Extensions of stay by previous category
Published 29 August 2013
© Crown copyright 2013
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1. Introduction
An extension is a grant of leave to remain in the UK as a result of an application made from within the UK. The previous immigration category for an individual covered by this data may have been a result of: (i) an entry clearance visa granted outside the UK; (ii) admission at the border without a visa; or (iii) a previous grant of an extension of stay in the UK. In most cases, this previous immigration category would have been granted in an earlier year.
These data on extensions are broken down by individuals’ previous immigration category as there is interest in the degree to which individuals ‘switch’ between categories, for example from study into work or from work to family. There is also interest in how many individuals extend their stay in each category, for example how many students continue their studies in the UK by being granted an extension for study.
This article presents the data in two different and complementary ways, providing information on: (a) categories granted in 2012 by looking back at individuals’ previous categories; and (b) for individuals in each previous category, what categories of grants they went onto receive in 2012. For example (a) can tell us what were the previous categories of those who were granted extensions for work in 2012; and (b) tells us what categories of extension were granted in 2012 to people who were previously in the work category.
The data presented in this analysis and in the supplementary tables relate to main applicants only as the data used to produce this analysis is considered reliable enough for publication of main applicants data but not for dependants. For further information relating to data quality, see ‘About the figures’ below.
2. Key facts
There were 197,377 extensions granted in 2012, of which 94,549 (48%) were for work, 75,238 (38%) for study, 15,442 (8%) for family-reasons and 12,148 (6%) were for other reasons. See Table 1 below.
Looking at the data in terms of individuals’ previous category, there were 115,106 extensions granted in 2012 to people who were previously students. Of these 115,106 extensions, 70,962 (62%) allowed individuals to continue to study, a further 38,505 (33%) were granted for work, largely in the Post-study category (34,895), and 4,312 were family-related grants, see Table 1, see ‘Extensions of stay by previous category, table expc 01 w’ and detailed text below.
Of the 94,549 extensions granted in 2012 for work, 54,816 were to people who were previously in the work category (58%), and a further 38,505 were to former students (41%). See Table 1 below.
There were 29,516 extensions granted in 2012 for Tier 2 skilled work (up 11,321 from 18,195). Most of the 11,321 increase was due to people who were previously in the skilled work category (+ 9,487). There were also increases in grants of extensions for skilled work for people who had previously been in the Tier 1 Post-study (+ 2,679) and study (+ 884) categories. Details at Table 2 below.
The 15,442 extensions granted in 2012 for family-reasons included 3,775 people previously in the family route (24%), 4,312 former students (28%), and 3,529 previously in the work category (23%). See Table 1 below.
Of the 197,377 extensions granted in 2012, 138,908 (70%) grants allowed the individual to stay within their original broad category, with the other 30% having switched categories.
Table 1: Grants of extension of stay in 2012, current category by previous category
| Current category of extension, 2012 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous category | Total previous category | Work | Study | Family | Other |
| Work | 60,468 | 54,816 | 1,677 | 3,529 | 446 |
| Study | 115,106 | 38,505 | 70,962 | 4,312 | 1,327 |
| Family | 4,923 | 108 | 20 | 3,775 | 1,020 |
| Other | 16,880 | 1,120 | 2,579 | 3,826 | 9,355 |
| Total extensions | 197,377 | 94,549 | 75,238 | 15,442 | 12,148 |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Extensions of Stay short statistical article, ‘Extensions of stay by previous category table expc 01’.
3. Overall trends
Source: Home Office, Extensions of Stay short statistical article, ‘Extensions of stay by previous category tables expc 01 and expc 01 w’.
There were 197,377 extensions granted in 2012, 17% less than 2011 (237,098) with:
- falls in extensions granted for work (-2%), study (-27%), family (-5%) and other categories (-44%), with a 62% increase for skilled work.
- an 11% increase in extensions for those previously in the work category, and falls for those previously in the study (-25%), family (-35%), and other categories (-22%).
4. Work
Source: Home Office, Extensions of Stay short statistical article, ‘Extensions of stay by previous category tables expc 01 and expc 01 w’.
Comparing 2012 with 2011, there was a 2% fall in extensions granted for work to 94,549. However, there was a 62% increase for Tier 2 skilled work.
The 94,549 extensions for work granted in 2012 included:
- 57,327 extensions in Tier 1, mainly Tier 1 Post-study (35,245) or Tier 1 General (20,949);
- 29,516 in Tier 2, mainly Tier 2 General (20,185) and Tier 2 Intra-company transfers (8,656); and
- 789 in Tier 5 Temporary workers and youth mobility (these being categories for which extensions are not usually allowed).
Of the 94,549 work-related extensions granted in 2012, 54,816 (58%) were to people who were previously in the work category, and 38,505 (41%) were to former students. Of the 38,505, there were 34,895 extensions in the Tier 1 Post-study category granted to students following completion of their studies.
Looking at the data in terms of individuals’ previous category, there were 60,468 extensions granted in 2012 to people who were previously in the work category, 11% higher than 2011. 54,816 (91%) of these 60,468 extensions were for further work.
