Podcast | Workforce Worldview

    Cancellation Letters: What Do You Need To Know When Your Skilled Worker Visa Gets Cancelled in the UK?

    November 2024
    Region: Europe
    Featuring:

    In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join Carine Elliott and Magali Ferreyra Alvarez as they discuss the rise of visa cancellation letters in the UK, and what employees and sponsored employers need to know about the skilled worker visa cancellation process. This includes what can cause a UK skilled worker visa to be cancelled, how long the visa holder has to renew or leave the country and how cancellation letters are sent among other questions visa holders and sponsored worker employers may have.


    Why might a skilled worker visa be cancelled?

    While there are many circumstances in which a visa can be cancelled, when it comes to sponsored workers the most common is that their sponsor has reported the end of their visa through employment to the Home Office. Once the Home Office reviews the visa it will usually be cancelled if more then six months remain on the expiry date.

    How long is a skilled worker visa valid after cancellation?

    After the cancellation the worker’s visa will only be valid for 60 days. It can take time for the cancellation to be actioned, but to avoid overstaying your visa our advice is to start the 60-day period from when your sponsored employment ends.

    How are cancellation letters sent to those on skilled worker visas?

    Cancellation letters are generally sent through email, but if the email on file with the Home Office is for your sponsor or is no longer in use, they will send a physical letter to the address they have on file. This can be the employers address or even a previous address in a different country which is one of the reasons we suggest starting your 60-day period from the time you leave sponsored employment.

    What happens if your skilled worker visa is cancelled while you are outside of the UK?

    If your visa is cancelled while you are outside the country, then the cancellation is effective immediately. There will be no 60-day period, and you will not be able to re-enter the country. It is possible that the Home Office made a mistake, and your visa may show up as cancelled despite you having acquired a new visa through a different employer. Fortunately, Magali goes into detail about how a case like this may be rectified.

    Can a cancellation letter affect a skilled work visa holder’s right to work check with another employer?

    If the employer has done the right to work check correctly then they are not expected to know that the employee may have had their visa cancelled previously. Even if the employment begins after the visas expiry date that still have a statutory excuse against a civil penalty. Magali explains in more detail when excuse might not apply and what the penalties could be.

    Featuring

    Carine Elliott London
    Magali Ferreyra Alvarez London

    Related Content