The Skilled Worker visa is a popular UK immigration route that allows skilled people to come and work in the United Kingdom. If you are already working in the United Kingdom on a Skilled Worker visa, you will need to submit the application for an extension prior to its expiry date. The UK immigration laws allow for a Skilled Worker visa extension for a period of up to 3 years with the total stay on this visa not extending beyond 6 years.

Rapid-Visas.co.uk can help you file your applications for Skilled Worker visa extension and guide you about the UK immigration rules, the requirements and the formalities involved. You can call us at 0207 043 2167 or send an email to info@Rapid-Visas.co.uk for Skilled Worker visa guidance and the new immigration rules in place.

The applications for the Skilled Worker visa extension have to be made from inside the country and that too before the expiry of the current Skilled Worker visa. Being in the United Kingdom does not guarantee that you will be granted an extension. The grant of a Skilled Worker visa extension is subject to the applicant continuing to meet all the eligibility criteria for this visa category and submission of all the supporting documents for the same.

The applicant’s employer has to agree to extend his contract and also submit an application for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that is unrestricted. However, there is no requirement of the employer undertaking a fresh Resident Labour Market Test prior to a new Certificate of Sponsorship being assigned.

The requirements for the renewal of a Skilled Worker visa include the applicant’s continued eligibility for the visa category. The applicant is required to have a new Certificate of Sponsorship besides having a specific amount of salary which is not less than the amount at the time of the original visa application. The applicant will also need to have the required minimum funds for maintenance besides the proof of having adequate knowledge of the English language. While applying for an extension of the Skilled Worker visa, the applicants will need to provide biometric information such as fingerprints and a picture at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services centre.

The extension of the renewal of the Skilled Worker visa is only possible if the applicant continues to be employed by the same employer. If the applicant wishes to change his job or work with a new employer, he is required to submit a fresh application. The new employer is required to undertake a Resident Labour Test and then issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to the applicant.

The UK Home Office generally takes 8 weeks to process the applications for a Skilled Worker visa extension. However, further time will be required if the applicant submits inadequate documents or their verification is required. In certain cases, the applicant will be called for an interview that confirms his eligibility for the extension. Applicants who seek quick decision on their applications can opt for the Super Priority service offered by the Home Office. The visa extension applications are processed within one business day of providing the biometric information at the visa centre.

All applicants can include their dependents in their applications for a Skilled Worker visa extension. However, if any of their children have become adults (18 years) during the validity of the original visa, they will be required to submit another application.

The ILR status can be applied for if the applicant has been in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa for a period of minimum 5 years. The application for Indefinite Leave to Remain has to be submitted to the UK Home Office before the expiry of the current Skilled Worker visa.

Holders of the Skilled Worker ICT visa are eligible to apply for the ILR status if they were issued their first leave to remain status before April 6, 2010.

What is the Right Time to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa Extension?

You can apply for the extension of your Skilled Worker visa once your employer agrees to extend your contract and issues a new Certificate of Sponsorship. The employer is not required to take a new Resident Labour Market Test before issuing the new CoS to you. The visa renewal or extension application has to be made within three months of the issuance of the new sponsorship letter or 60 days before the expiry of the current visa, whichever is earlier.

Can the Applications for a Skilled Worker Visa Extension be Made Online?

The application for the extension of your Skilled Worker visas including dependent visas can be made online after payment of the fees and the NHS surcharge. You can calculate the healthcare surcharge to be paid by you by using a immigration health surcharge calculator.

The applicant, however, has to submit the copies of their sponsorship letter, documents showing salary, proof of having maintenance funds and the adequate knowledge of the English language. Applicants submit the photocopies of all the supporting documents at a UK visa centre.

Which Documents are Required to be Submitted with My Skilled Worker Visa Extension Application?

The process of applying for a Skilled Worker visa extension requires the submission of:

The applicant’s current valid passport with blank pages for the issuance of the visa
Proof of current visa or leave to remain or Biometric Residence Permit
National Insurance Number
Proof of Knowledge of English
Certificate of Sponsorship Reference Number
Proof of savings if the sponsor is not supporting the applicant
Proof of immigration history in the form of expired passports

For What Duration is the Skilled Worker Visa Extended?

The UK Home Office allows an immigrant to stay in the United Kingdom on a Skilled Worker visa for a maximum period of 6 years. While the initial visa is issued for three years, the same can be extended for another three years.

Can I Get My Skilled Worker Visa Extended If My Job Role is Going to Change?

Applicants who are continuing with the same employer but in a new job role have to compulsorily get a fresh Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for a Skilled Worker visa extension. A new sponsorship certificate is mandatory if:

There is a change in the core duties of the employee and a new Standard Occupation Code or SoC becomes applicable.
The occupation classification code remains the same but the salary is less than the required rate.
The job change is from the one on the UK Shortage Occupations list to the one which is not.
There is a lowering of the applicants’ salary level from the amount mentioned in the first sponsorship letter.
The responsibilities of the employee change but remain within the ambit of the original occupational code.

When Can I Apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain Status?

Holders of the Skilled Worker visa can apply for an ILR status after completing a minimum period of 5 years of lawfully living in the United Kingdom. The application for the ILR status has to be submitted before the expiry of the current Skilled Worker visa.

Rapid-Visas.co.uk are a leading provider of visa related services. Our expert team is well versed with the UK immigration laws and the various requirements for applying for a visa or applying for an extension. We can guide you about the process, the requirements and the right time to apply for a new as well as the extension of an old visa. We can also assist you in checking whether you are eligible for a Skilled Worker visa extension or not if your job profile changes or comes in the scope of the Tier-2 Shortage Occupation list.

For all queries related to a change in your work profile or employer or work terms and their impact on your application for a Skilled Worker visa extension, get in touch with us at 0207 043 2167 or email us at info@Rapid-Visas.co.uk. Our experts can advise you on the various issues and help you in following the right procedure for the extension of your Skilled Worker visa.