Urgent: CoS approved but not assigned — Skilled Worker visa expiring 13 March 2026

[tummalapelly]

Hi all,
I’m currently in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa which expires on 13 March 2026.
My employer has already applied for a new CoS — it has been approved, but they have been unable to assign it to me in the SMS system due to a technical issue.
They have contacted the helpline and have tried escalating through priority service for the past week, but the issue still hasn’t been resolved.
My extension application is ready to submit as soon as the CoS is assigned, but with only about two weeks left, I’m worried about what happens if the CoS still isn’t allocated before my current visa expires.
I would really appreciate advice on the following:

If I leave the UK before my visa expires and return after the CoS issue is fixed, does this reset my 5‑year continuous residence period for ILR?
Is there any lawful alternative to avoid breaking continuous residence without overstaying?
Would a short overstay (if the CoS is assigned slightly late) cause major issues, or must it be avoided entirely?
Are there any temporary visa categories I can switch into from within the UK while waiting?

Any guidance or experiences with similar CoS assignment problems would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.