You can apply to update your Skilled Worker visa if you change your job and your new job is with a different employer / skilled worker sponsor. According to Home Office, UKVI Guidance on Skilled Worker visa, you will need to apply to update your Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) work visa if:

  • you want to change your job and your new job is with a different employer
  • your job changes to a different occupation code, and you are not in a graduate training programme
  • you leave a job that is on the shortage occupation list for a job that is not on the list

Free Immigration Advice For Updating Skilled Worker Visa

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide one-off free immigration advice online in relation to your application for updating 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 updating skilled worker visa.

 

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Do I Need New Certificate Of Sponsorship (CoS) For Updating Skilled Worker Visa?

Your employer / sponsor must assign you with a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for you to apply for updating 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.

What Are The Requirements For Updating Skilled Worker Visa UK?

An application for updating 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 updating Skilled Worker visa; 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points and the remaining 20 from tradeable points.

To be eligible for updating Skilled Worker visa / Tier 2 General visa, you should meet the following requirements:

  • You must be in the UK with leave to remain as a Tier 2 General migrant or as a Skilled Worker;
  • Your must be either:
    • changing your job and your new job is with a different employer
    • changing your job to a different occupation code, and you are not in a graduate training programme
    • leaving a job that is on the shortage occupation list for a job that is not on the list
  • You must score 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points;
  • You must score at least 20 points from tradeable points;
  • If you have not lawfully lived in the UK for last 12 months, you must meet the financial requirement by showing a balance of not less than £1270 maintained in your account for last 28 days or your Skilled Worker sponsor has certified your maintenance in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS);
  • meet the suitability criteria and not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal;

You 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.

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

The applicant must score 50 mandatory non-tradeable points to succeed in an application for updating 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 Updating Skilled Worker Visa?

An applicant applying for updating of skilled worker visa from inside the UK must gain 20 tradeable points to be successful in the skilled worker visa 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 updating 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  Updating 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 updating 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 updating 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 Updating Skilled Worker Visa?

Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations for your application for updating your skilled worker visa on fixed fee basis. Our skilled worker visa solicitors can fully represent you in your application for updating skilled worker visa to cover all  our work your application until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application for updating skilled worker visa. The immigration casework to be carried out by our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors 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 updating 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 updating skilled worker visa;

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

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

Submitting application through Priority or Super Priority Service: If required, our skilled worker visa solicitors will submit your online skilled worker visa application through priority or super priority service to get faster decision on your application for updating skilled worker visa;

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

Detailed cover letter: Our specialist skilled worker visa solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the application for updating skilled worker visa to explain all the relevant legal requirements and how such requirements have been satisfied by the applicant with the documents being submitted with the application;

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 updating 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 updating skilled worker visa.

How Much Does Updating Of Skilled Worker Visa UK Cost?

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

Our Fixed Fees

Our fixed fee for your application for updating skilled worker visa ranges from £800 + VAT to £1,200 + VAT. Our fixed fee will cover all our work on your application for updating 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 updating 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.

Other Related Services

FAQs - Updating Skilled Worker Visa UK

Following are the various Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for updating skilled worker visa from inside the UK:

You can apply for updating your Skilled Worker visa through Priority or Super Priority Service to get faster decision on your application.

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 and Super Priority Service for Skilled Worker visa applications 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 Skilled Worker visa application faster and get you a decision on your application faster through Priority and Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your application for months (sometimes years).

To be eligible for updating Skilled Worker visa / Tier 2 General visa, you should meet the following requirements:

  • You must be in the UK with leave to remain as a Tier 2 General migrant or as a Skilled Worker;
  • Your must be either:
    • changing your job and your new job is with a different employer
    • changing your job to a different occupation code, and you are not in a graduate training programme
    • leaving a job that is on the shortage occupation list for a job that is not on the list
  • You must score 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points;
  • You must score at least 20 points from tradeable points;
  • If you have not lawfully lived in the UK for last 12 months, you must meet the financial requirement by showing a balance of not less than £1270 maintained in your account for last 28 days or your Skilled Worker sponsor has certified your maintenance in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS);
  • meet the suitability criteria and not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal;

You 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.

The applicant must score 50 mandatory non-tradeable points to succeed in an application for updating 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

The applicant must score at least 20 points from the tradeable points for updating Skilled Worker visa / Tier 2 General visa. The applicant may only score from one entry from each of the two sections of tradeable points as given below:

Option Requirements To Score Points Points
A

The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds all of the following:
• £26,200 per year;
• £10.75 per hour; and
• the going rate for the occupation code.

20
B

Educational qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job and the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds all of the following:
• £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.

20
C

Educational qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds all of the following:
• £20,960 per year;
• £10.75 per hour; and
• 80% of the going rate for the occupation code.

20
D

Job in a shortage occupation and the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds all of the following:
• £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.

20
E

Applicant is a new entrant to the labour market and their salary equals or exceeds all of the following:
• £20,960 per year;
• £10.75 per hour; and
• 70% of the going rate for the occupation code.

20
F

Job 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.

20
  • 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.

 

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