Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa UK

Details: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 02 July 2024

You can apply for an 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 a new undefined Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to apply for an 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 a skilled worker sponsor licence to get a decision on the sponsor licence application within 10 working days.

An application for an extension of the skilled worker visa is made according to the requirements set out in Appendix Skilled Workers, Appendix Skilled Occupations, and Appendix Immigration Salary 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, a job on the Immigration Salary List, and the applicant applying as a new entrant.

A total of 70 points are required to be eligible to apply for an extension of the Skilled Worker visa; 50 points are mandatory non-tradeable points, and the remaining 20 are 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, a timely extension of a 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 an extension of your 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 detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our immigration solicitors concerning your application for an extension of your skilled worker visa.

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 a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK:

Valid Application: The applicant must submit a valid application for an extension of a 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 an extension of a skilled worker visa.

Immigration Status Requirement: The applicant's current or last grant of leave to enter or remain must be 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 an 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 an 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.

Salary Requirements For Skilled Worker Visa UK

To succeed in the Skilled Worker visa application, the applicant must score 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points and at least 20 points from tradeable points.

Mandatory Non-Tradeable Points For Skilled Worker Visa

The applicant must score 50 mandatory non-tradeable points to succeed in an application for a Skilled Worker visa, and the remaining 20 points can be scored from tradeable 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

Tradeable Points For Skilled Worker Visa UK

The application process for skilled worker visas asks applicants and sponsors to provide all relevant information that might attract tradeable points. Applicants can score tradeable points in more than one way (although they cannot mix and match different options). To secure a successful skilled worker visa, an applicant must amass 20 tradeable points. 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 available options.

The applicant must be awarded 20 points from one of the options in the table below and for the purpose of meeting these points:

(a) an applicant can only be awarded points from options A to E, unless they meet the requirements in (b) or (c).

(b) An applicant can only be awarded points from options F to J if:

(i) they are being sponsored for a Health and Care ASHE salary job; or
(ii) the date of application is before 4 April 2030, they were granted permission as a Skilled Worker under the rules in place before 4 April 2024, and they have had continuous permission as a Skilled Worker since then (except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded).

(c) An applicant can only be awarded points from option K if they are being sponsored for a job in an appropriate eligible SOC 2020 occupation code listed in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

If your initial Certified of Sponsorship (CoS) was assigned on or after 4 April 2024, you will usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher. Each occupation code has its own annual going rate.

Salary Requirements Under Options A to E

Various options to score 20 tradeable points for meeting the salary requirement for skilled worker visa UK are as follows:

Meeting Salary Requirements Under Option A

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option A in accordance with the requirements of paragraph SW8.1 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

£38,700 per year; and
the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option B (PhD in a Subject Relevant To The JOB)

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option B as per the requirements of paragraphs SW9.1 to SW9.4 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£34,830 per year; and
90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option C (PhD in a STEM Subject Relevant To The Job)

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option C according to the requirements of paragraphs SW10.1 to SW10.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£30,960 per year; and
80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option D (Job On The Immigration Salary List)

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option D in accordance with the requirements of SW11.1 to SW11.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£30,960 per year; and
the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option E (New Entrant)

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option E as per requirements of SW12.1 to 12.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£30,960 per year and
70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Salary Requirements Under Options F to J

An applicant for a skilled worker visa can only be awarded 20 points from options F to J if:

they are being sponsored for a Health and Care ASHE salary job; or
the date of application is before 4 April 2030, they were granted permission as a Skilled Worker under the rules in place before 4 April 2024, and they have had continuous permission as a Skilled Worker since then (except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded).

You can be awarded 20 tradeable points under options F to J. The points scoring for 20 tradeable points under option F to J is explained below:

Meeting Salary Requirement With Option F

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 tradeable points under Option F as per the requirements of SW8.1 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

£29,000 per year; and
the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option G (PhD in a Subject Relevant To The JOB)

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 tradeable points under Option G in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs SW9.1 to 9.4 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£26,100 per year; and
90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option H (PhD in a STEM Subject Relevant To The Job)

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 points under Option H in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs SW9.1 to 9.4 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£23,200 per year; and
80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option I (Job On The Immigration Salary List)

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 tradeable points under Option I in accordance with the requirements of SW11.1 to SW11.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£23,200 per year; and
the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option J (New Entrant)

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 tradeable points under Option E as per requirements of SW12.1 to 12.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£23,200 per year and
70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option K (Job in a Listed Health or Education Occupation)

Some health and education occupation codes are listed in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The going rates for these occupations are taken from national pay scales and no discounts to the going rates are available. If an applicant is being sponsored in an occupation code in Table 3, they can only score tradeable points based on option K.

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa UK can score 20 tradeable points under Option K in accordance with requirements of SW13.1 to 13.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is being sponsored for a job in a listed health or education occupation and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£23,200 per year; and
the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Can I Use Priority or Super Priority Service To Extend a 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/Super Priority Service for an extension of a skilled worker visa whereby a 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 an extension of your skilled worker visa faster and get you a decision 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 the 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 an extension of your skilled worker visa on a fixed fee basis. Our skilled worker visa solicitors can legally represent you in your application for an extension of your skilled worker visa and carry out all the work on your application until the 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 an extension of your 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 an extension of your skilled worker visa are in accordance with the requirements of the immigration rules;

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

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

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your application for an extension of your 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 an extension of your 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 an extension of your skilled worker visa;

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

How Much Does Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa UK Cost?

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

Our Fixed Fees

Our fixed fee for your application for an extension of your skilled worker visa ranges from £800 + VAT to £1,200 + VAT. Our fixed fee will cover all our work on your application for an 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 working 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 an extension of a skilled worker visa from inside the UK, the Home Office UKVI fees for the application depend 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 £1,636 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 an extension of a skilled worker visa UK:

When can I apply for an extension of a skilled worker visa UK?

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

What is the financial requirement for an extension of a Skilled Worker visa?

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.

How many points do I need to score to qualify for an extension/renewal of a Skilled Worker visa?

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

What is the time limit to apply for a renewal of a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant?

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. 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.

Furthermore, time spent under the Graduate route is counted towards the 4-year time limit for being considered a New Entrant when applying for leave to remain a Skilled Worker.

What are my options if my application for a renewal of a Skilled Worker visa has been refused by the Home Office UKVI?

If your application for renewal/extension of your 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 case working error in deciding your application for renewal of your Skilled Worker 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. Our specialist skilled worker visa solicitors can provide the required legal help and assistance with your fresh application for an extension of your Skilled Worker visa after the refusal of your application.

Can I extend my Tier 2 General or Skilled Worker visa beyond 6 years?

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 the 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 reason, an application for ILR cannot succeed for the time being, and the extension application is the only option available.