I Am On A Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa, What Are My Options After My Visa Expires?

The Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa is an excellent option for those aged 18-30 to move to the UK for 24 months in order to start a business, work for an employer or even study certain subjects in the UK. But what happens at the end of the 24 month visa period? Well, in this article we are going to look at the options available to those who are currently in the UK on a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa and are wondering what their next move should be. Hopefully by the end of this article you should have a clear idea of what is available to you at the end of your 24 month stay in the UK.

Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa Extension

Unfortunately the one major drawback of the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa is the inability to extend it. The reasoning for this is somewhat unclear, but that is one of the few strict rules that are attached to what is, in essence, a relatively loose-grip visa. What the visa does do, is allow young people the opportunity to travel and to earn while they do so. This is something of a rarity and is clearly aimed at young people who wish to travel and work/study at the same time.

Unfortunately if you wish to stay in the UK after the end of your 24 month visa period, you will have to return to your country of origin and apply for a new visa. Once you return to your country of origin, you will be entitled to apply for the vast majority of visas in the UK as long as you fit the eligibility criteria for them. For young people, the obvious routes to choose are either the Tier 4 Student Visa if you wish to study, or the Tier 2 General Visa for those who wish to work. You may find that you are able to apply for one of the other routes in the UK, but these are the two that are most suited to young people looking to move to the UK in order to live and work.

Switching On A Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa

Just like extending your visa, you also cannot switch from the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa to a different route in the UK. If you wish to move to an alternative visa route for the UK, you will need to return to your country of origin and apply for an alternative visa. You will be able to select from a vast range of visas (eligibility criteria applies) from your home country.

If you are looking to return to the UK after going back to your country of origin, you may wish to get in touch with our immigration specialists first. While they cannot help you to stay in the UK on a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa, they can offer you some solid advice on how to get back to the country on a different visa going forward. So call today and speak to our team and get the information that you need in order to move back to the UK after having a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa.

Returning To Your Country Of Origin

In order to apply for any other of the UK's current visa routes, you will need to return to your country of origin. This is standard for this particular visa as there is no current routes to remaining in the UK at the end of your 24 month visa period. This is a nightmare for those who have started a successful business (remember you can be self employed, but cannot take on staff). If you have started a successful business and need to find a way to stay in control, get in touch today with our immigration specialists who can guide you on the best way to proceed in order to maintain your business at the end of your 24 month visa period.

Alternatives To Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa

You may be wondering about alternative visa routes to the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa. Once you return to your country of origin after your 24 month visa period, you will be able to apply for one of the UK's alternative visa routes. You will need to meet the eligibility criteria for these. If you are still under 30 and have little business experience then the Start-up Visa may be ideal for you. This newly created visa route offers the chance to get a business idea off of the ground for those with an idea, but little experience.

If you want to move back to the UK but not start up a business, the Tier 4 Student Visa or Tier 2 General Visa may be better options. Clearly the Tier 4 Student Visa is aimed at those who wish to study in the UK. The Tier 2 General Visa on the other hand is designed to bring migrant workers to the UK in order to fill skills gaps. This is ideal for younger workers who have the required skills, and also gives the option for holders to stay in the UK long-term as they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK after 5 years. If you wish to learn more about any of the routes mentioned, or you have another visa query, get in touch with our team of immigration experts and they can help to guide you on what to do next.

Where Can I Get More Help?

If you need more help with an immigration query then please get in touch. Our immigration specialists can help to guide you through the UK's immigration system and help you to secure your future in the UK. So call today and speak to our experts today to settle your future.