Accepted Job Offer with Skilled Worker Visa, But No Contract or Contact for 3 Weeks – What Should I Do?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on a situation that’s been causing me a lot of uncertainty, especially with time-sensitive visa implications. I recently accepted a full-time job offer in the UK for an analytics role that requires Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Here’s the timeline and current status:
• 12 June – I received and formally accepted the offer. I signed and returned the offer letter on the same day.
• Since then, I’ve been following up with the talent acquisition person who offered me the role. We’ve exchanged some messages, and on 25 June I received a message saying that the visa process had “started on their side” and was awaiting internal sign-off. I was told I would hear from their mobility team “early this week.”
• However, it’s now 3 July and I have received no contract and no further communication from HR, the mobility team, or the person who made the offer — despite multiple polite follow-ups via text, email, and a phone call (which went unanswered).
• Out of concern, I sent a polite escalation email this morning to the HR team and cc’d both the original contact and the hiring manager who interviewed me. I reiterated my excitement for the role and asked for a brief update so I could plan accordingly — but I still haven’t received any response at all.

I’m a Skilled Worker visa applicant, so timelines are important — and currently this is my only offer and I would truly want to join this company. I also know they have sponsored Skilled Worker visas in the past and HR I've been in contact with has clearly stated they could do visa sponsorship for me.

My questions are:
1. Is this kind of silence normal in UK hiring processes, especially when visa sponsorship is involved?
2. Could this mean the offer is effectively dead, even though no one has explicitly withdrawn it?
3. Should I keep waiting or move on? Is it too soon to assume the worst?
4. Is there anything else I can do to prompt a reply without damaging any future chance?

I’ve been trying to stay calm and professional, but this silence is making me anxious. I’d really appreciate any insights, especially from others who have gone through Skilled Worker visa sponsorship or experienced similar delays.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe they are checking the COS with the new rule which was announced few days ago (e.g. changed code, potentially higher surcharge)

Did you pay anything upfront for the company?

Hi mate,

Thanks very much for your response!

No I have paid nothing for the company yet so there isnt any financial issue here.

Before 22 July 2025, the rules in place under the Skilled Worker route remain the same.

I think the situation depicted here has little to do with immigration but with internal company procedures. Nobody on the forum would be able to tell what is going on in their HR team.

However, the general advice in these cases is, as migrant workers we should never rely on one offer or company only, until the new visa has been granted. Companies can change their mind at any time. Another sensible advice is to not resign to the current job until approval of the new leave.

I don't see any harm in sending follow up emails, but this needs to be addressed properly. Some hiring managers can be bothered by people that look desperate for a job.