Switching from a Graduate Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa

You can switch from a UK Graduate Visa (formerly PSW visa) to a UK Skilled Worker Visa if you are offered a job by a UK employer who has a sponsor licence and meet the visa requirements.

UK employers without a sponsorship license can hire applicants on a Graduate Visa, but it is only valid for 2 years. After that, the Graduate Visa holder must either switch to another visa, such as a Skilled Worker Visa, or leave the UK. If an employer wants to sponsor a Graduate Visa holder for a Skilled Worker Visa, they must have a sponsor licence. This licence allows the business to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, enabling the candidate to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa.

For support with your sponsor licence or Skilled Worker visa application, please contact our immigration lawyers at 02037442797.

Applicant Requirements to Switch from Graduate Visa to Skilled Worker Visa

The requirements for switching from a Graduate Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa are:

• Have an offer of an eligible job from a UK employer with a sponsor licence
• Meet the Skilled Worker Visa salary requirement. You may be able to qualify for the ‘new entrant’ salary threshold £30,960 or 70% of the ‘going rate’ for your job if you are currently holding a Graduate Visa.
• Meet the English language requirements

Have an offer of an eligible job from a UK employer with a sponsor licence

Your employment offer must be for a job in the official list of eligible jobs¹ on the UK Home Office website. You will need to know the Standard Occupational Code (SOC) for your job.

Meet the salary requirements

The salary requirement for a Skilled Worker Visa is £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher. If you are currently on a Graduate Visa, you may have a lower salary threshold, £30,960 or 70% of the “going rate” for your particular occupation code for 4 years. A table of ‘going rates’² can be found on Home Office website. Lower salary thresholds also apply for those with a PhD in a STEM subject (science, technology, engineering or maths) or those in a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.

Meet the English language requirements

You can meet the English language requirements by either:

• Passing a Secured English Language Test (SELT) proving that you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
• Having a degree-level qualification that was taught in English or
• Having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English from a UK school.

UK Employer Requirements to Sponsor a Skilled Worker Visa

As an employer, to make a successful application for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence, you will need to demonstrate that:

• You are re offering a genuine a job vacancy that meets the skilled worker requirements
• Your business is genuine and operating or trading lawfully in the UK
• You will offer a salary that meets the salary requirements for the role
• Your business has no unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering
• Your business has not had a sponsor licence revoked in the last 12 months
• Your business has the necessary systems in place to sponsor overseas workers

Cost to switch from a graduate visa to a skilled worker visa

As an employee switching to a Skilled Worker visa from a Graduate visa, you will need to pay the following fees:

• Application fee of £827 (for up to 3 years) to £1,636 (for more than 3 years)
• Healthcare surcharge (provides healthcare while in the UK) – £1,035 per person per year.

As an employer, if you don’t have a sponsor licence, you will need to pay a sponsor licence application fee of either £1,476 if you are a medium or large sponsor or £536 if you are a small or charitable sponsor. You will be classed as a small sponsor if at least 2 of the following apply:

• Your business’s annual turnover is £10.2 million or less
• Your total business assets are worth £5.1 million or less
• Your business has 50 employees or fewer

Once you have your sponsor licence, you will need to pay £239 for each certificate of sponsorship you issue, plus the immigration skills charge. The immigration skills charge is £364 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,000 for medium or large sponsors.

How can Reiss Edwards help?

Reiss Edwards is one of the leading and most reputable immigration law firms in the UK. We can handle all aspects of your Graduate Visa to Skilled Worker Visa application switch or, if you are an employer, apply for a sponsor licence. We are well-versed in helping businesses to put in place the necessary sponsorship systems and processes to ensure compliance with the Home Office rules.

We will remove the stress and worry associated with applying for a visa or sponsor licence. Having assisted many employees and employers, we understand the end-to-end process and will ensure that you are successful with your first application. If you have been refused a visa or your licence has been revoked or downgraded, we can also explain what to do next. Contact a member of our friendly expert business immigration team today at 02037442797.

References:

¹ GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations

² GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupations