How Do I Switch from a Tier 4 General Student or Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa

Those who have come to the UK on a student visa to do a higher-level degree course, such as a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree course, and who wish to stay in the UK after their studies and work, have two main visa options to choose from.

Skilled Worker visa

This visa requires that the applicant has been offered and accepted a full time position with a UK-based company that holds a sponsorship license, i.e. it can sponsor foreign migrant workers. Those staying in the UK on student visas are able to apply from within the UK to switch to a Skilled Worker visa. The evidence, which must be provided with such an application, will vary depending on the type of work that you will do, the job role that you will be fulfilling, your age, and whether or not you have completed your UK degree. 

Graduate Visa

The Graduate visa is a fairly new immigration route available to graduates from UK universities. Those who have successfully completed a UK Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, or higher, and who hold a valid Student or Tier 4 (General) Student visa, may apply for a Graduate visa from within the UK. The Graduate visa grants the holder a fixed period of 2 years of leave in the UK, during which the holder can work, study, or look for work. The visa has few restrictions, and for those who did not secure a job before they have completed their degree, the Graduate visa provides time and flexibility to continue their job search, and begin working.

If a Graduate visa holder has secured a job with a UK-based company that has a sponsorship license prior to the expiry of their visa, it is possible to apply from within the UK to switch from the Graduate route to the Skilled Worker route.

It is worth noting that neither a Student visa, nor the Graduate visa will lead to settlement, and both of them grant leave for a fixed period of time. However a Skilled Worker visa does lead to settlement in the UK after 5 years of living in the UK under this immigration route.

How Gherson can assist

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 Twitter, Facebook, 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.

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