Immigration Advice Enquiry – Skilled Worker Dependant Visa Expiring 15 September 2026

[Rajchow25]

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am seeking advice regarding my immigration status and possible options to remain lawfully in the UK if my wife's Skilled Worker visa extension is delayed.
My wife is the main applicant and currently holds a Skilled Worker visa. She works as a Web Designer and her current salary is approximately £26,000 per year.
I am her Skilled Worker dependant, and our 6-year-old child is also her dependant. My current dependant visa expires on 17 September 2026, while my child's current visa is valid until April 2028.
My wife's employer has told us that they have applied for a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to extend her Skilled Worker visa, but they say they have not received a response from UKVI and are unsure when the CoS will be issued.
I am concerned because I am not certain whether the employer has actually submitted the CoS application, and I would like to understand how I can protect my immigration status if the CoS is not issued before my visa expires.
I am also currently undergoing significant medical investigations through the NHS. My doctors are investigating a possible neurological condition, including suspected Multiple Sclerosis, although this has not yet been confirmed. I have undergone three MRI scans and a lumbar puncture and am currently waiting for the test results. I also have an NHS neurology appointment scheduled for 15 September 2026, which is the near date my current visa expires.
I would therefore like advice on the following:
If my wife's employer does not obtain the CoS before 15 September 2026, what options do I have to remain lawfully in the UK?
Is there any type of temporary extension, further leave to remain, or other application that could allow me to remain in the UK for approximately 2–3 months while the CoS issue is resolved?
If I submit an application before my current visa expires, would I be protected from overstaying while the application is being considered?
Would making such an application affect my existing 5-year route to settlement/ILR as a Skilled Worker dependant?
Does my ongoing medical investigation and NHS treatment provide any additional immigration options or grounds that should be considered if the CoS is delayed?
As my child's dependant visa remains valid until
Is there anything my wife or her employer should do immediately with UKVI to verify the status of the CoS application and request urgent consideration, given that my visa expires on 15 September?
I would be grateful for advice on the safest option that would allow me to remain lawfully in the UK while protecting my future eligibility for settlement.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,

[secret.simon]

I will not answer the questions specific to the COS, because I am not familiar with that field of immigration law.

Here are the answers to some of the other questions. I'll answer them out of the order in which you have put them as the answers will then make more sense.

Would making such an application affect my existing 5-year route to settlement/ILR as a Skilled Worker dependant?

In order to stay on the 5 year route to settlement, you must stay on the same or very similar visa/leave to remain for five continuous years. If you change the form of visa that you are on, that will reset the ILR clock down to zero.

Keep in mind that even a Skilled Worker visa and a Skilled Worker dependant visa are two different types of visas and moving from one to the other would reset your ILR clock to zero.

Also be cautious of applying for a "human right" visa or some such nonsense that some people may suggest to you. That will definitely reset your clock to zero and move you to a 10 year pathway to ILR.

Is there any type of temporary extension, further leave to remain, or other application that could allow me to remain in the UK for approximately 2–3 months while the CoS issue is resolved?

There is no temporary extension that you can apply for. If you cannot apply for a valid extension of your existing Skilled Worker dependant visa before it expires, you should look at moving out of the UK before the last date of your current visa.

Does my ongoing medical investigation and NHS treatment provide any additional immigration options or grounds that should be considered if the CoS is delayed?

Not if you are trying to maintain continuity of Skilled Worker dependant visa to get ILR in 5 years time.

As my child's dependant visa remains valid until

my child's current visa is valid until April 2028.

Was the child born in the UK?

[CR001]

I am curious how the child's visa is valid substantially past the main visa holder and your visa expiry dates.

Are you sure the child's visa is correct or is there some previous main visa information you have not stated?