Jan 30 2025
UK Immigration
UK immigration rules do not allow individuals to switch from a Visitor visa to a Skilled Worker visa while in the UK. There is an explicit requirement that Visit visa holders must leave the UK, and should they wish to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, they should apply from their home country or country of residence.
A Skilled Worker visa application made by a Visit visa holder from within the UK will be rejected as invalid.
If you find a job opportunity in the UK while on a Visitor visa, you need the following to successfully apply for a Skilled Worker visa:
The published processing timeline for a Skilled Worker visa application that is submitted from outside the UK is currently within three weeks.
However, a decision can be expedited by purchasing the priority service, currently £500, where a decision should be made on your application within five working days of your biometric appointment.
There may also be the option to purchase the super priority service for £1000, where a decision should be made by the end of the next working day following your biometric appointment.
Whether a priority service is available for an application made from outside the UK will depend on the country you are applying from.
Updated: 30 January 2025
Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2025
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