How to Obtain a UK indefinite?

How to obtain UK residency having lived there on a student visa?

• I am 20 and I am from Hong Kong. I have lived in UK (boarding school) on a student visa since I was 14 and I am currently in my last year at university. I would like to obtain a permanent residency here so I can find work easier. Is it possible for me to do so without getting employed first? and if I must find a job first to obtain residency does it have to be in my field? or can I just work in business even though I study journalism and wish to pursue a career in journalism?

• Answer:

  You cannot get settlement on a student visa unless you can qualify under the 10 year long residence rule. As you have been at boarding school, I assume your family are in Hong Kong, which means you have no strong ties to the UK so are unlikely to be eligible. Once you have your degree you can apply for a post study work visa. This is a two year visa which allows you to work until you can qualify to change into a work visa category. From April the only category possible will be Tier 2 sponsored skilled worker. While you can do any work you want on a PSW visa, you will find it impossible to change into Tier 2 unless you have gained enough experience in a field to be able to prove that you are more suitably qualified than any EEA national to do the job which must be advertised for four weeks across the job centre network and in trade and national press. If journalism is what you want to do and since a Tier 2 visa is linked to a specific licenced employer, you really should be looking to find a job in journalism on the PSW or you won't be able to qualify for a Tier 2 visa. A PSW visa is a once only, non renewable visa.