Skilled Worker Dependent Visa Extension UK

Who is eligible for a Skilled Worker visa extension?

When you make your original application for a skilled worker visa, you will receive up to two and a half years of leave to remain in the UK. You must have scored 70 points under the points-based system and had a job with a licensed employer that sponsored you to take up their job role.

For you to apply for a Skilled Worker visa extension application, all of those same conditions must be met once again. If you are in the same job role with the same employer the following applies:

• Your employer must apply for a new certificate of sponsorship. You can then apply for a new visa within three months, and 60 days before your leave expires
• Earning the minimum salary threshold of £41,700 or less if you previously met the requirements for an exception
• You will have proven your English language level on your original application so you shouldn’t have to prove it again
• You’ll also need to update your biometric residence permit and prove your identity on the UK Immigration: ID Check app

Applications for extensions for your dependents will need to be done at the same time.

Who can apply for Skilled worker dependent visa extension in UK?

If your partner and children are already inside the UK, they will need to apply for a visa extension separately. They should apply at the same time, as soon as the main Skilled Worker visa (Tier 2) applicant has been granted indefinite leave to remain. If they cannot apply at the same time, they can apply for an extension at a later date but it must be before their current visa expires.

All applications can be carried out online, with different forms depending on who is making the application. Dependent partners applying with children should use the dependent partner form on the government website. Dependent children can also apply on their own using this form.

People who can apply as dependents are:

• Husband, wife, civil or unmarried partner
• Children who are under 18, as well as those born in the UK while you have lived here
• Children over 18 if they are with you as a dependent adult and not living an independent life

You must be able to prove:

• Your relationship with your partner
•  That any children over 16 live with you, are not married and are financially supported by you

Requirements for skilled worker dependent visa extension

Dependents partners and children can apply from inside the UK for an extension to a Skilled Worker dependent visa. They can also apply to switch from another visa. This will not be possible however on certain types of other skilled worker visa holders, for example:

• on a visit visa
• on a short-term student visa
• on a Parent of a Child Student visa
• on a seasonal worker visa
• on a domestic worker in a private household visa
• if they were given leave to remain in the UK on compassionate grounds

Financial requirements

Coming to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa means you and your family will have no access to government support while you are working in the UK. W

You must have £1,270 to support yourself for your Skilled Worker visa extension application.

They’ll also need your personal details, your application number and your certificate of sponsorship number.

When can I apply for a Skilled Worker dependent visa extension?

Dependents of a Skilled Worker visa can either apply for their visa extension at the same time as the main visa holder or at any time before their current visa expires.

This also includes children who have turned 18 during their time in the UK.

All visa holders must ensure that they have submitted an application for a visa extension before the date of expiry. Not doing so may risk contravening UK immigration guidelines if they stay in the UK without a valid visa.

Documents required for a Skilled Worker dependent visa extension

Dependents of a Skilled Worker visa holder will generally need to provide a range of documents when applying for a visa extension in order to prove that they are still eligible.

These can include (but not be limited to) the following:

• Valid passport
• Proof of genuine and subsisting relationship with the main visa holder, such as marriage certificate, evidence of cohabitation, etc
• Birth certificates
• Evidence that any children are financially dependent on the main visa holder
• Letters from child’s school, doctor or other official correspondence confirming address
• Proof of available funds

How to apply for a Skilled Worker dependent visa extension

Skilled Worker dependent visa extensions must be applied for online via the gov.uk website.

As part of the application process, you will need either the main visa holder’s Global Web Form (GWF) or Unique Application Number (UAN).

After filling in the relevant form with your personal information, you must then may the extension fees and the immigration healthcare surcharge fees.

You should then upload your supporting documentation as requested by the online form. You may also have to attend a biometrics appointment at a local UKVI service point.

How much will it cost?

Before you make your application to extend with a skilled worker visa extension for your family, it’s important to budget adequately for all the associated costs, which can vary depending on the type of job the Skilled Worker visa holder will be doing and how long you are staying for.

Applying to extend your Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK costs:

• £943 per person for up to three years of leave
• £1,865 per person for more than three years

This is slightly more expensive than making an application from outside of the UK.

If your job is on the immigration salary list however, you and your family members will pay lower fees. In this instance, the application cost:

• £628 if you’re staying for up to 3 years
• £1,235 if you’re staying for more than 3 years

Each person must also pay the healthcare surcharge when they apply, usually £1035 or £776 for under 18s. As mentioned before, you will also need to prove you have additional money in your account to support yourself and your dependents financially.

What happens if I change employer when I apply for an extension?

If you are doing a different job for the same employer, you wont need to apply to update same occupation code on your visa unless the occupation code has changed.

You will however need to apply to update your visa if:

• You are taking on a second job that is more than 20 hours a week
• Or the second job is a different occupation code
• You are taking a new job with a different employer
• You change occupation codes with your new role
• The new role is not on the shortage occupation list

In all these instances, you will need to apply again and be issued with a new certificate of sponsorship from your employer. Whatever job role you are changing to, it must also meet all the eligibility requirements as before.

You must apply three months before the expiry of your current, skilled worker visa renewal. For your dependents, it is extremely important that you have received the decision of your application and your new certificate of sponsorship before they make any applications. They will need to use your updated information to make a dependent Skiled Worker visa application extension as before and using invalid information would usually mean their applications will be refused.

Extension of skilled worker dependent visa if main application has ILR

If the main Skilled Worker visa holder has obtained permanent residency through indefinite leave to remain, their dependents can still apply for an extension to allow them to stay in the UK.

However, extensions can only be made if the dependent in question has had permission to stay in the UK before the main applicant obtained indefinite leave to remain.

Dependents of Skilled Worker visas can also apply for indefinite leave to remain once they meet the eligibility criteria.