what to do if the sponsoring company is closing after i became eligible to apply for ILR in skilled worker visa route?

[saratchv]

I am currently on a skilled worker visa and I became eligible to apply for ILR on 11th Aug 2025 after completing 5 years. However my current sponsoring company is closing down and they made all employees redundant w.e.f 30th Sep 2025. They say that they can only give the ILR supporting letter stating that I am needed in the job till 30th Sep 2025. Can I still apply for ILR with this letter?

What happens if I find a new job who can only give me the job offer but not skilled worker visa sponsorship. Can the job offer be shown as evidence of my continued need in UK? Or do I need to switch job with skilled worker visa and then apply ILR?

[lolo2]

They say that they can only give the ILR supporting letter stating that I am needed in the job till 30th Sep 2025. Can I still apply for ILR with this letter?

You need a letter saying that your sponsor needs you in the job for the foreseeable future. September is in a few weeks!

What happens if I find a new job who can only give me the job offer but not skilled worker visa sponsorship. Can the job offer be shown as evidence of my continued need in UK? Or do I need to switch job with skilled worker visa and then apply ILR?

You cannot work for any other employer with your current visa. The new employer has to sponsor you to apply for a new Skilled worker visa. Then you can apply for ILR.

What's the expiry date of your current visa?

[saratchv]

What's the expiry date of your current visa?

My current visa expires on 14 April 2026

[lolo2]

That gives you some time to find a new employer with a sponsor's licence. I would start now.

I'm not sure when this redundancy decision was taken but you could have benefited from the "28 days" concession to apply for ILR before your 5 years mark.

[saratchv]

That gives you some time to find a new employer with a sponsor's licence. I would start now.

I don't think i will have time till my visa expiry. After 30th Sep 2025, my company will inform home office to cancel my CoS and home office will send me a notice once the CoS is cancelled. I believe I will have 2 months after that. So, roughly till Mid-Dec 2025 which is still okay. Anyway I have started applying for jobs but fingers crossed. Not many companies sponsor skilled worker visas now a days!!

I'm not sure when this redundancy decision was taken but you could have benefited from the "28 days" concession to apply for ILR before your 5 years mark.

I have been chasing for a month and they intentionally delayed it knowing the redundancy situation.

You cannot work for any other employer with your current visa. The new employer has to sponsor you to apply for a new Skilled worker visa. Then you can apply for ILR.

But are you sure I wont get ILR with my current employer letter stating the need till 30-Sep-2025 and a new job offer which shows my need in UK. Will home office look for my continued need in the current job or my need in UK along with my ability to survive?

[lolo2]

I don't think i will have time till my visa expiry. After 30th Sep 2025, my company will inform home office to cancel my CoS and home office will send me a notice once the CoS is cancelled. I believe I will have 2 months after that. So, roughly till Mid-Dec 2025 which is still okay. Anyway I have started applying for jobs but fingers crossed. Not many companies sponsor skilled worker visas now a days!!

It doesn't work like that.

The company has an obligation to inform the Home Office about the termination of employment of every sponsored worker, but it doesn't mean you have two months after that.

The CoS is irrelevant here, it was valid until you applied for your current visa.

We haven't seen in the forum credible reports of anybody receiving a curtailment letter after being made redundant. Personally it took me several months in 2019 to secure a new sponsored job after being made redundant, I never received this letter.

I have been chasing for a month and they intentionally delayed it knowing the redundancy situation.

It seems they had taken the decision well before.

But are you sure I wont get ILR with my current employer letter stating the need till 30-Sep-2025 and a new job offer which shows my need in UK. Will home office look for my continued need in the current job or my need in UK along with my ability to survive?

It doesn't work like that here either.

You don't need a job offer from a prospective employer, you need to be employed by that sponsor and provide a letter saying that they need you for the foreseeable future.

Foreseeable future is an unspecified period of time beyond the immediate future. 30 September 2025 is a specific and imminent date.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... and-salary

I can't sympathise more but UKVI don't care about how you'll survive in the UK. They don't make decisions based on that.

[saratchv]

okay. Thanks lolo2 for all the information. I guess I have no option than to find a job with skilled worker visa.

[saratchv]

I took the risk and applied for ILR in super priority route. And a big surprise, my ILR is approved .
I put up a nice representation letter as below using chatgpt and it worked out well at the end.

[saratchv]

UK Visas and Immigration(UKVI)
Home Office
United Kingdom
To Whom it may concern
Sub: Personal representation letter for the ILR application
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to provide further information and context in support of my Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application with URN ############, submitted under the Skilled Worker route.
I entered the UK on 07-September-2020 on the Skilled Worker visa and have maintained continuous lawful residence for 4 years 347 days as of 18 August 2025, meeting the lawful residence requirements for ILR within the permitted 28-day early application period. My Skilled Worker visa is valid until 14 April 2026, and I have fully complied with all immigration conditions during my stay.
Employment Circumstances
I am currently employed as a Senior CAE Software Developer with ################, under a Certificate of Sponsorship valid until March 2026. My role meets the minimum salary requirements for my Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code ####.
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen and significant economic factors affecting the company, all employees — including myself — have been made redundant, with my employment confirmed till 30 September 2025.
This redundancy was purely an economic decision by my employer and was not performance related. My employer has provided a formal letter confirming my employment until 30 September 2025, which I have included with my application. Without this external factor, I would have continued in my position as evident from the CoS validity till March 2026.
My specialized expertise in C++, Qt, Python and high-performance computing (HPC) is highly sought after in the UK market and I am already receiving multiple interview calls. I am very confident that I will secure a new, higher-paying role well before my current job end date contingent upon my ILR.
Financial Stability and Ability to Remain Self-Sufficient
I wish to assure the Home Office that I am financially secure and fully capable of supporting myself and my family without recourse to public funds during any employment transition. At present, we hold over £##### in family personal savings, with two months of salary yet to be received, along with a redundancy payment of £####.
Family and Integration in the UK
My family and I have built deep roots in the UK. My two children have been living here since March 2021 and have completed over four years of schooling at Arbury Primary School, Cambridge. My elder daughter has secured a place at an “Outstanding” rated secondary school in Cambridge, starting September 2025. They are fully integrated into British society, culture, and education. Any changes at this point of time will disrupt their education and emotional wellbeing, causing unnecessary hardship after they have established strong friendships and community ties in the UK.
My wife, on a dependant visa, is also in employment and contributing to the UK economy through tax and National Insurance contributions.
Request for Consideration
I respectfully request that the Home Office considers:
1.
My continuous and lawful UK residence within the permitted early ILR application period.
2.
The genuine and unavoidable nature of my redundancy, despite a valid CoS until March 2026. I also wish to note that, had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, I would have been able to arrive in the UK by late May 2020 and, consequently, would have been eligible to obtain my ILR by early May 2025
3.
The redundancy date still being in future. Please note that I have applied for ILR in super priority category to receive a faster decision.
4.
My financial stability and strong prospects for continued employment in the UK.
5.
The compelling compassionate circumstances relating to my children’s education and integration.
Granting ILR at this stage would allow me and my family to maintain stability, avoid unnecessary disruption, and continue making a positive contribution to the UK both economically and socially.
I appreciate your time and consideration of my application, and I trust the above information will assist in making a favourable decision.
Yours faithfully,
######