Skilled Worker Visa vs Graduate Route Visa

Hello,

I’m seeking advice on the following visa routes. Is the Skilled worker (new entrant) and graduate visa around the same level of equivalence? Or does one visa offer a larger level of advantages?

Like many other post topics here, I am doing a dissertation resit (MSc business). The dissertation submission date goes past my Tier-4 visa expiry (4 June 2022) I have already been denied sponsorship extension from my visa as my dissertation “could be completed remotely”. This would make me ineligible to apply for the grad visa route as I would not be in the UK at time of certificate completion to apply for the Grad Route Visa.


The Grad Route Visa has always been my plan but now does not seem very tangible.

I see myself having two options:

1. Cram and finish my dissertation in the next 5-6 weeks (way ahead of submission date and also subject to what my business school permits) so I am able to show completion of degree and apply for grad Route while I’m in the country

Or

2. Leave the UK by 4 June 2022. Submit Dissertation at original deadline (30 June 2022) and then apply for Skilled Worker Visa

My main question is, am I doing myself a disservice by not doing everything possible to make myself eligible le for the Grad Visa Application Route? Or is the Skilled Worker Visa just as viable if an option?

Im nervous that I’m going to miss out on an opportunity and may jeopardise my future if I opt for the Skilled worker Visa.

I have done a lot of research and am still uneasy with the decision. Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated. Thank you!

No visa is better than the other one. What matters is which one you are eligible for. Skilled worker visa needs you to get a job offer with sponsorship. Do you see yourself landing on an eligible offer in the next 2 months? If not, try to finish your degree ASAP to get Graduate visa, so you can start job hunting and switch to skilled worker when appropriate. If not completed on time, leave the UK and find job remotely, which might or might not be more difficult than when being physically in the UK. The most important thing is actually finding job rather than worrying which visa is better. There are people with Graduate visa procrastinating or doing low skill jobs. What's the point?

As a US citizen, you also have the option that most of people from 3rd world countries do not have - going back to the US and working there!