What to Do If Your UK Skilled Worker Visa Is Rejected in 2025

In the case of a refusal of an application for a UK Skilled Worker visa, administrative or judicial review are the available options for dealing with the Home Office's refusal.

Failing to meet the validity requirements will result in a UK skilled worker visa rejection. You need to understand why your visa was rejected and try to meet those requirements in your fresh application. 

Steps to Take After Visa Application Rejection


In case you receive a visa rejection for a Skilled Worker, then a refusal letter will be sent to you by the Home Office detailing vital information in it. It is important to act right away after this letter is sent to you since outside the UK you have only 28 days for the appeal, while inside it is only 14.

Remedies following refusal of a UK Skilled Worker Visa are limited: an appeal, an administrative review, or a new application. Which remedy is available to you will be spelled out in the refusal letter itself.

Administrative Review Request 


If you believe mistakes happened in the processing of your application for the Skilled Worker Visa, you can request an Administrative Review.

You can bring a request for review under the following conditions:

  • You live in the UK and made your application inside the UK

  • You live outside the UK and made your application from abroad


A review comes at £80, however, if the appeal is rejected, the fee becomes non-refundable. It is also of high importance not to apply for another application till the review is underway and if one is in the UK, they do not leave the country, as this will automatically withdraw the review.

Anyone who wants an appeal must note that the process will take a long time between four and six months. After that, when your request is considered by the Home Office, they will write to you to let you know that your application has been successful against the conditions for the grant of the Skilled Worker Visa.

Skilled Worker Visa Refusal Appeal

If you feel the visa refusal is unjust, you will find in your visa refusal letter the statement that you can appeal the decision. To revoke the decision, you have to write an appeal in complete detail and hire an immigration lawyer in London who has handled many cases like yours.

How to file an Appeal:

In most cases, an appeal request can be lodged online but in some kinds of visas, it shall be sent by mail. There you will enclose all supporting documentation to the First-Tier Tribunal. In some cases, additionally, they might need to be submitted to the Home Office.

One of the requirements of the appeal process might surprisingly be to attend a "court hearing." Many people win their cases at this stage. You can have video link arrangements and request that the hearing occur remotely if you live outside the UK. Even an attorney can represent you at the hearing in such cases.

The fee may reach up to £140, depending on whether there is a requirement for a hearing with all other things being included but might also go as low as £80.

If the court is in your favor, the home office will approve your skilled visa. Should the appeal be dismissed, you can appeal to the Upper Tribunal or reapply for a skilled worker visa or another visa in the UK.

Judicial Review Pre-Action Protocol Letter

Before proceeding to a formal judicial review claim in the UK Court, the claimant must necessarily write a formal pre-action letter to the Home Office (respondent). This letter explains the facts of the case, the reason for the challenge, and the remedies.

The Pre-Action Protocol for Immigration Judicial Reviews is a step taken during proceedings. It gives both sides a chance to chat out anything and, as their official statement affirms, can be pursued without the necessity of a full-fledged judicial review hearing, saving time and costs associated with pursuing matters at court.

Reapply For a Fresh Visa after Rejection 

If the visa application gets rejected, your visa application is considered to be invalid. Rejection has to do with the validity requirements that the applicant may not have met. In most cases, the employee is considered to have made no immigration application. In such a case, you won't be able to appeal. You will be required to reapply by hiring an immigration solicitor to ensure you meet all validity requirements of the UK government. 

Common Reasons for Rejection of a UK Skilled Worker Visa 


Failure to Satisfy the Minimum Salary

A primary reason for Skilled Worker visa refusal failing to fulfill the Skilled Worker Minimum salary requirement.

Most UK skilled Worker visas necessitate a basic salary threshold currently hovering at £38,700 gross per year. However, it could vary by whether or not the job demanded an even higher pay.

Incorrect or Invalid CoS

The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must be issued by the sponsoring employer correctly and valid. Any kind of problems with the CoS like an invalid CoS, or CoS not utilized, can make the application be turned down.

You do not Meet the Job Skills Requirement. 

The job has to be at the RQF Level 3 and above (equivalent to A-levels). If you fail to demonstrate your skills for the job, the Home Office may refuse your visa application. 

Incomplete Visa Application Form

Failure to meet all the eligibility criteria, making a mistake, or presenting an inappropriate document will result in a visa being refused.

UKVI may Feel that you are not a Genuine Applicant.

If the Home Office (UKVI) realizes that the applicant plans to work in the UK, such plans may include the doubt that the job vacancy might not be a real one, it cannot grant the requisite visa.

Conclusion 


To prevent another rejection, it is advised to hire an immigration solicitor when filling out a fresh UK skilled worker visa application. The rejection letter will state why the Home Office decided to consider your application invalid. You need to work on all validity requirements to ensure a successful application. 

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