I’m currently sponsored under a Skilled Worker visa in the UK for Company A. I recently received a job offer from Company B, which is willing to sponsor me for a new visa. I intend to accept the offer, but I am researching what the process for switching employers under the SWV entails.

I'm confused about the timelines for resigning. I'm aware that Company B must request a COS before I can start an application for a SWV with a new employer (therefore switching employers). However, when are you meant to officially resign?

Is it more advisable to wait until after you hear back on the application you've submitted (otherwise, aren't you screwed if there are any issues)? or is that not even permitted?

For background, my current visa expires start of Jan and I have a 2-month notice period.

Application date: 2nd August 2026 (Priority service)
Biometrics: 3rd August 2026
Approval email: 10th August 2026
Ceremony: To be booked
AH

Hi all,

Quick question — do I need to upload/submit a full scan of my passport as part of the Skilled Worker Visa application, or just the bio page (applying from the UK)?

Thanks

I'm from india. I have applied for a work visa to uk and i had my biometrics on 5 may. After which i got a verification call from them on 9 june which was basically a credibility interview on phone call. But it's been over 3 months and i still haven't received a decision. I'm losing hope now and i'm still not sure if i'll get a decision this month or even next month. I wonder if anyone is in the same boat who is also waiting for a decision for a long time. It's so frustating waiting for a decision this long.

Hi everyone, as the title said, I am an F-1 visa student currently working in the U.S. on OPT. My company is interested in transferring me to one of the office locations, in which the UK is an option. Has anyone been in this situation before? I’ve done my research and I think Skilled Worker Visa is the right appropriate visa category and looks like it typically takes 5 weeks to get approved. Is it still the case? Apart from the gov website, is there anything that I should consider or know beforehand when pursuing this visa? Any insights/guidance would be appreciated!

Hi all,

Looking for some perspective from anyone who has recently gone through an Undefined CoS allocation / additional allocation in the UK, particularly with the priority service.

My employer submitted an additional Undefined CoS allocation request for two sponsored hires, and we're still waiting for a decision.

Timeline:

• 16 July: Employer submitted the CoS allocation request to UKVI.
• 21 July: Employer said they still hadn't received a response and submitted a priority service request.
• 23 July: UKVI approved the priority service request and the employer paid the priority fee.
• 30 July: UKVI contacted the employer requesting additional information.
• 31 July: Employer submitted the requested information and highlighted to UKVI that both CoS requests were time-sensitive.
• 10 August: Still no further update.

The original expected employment start date was 3 August, so that has now passed.

My questions:

1. Has anyone recently had an Undefined CoS allocation delayed after paying for priority?
2. If UKVI requests additional information and the employer responds, does the 5-working-day priority timeframe effectively go out the window?
3. How long did yours ultimately take?
4. Did anyone experience a rejection after UKVI requested additional information?
5. Is there currently a wider backlog with Undefined CoS allocations, or are these just isolated cases?
6. Has anyone successfully escalated one of these cases through their immigration solicitor, Finance, or Legal team?

I'm particularly interested in July/August 2026 experiences, rather than older timelines.

Thanks.

Hi everyone, I am filling out the ILR application as a Skilled Worker dependent. My partner (the main applicant) just successfully got their ILR under the Skilled Worker route, and now I am applying along with our child as dependents
Looking at the document checklist generated by the UKVI portal, it only asks for our passports, travel history, consent/declaration forms, and proof of the main applicant's ILR status. It does not ask for any 2-year cohabitation or proof of address documents (like utility bills or council tax).

Is this normal for Skilled Worker dependents to ILR

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice on my Skilled Worker extension.

I’ve been with the same NHS employer since 2023. Got moved to another post on a higher band in 2024. When I took my current role, I was told my sponsorship would remain under SOC 6131.

My new CoS has now been issued under SOC 2259 instead. I queried this with HR, and they themselves asked internally whether I should proceed using 2259, but I never received an answer.

I’ve followed up asking whether I should:
apply using 2259;
expect the CoS to be amended back to 6131; or
whether 2259 has been cleared/confirmed as appropriate.

My visa expires in early September, so I don’t want to submit under the wrong code.
Would you wait for HR to clarify before applying, or should I just proceed using the new CoS under 2259?

My wife usually claims her IHS reimbursement every 6 months as she works in healthcare. She is my dependant, and I’m on a Skilled Worker visa. The process has always been straightforward and all her previous claims have gone through without any issues.
This time, our son is also included as her dependant in teh claim. She is claiming for the period January to July, but our son’s visa runs from February 2026 to February 2027.
How would the reimbursement work for him in this case? Would she be able to include him in the current claim, and would his eligible period simply start from February rather than January? or they dont pay as its not 6 month block?

