Skilled worker visa renewal with drink driving conviction

[dutts]

Hi all,

I am due to renew my skilled worker visa on August 2025.

I had no previous conviction and lived in the UK 7 years on several visas.

I have below drink driving conviction from Jan 2025, all as a single offence -

DR30 - Failed to provide specimen - paid Fine and 17 months driving disqualification(reduced by 17 weeks after completion of Drink driving awareness course)
IN10 - Driving without Insurance
LC20 - Driving without licence

My queries are -

1. Will I face refusal? If so can I appeal for a review?
2. Do I need to add remorse letter and character reference letter?
3. I will be eligible for ILR on May 2027 if 5 years route(more than 24 month after conviction), My company is offering me for 3 years of extension to be safe. Should I go for 3 years or 2 years considering my conviction.
4. If I apply for ILR after 2 years on a 3 years visa, will I receive 1 year IHS back?

Thank you in advance!

[dutts]

Someone please help if you had similar situation or experience about it.

I am really worried about it!

[Djsuccess]

Hi all,

I am due to renew my skilled worker visa on August 2025.

I had no previous conviction and lived in the UK 7 years on several visas.

I have below drink driving conviction from Jan 2025, all as a single offence -

DR30 - Failed to provide specimen - paid Fine and 17 months driving disqualification(reduced by 17 weeks after completion of Drink driving awareness course)
IN10 - Driving without Insurance
LC20 - Driving without licence

My queries are -

1. Will I face refusal? If so can I appeal for a review?
2. Do I need to add remorse letter and character reference letter?
3. I will be eligible for ILR on May 2027 if 5 years route(more than 24 month after conviction), My company is offering me for 3 years of extension to be safe. Should I go for 3 years or 2 years considering my conviction.
4. If I apply for ILR after 2 years on a 3 years visa, will I receive 1 year IHS back?

Thank you in advance!

These are 3 offences committed at the same time. When you renew your visa, you need to declare all the 3 offences and provide evidence of the drink driving awareness training attended and other relevant information. These on their own might not immediately affect your visa extension but I guess the caseworker might also review it as they deem fit. Take it one step at a time. Make sure you are honest in declaring the offences when you renew your visa. I will suggest you apply for 3 years just to give yourself that extra 1 year, if required. You can think of ILR later. All the best. Do let us know how you get on