How to apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa while residing in the UK?

How do you apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa while residing in the UK?

You must have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to submit an application and receive a UK Skilled Worker Visa at the UK Home Office. If you are currently residing in the country with a valid UK visa, then you can submit an application and switch to a UK Skilled Worker Visa.

You are not eligible if you have the following visas:

 

• UK Visit visa
• Short-term student visa
• Parent of a Child Student visa
• Seasonal worker visa
• Domestic worker in a private household visa
• Permission to stay outside the immigration rules
• Immigration bail

 

*Want to apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa? Check your eligibility with the Y-Axis UK Immigration Points Calculator.

 

What is the application process for a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

You can follow the steps given below to complete the application process for a UK Skilled Worker Visa:

 

What is the eligibility for applying for a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

You must meet the below eligibility to apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa:

 

• The employment offer must be from a valid employer
• You must be proficient in the English language

 

Foreign students on a UK Student Visa can apply for the UK Skilled Worker Visa if they:

 

• Have finished a course with a student sponsorship
• Have a job after completing their course
• Have finished a PhD for a minimum of 24 months

 

When should you apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

You must submit an application before your current visa expires, and it must be 3 months before the starting date listed in the CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship). A Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship has a validity of 3 months. Therefore, you must submit it before the CoS expires. Once it expires, the CoS will no longer be valid.

 

You can even include the dependents in the same application if they are residing in the UK with you.

 

Also read…

How do you apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa?

 

What is the cost of a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

The cost of a UK Skilled Worker Visa differs based on the following factors:

 

• Visa application fee
• Biometrics
• IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge)
• Additional Charges

 

Visa application fee

The visa application fee is as follows:

Duration	Fee
Up to 3 years	£827 per applicant
More than 3 years	£1,636 per applicant

 

If your job is on the immigration income list then the fee is as follows:

Duration	Fee
Up to 3 years	£551 per applicant
More than 3 years	£1,084 per applicant

 

Biometrics

The fee for the biometrics is as follows:

Category	Fee
Biometrics	£19.20

 

IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge)

 The IHS fees are as follows:

Category	Fee
IHS	£1,035 per annum

 

Additional Charges

There may be additional fees as the following:

Category	Fee
Priority Service	£500 per applicant
Super Priority Service	£1,000 per applicant
Documents scanning	£56 per applicant

 

Submitting an Online Application

You must fill out the application details carefully before submitting the online application form. The details in the application include:

 

• Visa details
• Personal data
• Information regarding family or dependents
• Details about the job and employer in the UK
• Additional information

 

Uploading the required documents and providing biometrics

You have to set up an appointment at the UKVCAS centre to submit the biometrics, after which the following documents are to be submitted:

 

• Employer given CoS reference number
• Evidence of English Language ability
• Passport proving your national status and identity
• Yearly income and job title
• Job role listed in the occupation code
• Name of your UK employer and their licenced sponsor number as given on the CoS

 

Receiving a visa decision

It takes around 8 weeks to process a UK Skilled Worker visa application. The visa processing might be delayed if you have any prior rejections or if the UKVI requests additional data. You will receive a notification regarding the visa status of the UK Skilled Worker Visa application.

 

*Looking to migrate to the UK? Reach out to Y-Axis, the world’s No.1 Overseas Immigration Company, for end-to-end support.