5. Tier 1 high value workers
Source: Home Office, Extensions of Stay short statistical article, ‘Extensions of stay by previous category table expc 01 w’ and Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2013, ‘Extensions of stay table ex 01 q’.
Most (97%, 20,249) of the 20,949 grants of extension in Tier 1 General in 2012 were to individuals previously in Tier 1 General, a significantly higher proportion than in 2011, when 8,185 of 22,178 Tier 1 General grants were to those previously in Tier 1 General and 8,579 grants were to people previously in Tier 1 Post-study. Tier 1 General was closed to new applicants for visas from outside the UK from 23 December 2010 and, for most categories, to those applying to switch from within the UK from 6 April 2011. Hence, by 2012, it was no longer available as an option for those previously in Tier 1 Post-study.
The Tier 1 Post-study category was designed to allow non-EEA graduates who had studied in the UK to look for work without needing to have a sponsor. The 2010 report ‘Points-based system Tier 1: an operational assessment’ indicated that 60% of those in the Post-study category were found to be in low skilled work or unemployed. Following this report, the category was closed to new applicants from 6 April 2012 but existing applications continued to be processed after this date. As a result of the closure of this route, the numbers of extensions granted in the Post-study category fell significantly by the end of 2012; quarterly grants of Tier 1 Post-study extensions in 2012 were: quarter one 16,093; quarter two 5,730; quarter three 13,063; and quarter four 359, and in 2013 the corresponding figures were: quarter one 102; and quarter two 272.
Successful applicants in the Tier 1 Post-study category received a single grant of leave for two years. After this, individuals in the Tier 1 Post-study category would be expected to switch into another part of the Points-based system as soon as they are able to do so or to depart the UK before their extension or visa expires. Hence by the end of 2014 those individuals granted extensions in the Post-study category in 2012 will be expected to switch into another category or to depart the UK.
From 6 April 2013, the new Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme was introduced allowing students completing a PhD at a UK higher education institute to apply to stay in the UK for a further 12 months after their course completion date. Numbers of extensions under the new scheme will be separately identified in future editions of Immigration Statistics.
6. Tier 2 skilled workers
There was a significant increase (+11,321) in extensions for Tier 2 skilled work, from 18,195 in 2011 to 29,516 in 2012, mostly accounted for by individuals whose previous category was also Tier 2 skilled work (up from 9,779 in 2011 to 19,266 in 2012).
Part of the explanation may be that, from 2008, visas were issued for a shorter period for skilled individuals. Until 2008, skilled worker visas had a maximum length of 5 years, after which individuals could apply for settlement (permission to stay permanently in the UK) without needing to apply for an extension. Since 2008, the maximum visa length for skilled workers has been reduced to 3 years under the Points-based system, meaning that more individuals will have been required to obtain an extension if they wished to stay for a longer period.
There were also increases in Tier 2 extensions for people whose previous category was the Tier 1 Post-study category (from 2,396 to 5,075) or the study category (from 1,730 to 2,614).
Table 2: Grants of extensions for Tier 2 skilled work, by previous category
| Previous category | 2011 | 2012 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 high value | 2,521 | 5,408 | +2,887 |
| of which post-study | 2,396 | 5,075 | +2,679 |
| Tier 2 skilled | 9,779 | 19,266 | +9,487 |
| Study | 1,730 | 2,614 | +884 |
| All categories | 18,195 | 29,516 | +11,321 |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Extensions of stay short statistical article, ‘Extensions of stay by previous category table expc 01 w’.
Tier 2 skilled workers are allowed to stay in the UK for a maximum of 6 years if they are not granted permission to stay in the UK permanently. After 6 years they will have to depart the UK or switch into a different category. Tier 2 policy guidance states that those who depart the UK will not normally be able to reapply to return to the UK under Tier 2 for 12 months.
7. Students
Source: Home Office, Extensions of Stay short statistical article, ‘Extensions of stay by previous category tables expc 01, expc 01 s and expc 01 w’.
Comparing 2012 with 2011, there was a 27% fall in extensions granted for study to 75,238.
Of these 75,238 grants, 70,962 (94%) were to people who were previously students, allowing them to continue to study. There were 1,677 extensions granted for study to individuals previously in a work category, of which 1,487 (89%) were previously in the Tier 1 Post-study category.
Looking at the data in terms of individuals’ previous category, there were a total of 115,106 extensions granted in 2012 to people who were previously students, 25% less than in 2011 (153,632). Of these 115,106 extensions, 70,962 (62%) allowed individuals to continue to study, a further 38,505 (33%) were granted for work, largely the Post-study category (34,895), and 4,312 were granted for family-reasons.
As noted above, the Post-study category was closed to new entrants from April 2012 and the Doctoral Extension Scheme opened in April 2013.
Switching into Tier 4 General without leaving the UK, is only permitted from certain immigration categories, Applying from inside the UK. In this analysis, study-related grants include Tier 4 of the Points-based system (PBS) and pre-PBS equivalents. Student visitors are not allowed to extend their stay and therefore do not feature in this analysis.
8. Family
Source: Home Office, Extensions of Stay short statistical article, ‘Extensions of stay by previous category table expc 01 f’.
