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Can I Switch From A Student Visa To Skilled Worker Visa Without Completing A Degree Course?

Can I Switch From A Student Visa To Skilled Worker Visa Without Completing A Degree CourseCan I switch from a student visa to skilled worker visa without completing a degree course?

In short, you must have completed your degree course in order to switch from a student to a skilled worker visa in the UK.

You can of course apply for a skilled worker visa before your course finishes but the start date of your job must be no earlier than the date your course finishes. It may however be possible to switch after 24 months of studying full time on a PhD course.

At Halliday Reeves, we specialise solely in visas and immigration, meaning we have an exceptionally high level of experience and understanding of this complex area of law.

We represent students and workers in securing & switching visas, enabling them to live, work and study in the UK. If you are considering switching to  a skilled worker visa, we can put together a comprehensive application on your behalf. We will also ensure that the right documents accompany your application to give it the best chance of success.

To talk to us about applying for a skilled worker visa or switching from a student visa to a skilled worker visa, please feel free to ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form and we will do all we can to help.

“Can we also take this opportunity to thank you for how you handled our enquiry. We were both feeling anxious about making contact with a solicitor to discuss our circumstances. You were so warm, friendly and understanding when we spoke.”

Eligibility To Switch To A Skilled Worker Visa

If you’re currently in the UK on a Student Visa and wish to transition to a Skilled Worker Visa, you’ll need to meet specific eligibility requirements. The key criteria to help you understand what’s involved and how to prepare for your next steps are:

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for a Skilled Worker Visa from a Student Visa, you must:

  • Have Completed Your Course
    You must have completed your degree course. If you are studying for a full-time PhD, you can apply if your job start date is after at least 24 months of study.
  • Have a Valid Job Offer
    You must have a confirmed job offer from an employer who is approved by the UK Home Office.
  • Be Sponsored by Your Employer
    Your employer must hold a valid sponsorship licence and must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship specific to the role you’ve been offered.
  • Be Offered an Eligible Role
    The job must be listed on the UK government’s list of eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker route.
  • Fill a Genuine Vacancy
    Your prospective employer must be offering a legitimate and genuine role.

Additional Considerations

  • New Entrants and PhD Holders
    If you’re considered a new entrant to the job market or you hold a PhD, you may be eligible under slightly different criteria, such as in relation to salary expectations or role requirements.
  • Financial Support
    You must be able to demonstrate that you can support yourself in the UK, unless you’ve already been living in the UK for at least 12 months at the time of your application.

Contact Our Student Visa Solicitors

At Halliday Reeves, our immigration solicitors offer a full range of personal immigration services. If you are considering switching from a student visa to a skilled worker visa, we can provide advice and representation.

To speak to one of our expert UK immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“All went well and I got all the special services you could expect from such a professional organisation. I will 100% advise anyone who is in need of the immigration services with pride.”

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Specialist Immigration Solicitors

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Reviews

Spouse Visa without a hitch!

Hannah was invaluable in our fiancee and subsequent spouse visa applications. She was very informative during our initial consultation and set out our options clearly. During our fiancee visa application, there was a hiccup on the Home Office’s behalf where they didn’t follow their own guidelines and they refused the visa. This had serious implications for our already tight timeline but Hannah was very good at challenging and successfully overturning the erroneous decision. Our follow up spouse visa went without a hitch. Overall, having Hannah involved in the process meant that we were able to marry and live together in the UK; we just simply did not have the knowledge to make it happen ourselves.

Hannah was invaluable in our fiancee and subsequent spouse visa applications. She was very informative during our initial consultation and set out our options clearly. During our fiancee visa application, there was a hiccup on the Home Office’s behalf where they didn’t follow their own guidelines and they refused the visa. This had serious implications for our already tight timeline but Hannah was very good at challenging and successfully overturning the erroneous decision. Our follow up spouse visa went without a hitch. Overall, having Hannah involved in the process meant that we were able to marry and live together in the UK; we just simply did not have the knowledge to make it happen ourselves.
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Please call us on 0330 1337777 or complete a Free Online Enquiry
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