You can apply for extension of your Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK before the expiry of your current leave to remain as a Skilled Worker if you continue to be sponsored by your sponsor / employer for the eligible skilled job. Your employer / sponsor must assign you with a new undefined Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for you to apply for extension of your Skilled Worker visa. If your prospective employer does not hold a sponsor licence, our specialist team of solicitors for sponsor licence can provide priority service to your prospective employer with an application for skilled worker sponsor licence to get decision on the sponsor licence application within 10 working days.

An application for extension of skilled worker visa is made in accordance with requirements as set out in Appendix Skilled Workers, Appendix Skilled Occupations and Appendix Shortage Occupations List. The Skilled Worker visa is a Point Based System (PBS) visa category and points can be awarded for the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), job skill level, English language, appropriate Salary, Phd level qualifications, job in shortage occupation, and applicant being new entrant.

A total of 70 points are required to be eligible to apply for extension of Skilled Worker visa; 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points and the remaining 20 from tradeable points.

For individuals already holding a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK, the extension process is essential for maintaining legal status in the UK beyond the initial visa duration. Whether you're looking to continue working with the same employer or exploring new job opportunities, timely extension of skilled worker visa ensures uninterrupted employment and residency in the UK.

Free Immigration Advice For Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide one-off free immigration advice online in relation to your application for extension of skilled worker visa. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment online for a detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our immigration solicitors conerning your application for extension of skilled worker visa.

 

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What Are The Requirements For Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa UK?

The applicant must meet the following requirements of the Immigration Rules to successfully extend Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK:

Valid Application: The applicant must submit a valid application for extension of skilled worker visa from inside the UK.

Valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): The applicant must have a certificate of sponsorship that was issued to them by their sponsor no more than 3 months before the date of application.

Points Requirement: The applicant must score 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points and score at least 20 points from tradeable points. 

Applicant's Age: The applicant must be aged 18 or over at the date of application for extension of skilled worker visa.

Immigration Status Requirement: The applicant's current or last grant of leave to enter or remain must as a Tier 2 General migrant or as a Skilled Worker.

Suitability Requirement: The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

Not In Breach Of Immigration Laws: If applying for extension of skilled worker visa the applicant must not be:

  • in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
  • on immigration bail.

Financial Requirement: If the applicant is applying for extension of skilled worker visa and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

If the applicant has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of extension application, either:

  • the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270. The applicant must show that they have held the required funds for a 28-day period and as specified in Appendix Finance; or
  • the applicant’s A-rated sponsor must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment, to an amount of at least £1,270.

What Are The Mandatory Non-Tradeable Points For Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa?

The applicant must score 50 mandatory non-tradeable points to succeed in an application for extension of Skilled Worker visa and the remaining 20 points can be scored from tradable points. The mandatory non-tradeable points are given in the table below:

Characterstics Points
Sponsorship 20
Job at appropriate skill level 20
English language skills at level B1 (intermediate) 10

What Are The Tradeable Points For Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa?

An applicant applying for extension of skilled worker visa from inside the UK must gain 20 tradeable points to be successful in the skilled worker visa extension application. These points can be acquired through various options, each offering its own set of criteria for point allocation. However, please note that the applicant can claim 20 points from only one of the options available for claiming points.

Various options for claiming 20 points from the tradeable points for extension of skilled worker visa are as outlined below:

Option A: By meeting the stipulations outlined in paragraphs SW 8.1. to SW 8.5. and SW 14.1. to SW 14.6. of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, an applicant earns 20 points under option A if their salary meets or exceeds:

  • £26,200 per yea;
  • £10.75 per hour; and
  • the going rate for the occupation code.

Option B: By fulfilling the requirements detailed in paragraphs SW 9.1. to SW 9.10. and SW 14.1. to SW 14.6. of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, an applicant gains 20 points under Option B if they hold a PhD relevant to the job and their salary meets or exceeds:

  • £23,580 per year;
  • £10.75 per hour; and
  • 90% of the going rate for the occupation code.

In this entry, 10 points will be awarded for the educational qualification and 10 points will be awarded for the applicant’s salary.

Option C: By meeting the criteria outlined in paragraphs SW 10.1. to SW 10.6. and SW 14.1. to SW 14.6. of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, an applicant earns 20 points under option C if they hold a STEM-related PhD relevant to the job and their salary meets or exceeds:

  • £20,960 per year;
  • £10.75 per hour; and
  • 80% of the going rate for the occupation code.

Option D: By fulfilling the requirements stated in paragraphs SW 11.1. to SW 11.6. and SW 14.1. to SW 14.6. of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, an applicant gains 20 points under option D if their job falls under a shortage occupation and their salary meets or exceeds:

  • £20,960 per year;
  • £10.75 per hour; and
  • 80% of the going rate for the occupation code, for occupation codes where a going rate is specified.

Option E: By meeting requirements as set out in paragraphs SW 12.1. to SW 12.7. and SW 14.1. to SW 14.6. of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, an applicant earns 20 points under option E if they are a new entrant to the labor market and their salary meets or exceeds:

  • £20,960 per year;
  • £10.75 per hour; and
  • 70% of the going rate for the occupation code.

Option F: Upon satisfying the requirements as set out in paragraphs SW 13.1. to SW 13.7. and SW 14.1 to SW 14.6. of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, the applicant will score 20 points under option F if applicant's job is in a listed health or education occupation and the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £20,960 per year; and
  • the going rate for the occupation code.