Comparing 2012 with 2011, there was a 5% fall in extensions granted for family reasons to 15,442. The 15,442 extensions were almost evenly split between those previously on the family (3,775 or 24%), study (4,312 or 28%), work (3,529 or 23%) and other routes. Of the 3,775 already on the family route, 1,363 were as fiancé(e)s. Those previously in the work route include 1,423 in the Tier 1 Post-Study category.
Those already in the family route may be partners applying for further leave because they cannot meet the criteria, such as language requirements, for settlement, or they may be fiancé(e)s who have married who are then applying for leave to remain in the UK as a partner. Switching into the family route may occur when a student or worker, for example, marries a British or settled person in the UK and applies for leave to remain in the UK as a partner.
In July 2012, changes were made to the family Immigration Rules. It is not possible to separately identify applications made under the previous or new rules; hence there is currently no reference to the measurement of the impact of these changes.
9. Other
Source: Home Office, Extensions of Stay short statistical article, ‘Extensions of stay by previous category table expc 01 o’.
“Other” includes grants of discretionary leave and those cases where the previous category was not recorded.
In 2012 there were 12,148 extensions granted in this category, including 9,480 grants of discretionary leave, falling from 21,540 and 17,749 respectively for 2011. The Home Office provides guidance, discretionary leave, explaining the criteria and circumstances when discretionary leave may be given. From 9 July 2012, discretionary leave was no longer granted for some cases that were covered by the new Family Life (10-year) route, ‘Statement of intent: family migration’, as part of the Family category, or in the new Private Life category.
10. Data tables
Further data on extensions by previous category are available in ‘Extensions of stay by previous category tables expc 01 to expc 01 o’.
11. About the figures
The data in this short statistical article provides a more detailed breakdown of the data in the extensions of stay tables within the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. The data are “Official Statistics”, which have not been subject to the same detailed verification processes as those badged as “National Statistics”. Further information on Official Statistics may be found in the User Guide.
In this article, the ‘current category’ is the type of grant of extension made in 2012. Where an individual has stayed under the same Immigration Rules route (work, study, family, other) by applying for further leave in that route, the text describes the extension as a grant allowing an individual to continue as a worker, student or individual in the family route. Where the applicant has changed from their previous category to a different (current) category, as a result of a grant of an extension, this is described as ‘switching’.
The ‘previous category’ is the individual’s type of leave to remain in the UK, prior to the extension granted in 2012. Individuals in a previous category may be described in the text as a previous or former student (or a previous worker etc). It is not possible to separately distinguish cases with previous leave that follow: (i) an entry clearance visa granted outside the UK; (ii) admission at the border without a visa; or (iii) a previous grant of an extension.
The previous immigration category field which has been used to produce this analysis is non-mandatory i.e. it is normally completed by caseworkers during the process of granting an extension but cases can be processed without it being filled in. As a result the previous category is not recorded on the administrative source database for a small proportion (2%) of grants in 2012.
The data presented relates to main applicants only. Since dependants are granted or refused an extension in line with the main applicant, the results for main applicants broadly apply for their dependants also.
The Points-based system (PBS), introduced from 2008, defines the immigration control processes for people coming into the UK for work or study who are not EEA or Swiss nationals. The PBS has five “Tiers”; four of these (Tiers 1, 2, 3 and 5) relate to permission to work, whilst one (Tier 4) relate to those coming to study:
- Tier 1 provides a route for high value workers;
- Tier 2 provides a route for skilled workers with a job offer;
- Tier 3 relates to unskilled workers (this has never been implemented);
- Tier 4 provides a route for students with an offer of a place from an educational institution; and
- Tier 5 is for temporary workers and youth mobility, providing a route for those coming to the UK for primarily non-economic reasons.
For further details about trends and overall totals of grants of extensions by category, as well as definitions, see the Extensions topic, User Guide and the Policy and Legislative Changes Timeline within the latest Immigration Statistics release.
We would welcome any comments on this analysis, or suggestions for any other supplementary analyses, to [email protected].
12. Other related data
12.1 Operational assessment of Tier 1 High value route
The Home Office report ‘Points-based system Tier 1: an operational assessment – November 2010’ looked into the jobs being done by migrants who were in the UK under Tier 1 of the Points-based system, and informed subsequent decisions about the Points-based system, in particular the closure of the Tier 1 General and Tier 1 Post-study category.
12.2 Migrant Journey analysis
The Migrant Journey analysis is able to look at those who apply for settlement or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and which visas they used to arrive at that point. This report shows that the proportion of settlement grants made to people who initially arrived on a temporary visa rose between 2009 and 2011. For example, those originally entering the UK on a student visa comprised 13% of settlement grants in 2009 and 16% in 2011. Source: Home Office, Migrant Journey Third Report.
12.3 Eurostat data
Data on those changing category, by previous broad group and by nationality, is also published as part of Eurostat Table RP5 ‘Grants of permission to stay issued to third-country nationals on the occasion of a person changing category or reason to stay’ (migr_reschange). Eurostat definitions differ from those used in this short statistical article, for example all dependants of the main applicant are included in the Eurostat Family grouping.