2025 年英國自行申請工作簽轉永居 Skilled Worker Visa to Indefinite Leave to Remain 條件與問題紀錄
今年是持有工作簽期滿第五年的一年，時間還沒有到，公司的人資就跑來問我接下來的打算，也是因為持有工作簽即將過期，所以詢問接下來的計畫，已確保公司能持續合法合規的雇用。 詢問公司是否有任何的 (support?) 資助，只是公司認定轉 Indefinite Leave to Remain 是屬於個人，所以不會提供相似工作簽那樣的全額贊助，但是可以幫忙找公司合作的律師 soliisictor 來辦理，公司會負擔所有的律師費用，只是會要求簽署約莫兩年的鎖定期，如果提前離開公司的話，需要支付一定比例的費用。當我聽到律師費要 £5,000 以上，這筆付給英國政府的規費 (fee) 還要貴啊，而且覺得自己的案子相當簡單，自己申請就可以了吧！
永久居留權 Indefinite leave to remain 申請
原則上跟著英國政府網站的指引：Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa，可以提前一個月在滿五年的日子申請，許多文件可以提前開始準備。
主要是兩份文件需要雇主的簽名：
- 雇主繼續聘用與薪資符合要求的證明文件 support letter
- 雇主缺勤證明 absence confirmation
其他文件的準備，全部轉成 pdf 檔案上傳：
- LifeInUKTest 通過證書，郵件通知與 URN 轉成 pdf 文件
- 最近一個月的薪資單 payslip
- 最近一個月的薪轉銀行帳戶對帳單 bank statement
- 現在護照/ 過去護照正反面
- 上次申請完延簽後，有前提換了新護照，護照號碼有改變
- 目前簽證狀態，列印 share code 頁面成 pdf 檔案
- 同意書 consent form
- 由線上系統產生的文件，使用 pdf 簽署電子簽名
覺得比較麻煩是找回最後一次續簽的資料，從過去的信箱中找到與之前與移民律師的歷史郵件，尋找到以下會用於申請流程的資訊：
- 上次 UKVI application reference code，申請時系統會詢問，可選的資料
- 雇主的 sponsor licence number
- 上次申請的職缺代碼 SOC code
整體而言，線上申請系統的操作流程相當清楚直覺，所有文件都可以先行上傳，之後再預約前往簽證中心 (TLScontact) 的日期。因為人資這邊非常著急，所以補助預約黃金時段 (prime time appointment) 的費用，所以得以在提交申請後一週內就預約到時段；否則一般免費時段通常需要等上三到四週。
至於前往簽證中心當天，提前抵達位於 Gee Street 的中心，遠遠就看到排得長長的隊伍，果然就是簽證辦理的地方。入口會有警衛負責控場並依序放人入內。進到裡面後，先掃條碼、確認基本資料，接著在機台上依指示操作，完成拍照與按指紋等必要流程，整個過程簡潔順暢，很快速就辦理完成，體驗比想像中快速得多。
因為有購買加急服務，靠著資本的力量，在前往簽證中心後的兩天內就收到 Home Office 寄來的結果成功通知。之後再登入系統申請新的 share code，並提交給人資更新公司資料後，整個流程就正式完成。整體來說，自行申請的過程相當順利，沒有遇到太大的問題。
時間表
- 04-06-2025 人資詢問簽證狀態
- 15-06-2025 簽證到期日前 30 日，可以送出 ILR 申請
- 20-06-2025 送出 ILR 申請
- 申請費用是 £3029，再加購七日出結果的加急服務 £500
- 28-06-2025 簽證中心 (TLScontact) 預約日
- 資料檢查以及搜集生物特徵資料
- 30-06-2025 預估簽證中心將資料轉給 HomeOffice 審核
- 01-07-2025 收到 Home Office 電子郵件已通過通知
- 15-07-2025 原先 Skilled worker 簽證到期日
在這之後呢？申請成為英國公民前
通常情況下，獲得永居身份 ILR 後，需多等 12 月後，才能申請英國公民 (British citizen) 身份，筆記幾個條件：
- 申請日往前計算，在英國居住至少 5 年
- 5 年內最多離境 450 日，最後 12 個月內最多離境 90 日
更多請參考 Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain。
附錄：雇主繼續聘用與薪資符合要求的證明文件 Support Letter
自己先用 AI 產生一個版本，先行調整後，再轉給人資再調整一次，並且電子簽名成 pdf 後，最後上傳該文件到網站上。人資修改了關於職缺的描述，調整成公司招聘人才的文字，大體框架沒有改變：
- 申請人的護照以及職缺 (包含職缺代碼 SOC code)
- 還是需要繼續聘任
- 目前簽證狀態以及稅前薪資
- 公司資料，包含 sponsor licence number
[Company Name] [Address] 25/06/2025 UK Visas and Immigration Home Office Subject: Letter of Support for ILR Application – [APPLICANT NAME] To Whom It May Concern, This letter confirms that [APPLICANT NAME], holder of passport number [PASSPORT NUMBER], has been continuously employed by [COMPANY NAME] since 23 August 2018. He currently works full-time as a Software Engineer (SOC 2134) under the Skilled Worker route (formerly Tier 2 General). Mr. Wang’s current salary is [SALARY] per annum, which meets the salary threshold required for his role. We confirm that: ● Mr. Wang