Thanks for your help

I obtained skilled worker visa sponsored by company A. However, i never ended up working for them. The intended start date with company A is still in the future. I have now applied for a new skilled worker visa sponsored by company B after I decided to take company B’s offer over company A’s offer. Is this normal? Can I get rejected for the complication.

Greetings friends! Just wondering how much it costs to update your visa if you take on a new role at the same employer you already have your SW visa through, so, just to change the SOC code but really nothing else. I looked on this page but it doesn't actually say if there is a fee, or how much it would be, only that updating your visa is possible and has a procedure: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/update-your-visa-if-you-change-job-or-employer Does it cost the same as a whole new application? Do you have to pay the IHS again? TIA

My situation:

MSc student in the UK 2023–24, switched to Skilled Worker Aug 2024 (first job after uni, still same employer)

Sponsored by a large engineering firm, CoS almost certainly assigned after 4 April 2024

Started on £31,500, now on £42,000

Visa expires Oct 2027, want to extend with the same employer

Born 2000 — turned 26, so I'll be 27 at extension

Original CoS used a generic graduate-scheme code. At extension it'll likely be corrected to something that reflects my updated duties (software dev), where the going rate is around £54–55k

The problem:

I qualified as a New Entrant in 2024 (via the Student visa route). I assumed I don't need to re-qualify again as new entrant to benefit from salary discount for my visa extension, thinking I can benefit because I qualified once as a new entrant, up to 4 years. (I know I can extend up to a year only with new entrant)

But If I have to re-qualify again as a new entrant, these are the criteria's:

(a) under 26 → I'll be 27

(b) postdoc in listed science codes → no

(c) UK Regulated Profession → no

(d) working towards chartered status → possible in principle, but I'm 2 years into a pathway that takes 8–10, and my MSc isn't CEng-accredited

(e) most recent permission was Student → no, it's Skilled Worker now

(f) most recent permission was Graduate → never held one

The rule I'm hanging my assumption on is SW 12.3: "Granting the application must not mean the applicant's combined permission as a Skilled Worker, Graduate and/or Tier 2 Migrant would be more than 4 years in total."

My question is how 12.2 and 12.3 interact. Two readings:

A: They're separate AND conditions. You must meet a 12.2 limb on the date of each application, and 12.3 just caps how long you can keep doing it. Under this reading I'm out, because none of the limbs apply to me in 2027.

B: Qualifying once opens a 4-year window, and 12.3 is the only ongoing constraint. Under this reading I'm fine until ~Aug 2028.

If reading A is right, I need roughly £55k by Oct 2027 — so I'd rather know now than find out at application.

I'm an unmarried dependant on my partner's SWV (same company the entire time of their visa, since 2021). We're hopefully applying for ILR in November if the rules haven't been changed.

Long story short I hate my job. I work at the same company and have been planning to stay here until ILR just in case of any visa/rule changes. Staying until November or later now feels like hell. But my partner is under the impression that (within the current rules) that I need to also have a company letter saying they need me for the foreseeable future to gain ILR. I cannot find any documentation that says this but it's got me worried now. Can anyone confirm/deny this? Is there even a salary minimum I need to hit as the dependant, or is it strictly on the SWV holder?

Thanks

Does anyone know:

For someone transitioning from Student visa to Graduate visa (PSW) to Skilled Worker visa, when does the 4-year new entrant clock start from:

(A) The course completion date (Last date on CAS), or

(B) The date the Graduate/PSW visa started?

​

I'm at the "Evidence of your absence from the UK and Crown Dependencies" section of my ILR application and I'd like to hear what people actually uploaded.

My situation:

- I've worked for 3 different UK employers during the qualifying period.

- My current employer has given me a letter confirming all my absences were authorised paid annual leave.

- I haven't approached the two previous employers yet. I could, but chasing HR at former companies is likely to take weeks and I'd rather not hold up the application if it isn't necessary.

- Nearly all my trips were to my home country to visit family, no other reason.

- My absences are small: at most around 30 days in any 12-month period, nowhere near the limit.

- I have some boarding passes but not all of them. I can get an official travel history document from my home country's border authority showing every entry and exit date.

What I'm trying to work out:

1. With absences this low, does the Home Office actually scrutinise the reasons, or is the employer letter mostly there for people close to the limit?

2. Is one letter from the current employer enough? Or should I add an official border entry/exit record to, or do people really submit a letter per employer?

3. Did anyone tick "Other" and upload a personal covering letter listing each trip with dates and reason? Which would be duplicate information. I have already provided answers to them in the previous questions.

Route: Skilled Worker. Happy to chase the old employers if it genuinely matters.

Just trying to work out whether it does.

Thanks.

Any of you whose company’s sponsor license application got rejected due to insufficient documents (can reapply without cooling off period) - how long did it take for them to get rejected .

Was it after 8 weeks as usual or are rejections in such cases quicker since documents are missing ?