Student Visa Solicitors London
If you need expert legal advice on applying for a UK Student Visa, extending your stay, or resolving a problem with your student immigration status, our Solicitors, who have over 25 years of experience in UK immigration, can help.
Your immigration status underpins everything about your time studying in the UK. A problem with a Student Visa application that is not caught before submission, or a status issue that goes unaddressed, can disrupt your studies and affect your plans for remaining here after graduation. Getting proper advice protects your position at every stage.
At Law Lane Solicitors, we advise international students from our offices in Stratford E15, Holborn WC1V, and Croydon CR0. We help students apply for entry clearance before arriving, extend visas, switch to work routes after graduating, and deal with complications during their studies, including institutions losing their sponsor licence. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
The Student Route replaced the former Tier 4 system in October 2020. The core requirements are similar, but the rules on dependants changed significantly from January 2024. Whether you are applying for the first time or dealing with a problem mid-course, we will explain the current position clearly.
Our Student Visa Legal Services
We advise on the following Student Visa matters:
- Entry clearance applications for international students at licensed UK institutions
- Extensions of Student Visa leave for students continuing or progressing to a higher-level course
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS): what it is and what it means for your application
- Financial maintenance: £1,334 per month for study in London, £1,023 per month outside London
- English language requirement: CEFR B2 for degree-level courses, B1 for sub-degree
- Applications for students aged 16 and 17, including the parental consent requirement
- Switching to a Graduate Visa after completing a qualifying course at a UK higher education provider
- Switching to a Skilled Worker or other work route after graduation
- Advice on the 20-hour weekly work limit during term time
- Resolving Student Visa refusals through administrative review or fresh applications
- Urgent advice where a sponsoring institution loses its sponsor licence
Why Choose Law Lane Solicitors for Student Visa Advice?
Student Visa refusals often arise from straightforward errors: maintenance funds not held for the required 28 consecutive days, an expired CAS number, an English language certificate from an unapproved provider, or financial evidence that does not cover the full period. These are preventable mistakes. We review every application before it goes in.
We also advise students in more difficult positions. If your institution’s sponsor licence has been revoked, you typically have 60 days to enrol elsewhere, switch to another visa category, or leave the UK. Our Stratford E15 office is close to several further and higher education campuses in East London, and we deal with these situations regularly.
If you are unsure about your visa position at any point during your studies, call us. An early conversation costs very little and can prevent a problem from becoming serious.
Get in touch today to discuss your situation in complete confidence.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk

Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
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Frequently Asked Questions – UK Student Visa
What replaced the Tier 4 Student Visa?
The Student Route replaced Tier 4 and came into force in October 2020. The core requirements remain broadly similar: a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from a licensed institution, sufficient maintenance funds, and proof of English language ability. Time spent under Tier 4 and the Student Route is treated the same way when calculating qualifying periods.
What is a CAS and why does it matter?
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is an electronic reference number issued by your UK institution once it has offered you a place on a qualifying course. It contains key information about your course and fees, and a Student Visa application cannot be submitted without one. CAS numbers expire if unused within six months of issue, so timing your application correctly is important.
How much money do I need to show?
For study in London, you must show £1,334 per month in maintenance funds, up to a maximum of nine months. Outside London, the figure is £1,023 per month. You must also show funds to cover any outstanding course fees. The money must generally have been held in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before your application date.
Can I work on a Student Visa?
Most students studying at degree level or above can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official vacation periods. Students at further education colleges or on sub-degree courses may face tighter restrictions. Self-employment is not permitted, and you cannot fill a permanent full-time vacancy. Your CAS will confirm the conditions that apply to your course.
What happens if my university loses its sponsor licence?
If your institution’s sponsor licence is suspended or revoked, your Student Visa may be curtailed. You will typically receive a notice giving you 60 days to enrol at a new institution, switch to another visa category, or leave the UK. This requires immediate legal advice. We act quickly in these situations.
Can I stay in the UK after finishing my degree?
Yes. If you have completed an eligible course at a UK higher education provider, you can apply for a Graduate Visa, which gives you two years to work or look for work without a sponsor. Doctoral graduates receive three years. After that, a Skilled Worker Visa with a qualifying job offer is the most common route. We advise on the full range of post-study options.
Can I bring my family to the UK as a student?
The rules on dependants changed in January 2024. Most undergraduate and postgraduate-taught students can no longer bring dependants to the UK, unless they hold a government-funded scholarship covering both the student and their dependants. Doctoral students and government-sponsored students may still be eligible. We advise on whether dependants can join you based on your specific course and funding.
What English language evidence do I need?
For degree-level courses you must meet CEFR B2 across all four components of an approved Secure English Language Test, or your institution must confirm your English language ability on your CAS. Sub-degree courses require B1. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries and those who hold a degree previously taught in English may be exempt.
What if my Student Visa application is refused?
Your refusal notice sets out the reasons for the decision. You may be able to request an administrative review if there was an error of fact or law. In other cases, reapplying with corrected evidence is the faster option. We analyse the refusal notice and advise on the most effective next step.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation for Student Visa matters. At that meeting we will review your situation and confirm the cost of any further work. Please visit our pricing page for full details or call us to discuss.
Get in Touch
Whether you are applying for the first time, extending your leave, or dealing with a problem mid-course, our immigration team is ready to help.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Book a consultation with our immigration team and start your studies in the UK with your immigration status in order.
Immigration Team
Tahir Shahab Khan
Supervising Director, Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Salman Shah
Director, SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sikandar Ali Jatoi
Director, Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Ghulam Mustafa
BarristerView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Ahmed Syed
Registered Foreign LawyerView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Muhammad Azeem
Registered Foreign LawyerView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Nuresa Begum
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Oraz Shiriyev
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sarah Akram
Supervising SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Kashif Haroon
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Khadija Faisal
Legal AssistantView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Suzana Husain
Trainee SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Christian O. Nwaorah
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Oriola Uka
Registered Foreign LawyerView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sandesh Kumar
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Michele Montjen
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Manpreet Kaur
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Mai Oanh Hoang
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Mariya Hussain
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Vishva Shanmugam
Costs DraftsmanView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Hoor Aleen Badarneh
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Robert Thomson
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Kunal
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Artemisa Shquti
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Muskan Chakrani
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Mathelide Othilie Christiansen
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Rugena Begum
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Shehryar Ahmed
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Benedicte Mabika
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Osama Syam
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Akbar Mohammed Mir
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Noemaan Fahim
Immigration SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
