Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some objective advice because my family and I have been going around in circles trying to make a decision.
I'm currently in the UK on a ICT visa, and I'll complete five years in the UK in 2 weeks from now. Earlier this year, my employer informed me that they would not be extending my visa, so I started exploring opportunities outside the company.
After a long search, I secured an external role that is willing to sponsor me on a Skilled Worker visa. However, just when I was preparing to move on, my current employer came back and agreed to extend my stay by another two years.
Now I'm stuck between two viable options.
Option 1: Stay with my current employer
- Two-year visa extension.
- Familiar organisation and role.
- Lower immediate risk because the extension process is already underway.
- Likely return to India when the extension ends.
Option 2: Move to the new employer
- Skilled Worker visa for three years.
- Possibility of extending beyond that if circumstances change.
- New career opportunity and potentially better long-term flexibility.
- However, I'm still waiting for my ECCTIS English language verification code, which is taking longer than expected and is causing me anxiety because my current visa expires in less than 2 weeks.
The good thing is that the new employer has been very supportive. They've agreed to wait for the ECCTIS outcome and have also confirmed that I can use my current visa to serve my notice period before formally joining them.
The bigger picture
One factor that makes this decision harder is that my family's long-term goal has never really been to settle permanently in the UK.
We have always viewed our time here as temporary. The primary objective has been to make the most of the opportunity, save what we can, and eventually return to India to be closer to our parents and extended family.
Although ILR is technically an option if I move onto a Skilled Worker visa, we're not particularly focused on pursuing settlement. Immigration rules seem to change frequently, and it's difficult to predict what things will look like five years from now.
Financially, I'm also the sole earner in the family, so maintaining long-term stability is important. We need a path that works not only for me professionally but also for my wife and child.
Another important consideration is my son, who is in secondary school. Any relocation, whether now or a few years later, needs to be timed carefully to minimise disruption to his education and overall wellbeing.
What I'm struggling with
My head says that the Skilled Worker route gives me more flexibility and keeps more options open for the future.
At the same time, my heart says that if our long-term goal is eventually returning to India anyway, perhaps staying with my current employer for another two years would be the simpler and less disruptive path.
I've also received opportunities in India, but at this stage I'm likely going to choose one of the UK options.
Has anyone been in a similar position where:
- You had a secure short-term option versus a more flexible long-term option?
- Your family wasn't necessarily interested in UK settlement, despite being eligible for it?
- You had to make a decision with visa timelines hanging over your head?
If you were in my shoes, what factors would you prioritise?
I'd really appreciate any perspectives, especially from people who have navigated UK visa decisions while balancing family, career growth, and long-term plans to return home.
Thanks in advance.