is required for this ongoing, permanent position. ● His work location remains as stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship. ● He has been paid and employed in accordance with sponsorship requirements. Job title: Senior Software Engineer Job type: 2136 Programmers and software development professionals Summary of job description: You will be responsible for the continued development of our back-end platform. Passionate and creative - you will be able to drive innovation and ensure we have the best solution possible. You will: develop the best platforms using the latest technologies, providing the best experience and reaching as many of our customers as possible; Design excellent API's shaping this by working closely with our android and back-end teams; Work with legacy code and improve it, whilst making the architecture more scalable; Interact with nontechnical team members and occasional outsourced development/support partners and write compact and performance-conscious yet readable code using your skills in Golang, Python, JavaScript, Postgres etc. [COMPANY NAME] is a registered sponsor (licence number [LICENCE NUMBER]) and continues to meet all Home Office sponsorship duties. Please feel free to contact us should you require any additional information. Yours faithfully, [SIGNATURE] [CPO NAME] CPO [CPO CONTACT EMAIL]
附錄：雇主缺勤證明 Absence Confirmation
如果只有一般放假到海外旅行，那理論上應該不用提供這個，但由於我有兩段長時間待在海外工作，所以有另外準備這個文件，也是由 AI 打草稿，修改後遞給人資那邊電子簽名。
[Company Name] [Address] 20/06/2025 UK Visas and Immigration Home Office Subject: Time Outside of the UK for ILR Application – SI-YUAN WANG To Whom It May Concern, This letter confirms that [APPLICANT NAME], holder of passport number [PASSPORT NUMBER], has been employed by [COMPANY NAME] since 23 August 2018. We are writing to support his application for Indefinite Leave to Remain, specifically in regard to the following time outside of the UK during his employment in the past 12 months: 1. 22 March 2025 ~ 3 May 2025 (Japan): Mr. Wang worked remotely for 20 working days during this time. The remote working arrangement was pre-approved by the company and conducted in accordance with our internal remote work and work-abroad policy. 2. 4 December 2022 ~ 14 January 2023 (Taiwan): Mr. Wang worked remotely for 10 working days during this period, which was also approved in advance by the company under our work-abroad policy. In both instances, Mr. Wang remained fully employed and contractually active. His work responsibilities continued uninterrupted, and there were no changes to his role or terms of employment. Please feel free to contact us should you require any further information. Yours faithfully, [SIGNATURE] [CPO NAME] CPO [CPO CONTACT EMAIL]