can UK visit visa be extended from uk?

[tcpip_helper]

Hi,

my mother-in-law is here in uk on a 6 month family visa, is it possible to extend her visa without going back to Pakistan?

many thanks for your reply

[vinny]

Can I extend my stay as a general visitor?

[avjones]

Bear in mind the maximum-six-months-out-of-any-twelve-months rule, though.

[Zebrudaya]

Dear tcpip_helper

The answer is yes. You have to use form FLO(R)

[Rozen]

The answer is yes. You have to use form FLO(R)

Not THAT simple! There will have to be extenuating circumstances.

[Mr Rusty]

There are no extenuating circumstances mentioned in the guidance on the page linked by Vinny.

According to the guidance, the only categories for which Form FLO(R) can now be used are:
- general visitor
- overseas qualified nurse or midwife
- long residence, dependants of exempt members of HM Forces

but the only circumstances in which someone can apply as a general visitor is if they weren't granted a full 6-month stay in the first place. If anyone can find anything in the Rules which allows an application in any other circumstances, please put me right.
So maybe you're looking at an application for discretionary leave to remain outside the Rules. The OP could use the time taken to decide such an application as an extension of his mother's visit, but she'd probably be refused, and she'd probably never get another visa.

Send her home, out of the cold, and let her apply to come back when the weather's better.