Skilled Worker Visa Extension

The UK Skilled Worker Visa is the primary immigration route through which overseas nationals take up employment in the UK. If your application for a Skilled Worker Visa is approved, it is usually valid for an initial five-year period.

However, it is possible for holders of the visa to apply to extend their stay in the UK beyond this five-year period. To do this, you must apply for a visa extension before your current leave to remain comes to an end.

After five years, you may apply for indefinite leave to remain (permanent settled status) if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Because the Skilled Worker Visa category has changed, how you extend your visa depends on how your current visa expires or was issued.

If your certificate of sponsorship was issued prior to or after November 2016, check the Gov.uk visa extension page for further details about the various uk visa extension requirements you must meet.

Our legal team are adept at assisting with the Skilled Worker Visa extension application process. We will work alongside you and your employer to ensure you receive your desired outcome.

Get in touch on 0121 667 6530 or enquire online- we’re here to assist you.

If you are a skilled migrant worker who wishes to remain in UK-based employment, it is possible to apply for a visa extension.

You must submit your extension or renewal application prior to the expiration of your current visa. In addition, you must apply from within the UK.

If your employer decides to extend your contract, they will need to apply for an unrestricted Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

Skilled Worker Visa extension application form

The Skilled Worker extension application form can be found on the Gov.uk page. You will be required to submit supporting documentation to demonstrate how you meet the eligibility criteria.

As well as this, you should be prepared to pay the application fee, the immigration healthcare surcharge, submit your biometric information, and your CoS.

In order to be eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), an individual must have been continuously resident in the UK for at least five years.

Applying for ILR can be a lengthy and complex process. You will be required to have a minimum level of English language skills (unless exempt), pass the Life in the UK test, and meet other eligibility requirements in order to have your application accepted.

As the visa is issued on a five-year basis, you may be able to apply for ILR after the first visa expires. You may choose to extend the visa if you do not wish to settle in the UK or if you do not meet the eligibility requirements for ILR.

You may extend the Skilled Worker Visa as many times as you wish, but if you wish to settle permanently in the UK, it may be more convenient for you to apply for ILR.

The benefit of holding settled status means that you are not bound by any visa restrictions. You may work for any employer you wish, in any role, and access public benefits if you need them.

In the vast majority of cases, a Skilled Worker Visa extension application will be processed within eight weeks of its submission.

However, failing to submit appropriate evidence in support of your application could lead to delays.

This is because the Home Office will need more time to review your case.

Additionally, there are certain circumstances in which you will be required to attend an interview to confirm your eligibility and this can also lead to delays.

You are able to submit your extension application up to 60 days prior to the expiration of your current leave to remain.

If your application is time-sensitive, you may be able to opt for the Home Office’s super-priority service- this enables you to receive a decision within one working day.

Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn how to apply for an extension and continue to work in the UK.

In order to qualify for a skilled worker visa extension, here are the requirements you need to continue to meet:

Valid Visa: You must already be on a valid skilled worker visa in order to apply for an extension.

Sponsorship: You must continue to be sponsored by a UK-based employer that holds a valid sponsor license. Your sponsor will provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) for your extension application.

Job Offer: You need to have a job offer from your sponsoring employer in a role that meets the skill level and salary requirements set by the UK government, with the same occupation code as the one they had for their initial visa stay.

Maintenance Funds: You might need to show that you still have sufficient funds to support yourself, unless your sponsoring employer is certifying maintenance for your visa extension.

If you no longer work for the employer that sponsored your original Skilled Worker Visa application, you will not be eligible to extend your first skilled worker visa indefinitely.

This is because the extension is based on you working the same job role at the same job. If your job changes, you cannot apply for an extension.

If you wish to change your current role or work for a different employer entirely, you must apply to update your visa.

You should apply to update your visa in the following cases:

• You want to move jobs and employer
• Your job changes to a different occupation code
• You want to move from a job on the shortage occupation list to one not on the list

You will be required to demonstrate how you meet the eligibility requirements and also obtain a new certificate of sponsorship.

Similarly, you must also update your visa if you decide to take on a second job (under certain circumstances).

It is possible for visa applicants to bring their dependents to the UK with them (if they meet eligibility requirements).

This is done through applying for a Skilled Worker Dependent Visa. ‘Dependent’ in this sense refers to the partner or child of the skilled worker visa holder or the main visa applicant.

It is also possible to include your dependents on your extension application. If your child has turned 18 during your time in the UK, they will need to apply separately.

It is important to ensure that all dependents have the correct visa to remain in the UK and that they extend their visas at the same time as the main applicant.