An applicant with a job in a listed health or education occupation can only be awarded tradeable points from option F.

Can I Use Priority or Super Priority Service For  Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa?

As specialist skilled worker visa solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Priority or Super Priority Service for extension of skilled worker visa whereby decision on your skilled worker visa application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your application through Super Priority Service or within 5 working days if you submit your application through Priority Service.

Our skilled worker visa solicitors can prepare and submit your application for extension of skilled worker visa faster and get you a decision on your application faster through Priority or Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your Skilled Worker visa application for months (sometimes years).

How Can We Help With Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa UK?

Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations for your application for extension of skilled worker visa on fixed fee basis. Our skilled worker visa solicitors can legally represent you in your application for extension of skilled worker visa and carry out all the work on your application until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your skilled worker visa application. The immigration casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your application for extension of skilled worker visa will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our skilled worker visa solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your application for extension of skilled worker visa to be successful;

Documentary advice: Our skilled worker visa solicitors will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for extension of skilled worker visa;

Assessing documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to make sure that all the documents you provide in support of your application for extension of skilled worker visa are in accordance with the requirement of the immigration rules;

Completing the application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant application form your application for extension of skilled worker visa;

Submitting application through Priority or Super Priority Service: If required, our immigration lawyers will submit your application for extension of skilled worker visa online through priority or super priority service to get decision on your application for extension of skilled worker visa within 24 hours;

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your application for extension of skilled worker visa, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics;

Detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application for extension of skilled worker visa to explain all the relevant legal requirements for your application to be approved by the Home Office UKVI;

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of your application for extension of skilled worker visa;

Follow up work: Our immigration lawyers will carry out all the follow up work until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application for extension of skilled worker visa.

How Much Does Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa UK Cost?

The costs involved in the application for extension of skilled worker visa from inside the UK are as detailed below:

Our Fixed Fees

Our fixed fee for your application for extension of skilled worker visa ranges from £800 + VAT to £1,200 + VAT. Our fixed fee will cover all our work on your application for extension of skilled worker visa from inside the UK including advising on documents, checking your documents, completing the application form and submitting the application online, booking an appointment for biometrics enrolment, preparing a cover letter in support of the application, uploading all supporting documents to be considered in support of the application, and carrying out all other follow up work until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application.

Our agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of your case and the volume of work involved in your application. You will make an initial payment of half our fee when we start our work on your matter, and the remaining half is due once we have fully prepared the application and it is ready for submission.

Unable to afford the cost of the full service? You have the option to book an appointment online for our one-off immigration advice and consultation service for a fixed fee of £100 (including VAT) or our immigration document checking service for a fixed fee of £300 (including VAT).

Home Office UKVI Fees

If you're applying for extension of skilled worker visa from inside the UK, the Home Office UKVI fees for the application depends on the duration of your intended stay:

  • For stays up to 3 years, the fee is £827 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
  • For stays exceeding 3 years, the fee is £1,500 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.

Individuals whose occupations are listed on the shortage occupation list are eligible for reduced application fees for themselves and their families:

  • The fee for each person applying is £551 for stays up to 3 years and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year
  • For stays exceeding 3 years, the fee is £1,084 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.

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FAQs - Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa UK

Following are the various Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for extension of skilled worker visa UK:

You should normally apply for extension of skilled worker visa within 28 days before the expiry your current leave to enter or remain as a skilled worker. However, an early extension of skilled worker visa is also possible and you can apply for skilled worker visa up to 3 months before the expiry of your current leave to enter or remain as a skilled worker. 

If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

If the applicant has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:

  • the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270; or
  • the sponsor must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment, to an amount of at least £1,270.

A total of 70 points are required to be eligible to apply for extension of Skilled Worker visa / Tier 2 Generarl visa; 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points and the remaining 20 from tradeable points.

Applicants can be new entrants for a maximum of 4 years. The 4 years include time spent in any Tier 2 route or as a Skilled Worker, whether or not that permission was for a continuous period. An applicant cannot be considered as a new entrant for only part of the time they are applying for. If the applicant is applying for more than 4 years, or if granting the application would mean they would have more than 4 years’ permission in total (whether continuous or not) as a Tier 2 migrant and/or as a Skilled Worker, they cannot score tradeable points as a new entrant. They will need to score tradeable points in another way.  

If your application for renewal / extension of Skilled Worker visa has been refused by the Home Office UKVI, you may have one of the following options available to you:

Option 1: You can file an Administrative Review (AR) against the refusal of your application if you believe that the Home Office caseworker has made a caseworking error in deciding your application for renewal of Skilled Wokrer visa. Our expert team of Skilled Worker visa solicitors can help you with your application for an Administrative Review (AR) of the Home Office UKVI refusal decision.

Option 2: You can submit a fresh application within 14 days (if your leave has already expired whilst the application was pending with the Home Office UKVI) by using a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned by your employer to you. Our specialist skilled worker visa solicitors can provide the required legal help and assistance with your fresh application for extension of Skilled Worker visa after the refusal of your application.

Following changes in the Immigration Rules with effect from 1 December 2020, there is no time limit set by the Home Office UKVI as to maximum period for which a person can extend his/her Skilled Worker visa. It is therefore possible for a person to extend Tier 2 General or Skilled Worker beyond 6 years if for any reasons an application for ILR cannot succeed for the time being and the extension application is the only option available.

 

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