Can I get a UK Tourist Visa before my UK Tier 5 GAE expires?

[xtineann]

Hello!

I have a Filipino passport and I'm currently doing my internship here in the UK for 12 weeks and my visa is Tier 5 Government Authorized Exchange where I have my sponsorship from BUNAC. My visa expires on the 22nd of December 2018.I've been to the UK three times to visit my family for the past two years so I have a tourist visa before.

I am hoping that I could extend my visa or change my visa to a Tourist Visa so I could spend the Holidays with my family in London. I am not sure what to do and I have read some other discussions that they have been denied a visa. What can I do to avoid it?

Thank you!

[sah10406]

You need to leave the UK before your current visa expires.

If after that you wish to come back to the UK for a short visit, you will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa. It does not matter whether your Tier 5 visa has expired or not when you apply. You need to apply outside the UK, but it can be in any country. Having applied for a visitor visa before, I assume you know the eligibility and how to apply.