Skilled Worker visa – laid off, waiting for curtailment and concerned about ILR

[flyboy_2019]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on a Skilled Worker visa, which is valid until 2028. Unfortunately, I was laid off and my employment ended on 12 July 2026. I have not been able to find another sponsored job yet.

I have not received a curtailment/cancellation letter from the Home Office so far, and my eVisa still shows the original expiry date in 2028. It has not been updated to a new expiry date.

I understand that when a Skilled Worker loses their sponsored employment, the Home Office may cancel/curtail their permission and normally leave them with 60 days to find another sponsored job, make another eligible visa application, or leave the UK. However, I am unclear about exactly when this 60-day period starts.

I would really appreciate advice or experiences from anyone who has been in a similar situation:

Does the 60-day period start from the date my employment ended (12 July 2026), or from the date the Home Office makes the cancellation/curtailment decision and notifies me?
Does the relevant date depend on when my former employer reported the termination to UKVI? If so, does anyone know whether the important date is the employment termination date, the date the employer notified UKVI, the date UKVI made the cancellation decision, or the date the cancellation/curtailment notice was served?
Since I have not received a curtailment letter and my eVisa still shows an expiry date in 2028, am I currently still lawfully allowed to remain in the UK under my existing Skilled Worker permission?
If I stay in the UK for more than 60 days after my employment ended, but have still not received a cancellation/curtailment notice, would that constitute overstaying?
If I cannot find a new sponsored job or switch to another visa within the relevant period, when would I actually become an overstayer?
Could this situation affect a future ILR application? In particular, could the period between my employment ending and obtaining a new sponsor affect my continuous residence or my eligibility for ILR in any other way?
Has anyone been in a similar situation where they were made redundant/laid off, did not receive the curtailment letter for several weeks or months, and subsequently found a new sponsor? What happened in your case?
If I find a new sponsored job after 60 days have passed but before I receive the cancellation/curtailment notice, would I still be able to apply from inside the UK, or would I need to leave the UK and apply from overseas?
Is there anything I should be doing now while waiting for the Home Office to take action? Should I proactively contact UKVI, or is it better to wait for the formal notice?

I understand that individual circumstances can differ and I’m considering getting professional immigration advice. I’m mainly interested in hearing from people who have experienced the same situation and understanding how the timing worked in practice.

Thanks in advance for any advice or experiences.

[CR001]

The 60 days curtailment starts from when you receive the curtailment notice. It can take a couple of months for curtailment letters or email to be sent.

In the meantime, you are not permitted to do any type of work and do not leave the UK.

[flyboy_2019]

Thank you for your reply.
If I find another job after 60 days, am I still eligible to apply for ILR under the 5-year Skilled-Worker route? Or will the clock be restarted?

[CR001]

If you receive a curtailment notice curtailing your visa to 60 days, you either have to apply for another visa BEFORE the end of the 60 days or you must leave the UK.

Whether you will qualify for ILR depends on many factors, how long you are out of the UK for after the 60 days, how long a new visa takes and if the rules change.

[flyboy_2019]

Thanks. Let me clarify my question.

My understanding is that, in a normal situation, if I work under a Skilled Worker visa for 5 years and meet the requirements, I can apply for ILR. If I switch my sponsor within 60 days after the termination date of my old contract, there should be no problem with applying for ILR using the same 5-year route.

Now, if I find a new job after 60 days have passed from my old contract termination date, but I have not yet received the curtailment letter, or the 60-day deadline in the curtailment letter has not yet passed, do I need to apply for a new Skilled Worker visa, or can I simply switch my sponsor under my existing visa?

To be clear, I am mainly confused about when the 60-day period starts, in relation to two separate things:

1. When I have to leave the UK:
Does the 60-day period start from the date my employment ends, or from the date the Home Office issues the curtailment letter? Is the 60-day deadline always 60 days from the curtailment letter, or can it be backdated to the date my employment ended?

2. My ILR / 5-year route:
Does the 60-day period for finding a new job or switching to another qualifying route (e.g. Global Talent) also start from the date my employment ends, or does it depend on the curtailment letter?

I’m asking because someone told me that for (1), the deadline is 60 days from the curtailment letter, while for (2), the deadline is 60 days from the date my employment ended.

I just want to double-check whether this is correct.

Thank you for any clarification.