies and, if needed, write to the university formally citing its sponsorship obligations.
Standard processing is up to 8 weeks from the biometric appointment, but during peak periods it can take longer. Priority service targets 5 working days where available. You remain lawful under Section 3C throughout processing if the application is valid and in time, but you cannot travel outside the Common Travel Area while your application is pending.
From 1 January 2024, most students cannot bring dependants. Exceptions remain for PhD and doctoral students, research-based higher degree students at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance, and government-sponsored students on courses lasting more than 6 months. Each dependant applies separately and pays their own fees.
A refused extension that results in a gap in lawful residence can affect Graduate visa eligibility because you must hold valid Student permission, or protected Section 3C leave, at the point of a Graduate visa application. Time in Administrative Review does not count as lawful residence unless the review succeeds. Graduate route rules and duration should be checked on GOV.UK before relying on any future application date.
Book a Student Visa Consultation
We can check your CAS, evidence dates, extension timing, and submission risk before the Home Office sees the application.
Fees, rules, and guidance can change. Always check the current GOV.UK position before submitting.