If you are already a Graduate visa holder, you would be able to switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK by obtaining a job offer from a UK employer with an active sponsor licence, as long as you satisfy the visa requirements.
However, before you can switch to the Skilled Worker route, you must have finished your course of study or have a start date on your employment offer that comes after the completion of your course. When you submit your application online for a Skilled Worker visa, your Graduate visa must be valid and not expired. This means you have to apply for the Skilled Worker visa before your current visa gets expired so you can continue to stay and work in the UK.
In this article, we will cover the visa requirements, the list of required documents, and the application process to make the Graduate visa to Work visa transition in the UK.
What is a Graduate visa & how long does it last?
The Graduate visa is issued to international students who have completed their course of study. Under this visa, you can search for jobs, work for a UK company, or begin your own business in the UK without a sponsor. The visa is issued for two years for graduates with an undergraduate or master’s degree. It can also be approved for three years if you hold a doctoral qualification (PhD). While staying on the Graduate visa, you will have the freedom to explore your career in the UK. It will allow you to gain relevant work experience and switch to other types of visas. In case an approved sponsor offers you a job in the UK and you satisfy the necessary visa requirements, you can switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK.
Graduate visa to Skilled Worker visa: Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility conditions to make the UK visa change from Graduate to Work visa are as follows:
- Have finished the course of study
- Hold a genuine job offer from a UK employer with a valid sponsor licence
- Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that is assigned by your licenced sponsor
- The work start date must come after the final date of course completion
- Must meet the minimum salary requirement of £38,700 per year from 4 April 2024. However, some shortage occupations do have lower thresholds
- You can also meet a lower salary threshold of £30,960 or 70% of the “going rate” for your particular occupation code, whichever is higher
- Show proof of knowledge in English language at level B1 (intermediate).
- Alternatively, you can include a degree that was taught in English (you will already satisfy this if you’ve finished a degree in the UK
- The offered job must meet the required skill level of RQF3 (equivalent to A-levels).
Finding a UK employer willing to sponsor you
If you want to stay longer in the UK by making the switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, you need to secure sponsored employment from a licenced UK employer that is approved by the Home Office and has a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. You have to find a UK employer who wants to offer you Skilled Worker visa sponsorship in the UK. They do this by assigning you a CoS. However, you must submit the visa application before your Graduate visa is due for expiry.
The best option for a Graduate visa expiration is to find a sponsor and secure the employment offer while your current visa is still valid. Concentrate your employment search on companies that have a good history of sponsoring international graduates. This will increase your chances of finding an employer who is willing to sponsor your Skilled Worker visa.
Required documents for your visa application
You need to prepare various documents before you start the application process. The following is the list of documents you need to switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK:
- Passport to show proof of your identity and nationality (Your passport needs to have at least a single blank page to attach your new Skilled Worker visa)
- Get the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number from your sponsor
- Your Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD certificate as evidence of your English language proficiency
- The employment offer letter you received from your sponsor that clearly states your job title and annual salary
- Document that shows your job’s occupation code
- The official CoS document bearing the name of your UK employer and their sponsorship licence number
- Evidence of having a minimum of £1,270 in personal funds to support yourself for at least 1 month in the UK
- There is no need to show personal funds if the CoS shows that your employer will support you for a minimum of 1 month)
- Relevant marriage and birth certificates if you are applying along with dependent family members.
Steps to apply for a Skilled Worker visa from a Graduate visa
To go forward with the switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, you will need to follow these key steps to complete the application process:
- Double-check your eligibility to apply for a Skilled Worker visa
- Get the official Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your UK sponsor before you apply
- Gather all the necessary supporting documents
- Complete the visa application form online on the Home Office website by providing accurate and up-to-date information
- Submit your visa application form with the supporting documents and pay the relevant application fees (check the costs below)
- Provide your biometric information, including a fingerprint scan and a photo. You can either attend the biometric appointment or use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ mobile phone app
- Check and upload all additional documents through the online Home Office portal or bring them to your biometric appointment
- Wait for the Home Office decision.
During this waiting period, you are not permitted to travel outside of either the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until the Home Office has sent their decision on your application. In case you happen to travel past these areas when your visa is still in processing, the Home Office will withdraw your application to switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK.
Cost & processing time for the Skilled Worker visa
When you make the UK visa change from Graduate to Work visa, there are various costs involved throughout the application process. The first one is the relevant visa application fee, which ranges from £827 to £1,639 per person. The right for you depends on the length of the sponsored visa. After the application fee, you need money to pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge of £1,035 per person per year. This payment is to gain access to the UK’s National Health Service. When you book an appointment to have your biometric information taken, there is an extra one-time fee of £19.20.
The standard processing time for switching to a Skilled Worker visa application is currently up to 8 weeks from your application date. However, delays can occur if the Home Office requests additional time to verify any specific information you submitted. You still may have the option to use super-priority service to get a faster decision for an additional £1,000 fee. This will ensure you receive the Home Office decision on the next working day.
Common reasons for refusal & how to avoid them
The applications to switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK sometimes get refused by the Home Office for a number of reasons. The following are the most common reasons for Skilled Worker visa refusals:
- Your job’s annual salary did not meet the minimum salary requirements
- You have submitted wrong or insufficient information in the visa application form
- The Home Office believes you do not have the relevant skills and qualifications to perform the sponsored job
- The Home Office believes that you are not a genuine candidate for the Skilled Worker visa
- You didn’t show evidence of enough financial support to support yourself in the UK.
- The Home Office is concerned about your suitability
- Submitting the documents in the wrong format.
When the Home Office receives your application, their case officers will verify it based on your eligibility. By carefully following the key practices below, you can ensure that your application to switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK satisfies the eligibility criteria, and you can minimise the risk of visa refusal.
- Consult with one of our immigration experts to assess your case and ensure that your application meets all the Home Office requirements. Our team will guide you through the entire Graduate visa to Work visa transition in the UK.
- Read through all of the eligibility conditions and double-check if your application satisfies every visa requirement.
- First, review all the information filled in the application form for factuality and then submit the visa application.
- Double-check that you have all the necessary documents ready and that they are in the correct format before submitting.
What happens if your Graduate visa expires before approval?
If your Graduate visa has expired while you are waiting for approval on your Skilled Worker visa application, you can legally remain in the UK. So, there is flexibility in Graduate visa expiration options. As long as your Graduate visa is valid at the time of application for the Skilled Worker visa, you have clearance to stay in the UK. This is based on the grounds of “implied status” until an official decision is received from the Home Office. The main condition is to not leave the UK, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, or Ireland until the Home Office makes a decision. If you do end up travelling outside these areas, you might even risk your application getting withdrawn.
Can you work while waiting for the Skilled Worker visa?
The Graduate visa route does allow you to keep working in the UK while you are waiting for approval on your Skilled Worker visa. If the Graduate visa is still valid and has not expired, you can use the time to work with any UK employer at any skill level. They can hire even if they don’t have a sponsor licence. A UK employer does not require a sponsor licence or offer you Skilled Worker visa sponsorship in the UK to work for them. If you are on a Graduate visa, you will be free to join an internship or work as a freelancer. You can gain work experience in the UK while the Home Office is processing your Skilled Worker visa.
Final Reminder
It is very important to submit your application for a Skilled Worker visa in time before your Graduate visa expires. To increase your possibility of success on your visa, we would advise you to consult our experienced team of immigration solicitors based in London. We will assess your case first and guide you on your switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK. Schedule a call with our specialist immigration team now for personalised guidance.
