By Admin Yes, you can switch to become your wife’s dependent if she gets a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship from a company in the UK. Here’s how the process works:
- Switching Visa Categories: Once your wife obtains her Skilled Worker visa, you can apply to switch your visa category to become her dependent. You do not need to leave the UK to make this switch, as you can apply from within the UK as long as your current visa is valid.
- Eligibility: As her dependent, you’ll need to meet the general requirements for dependent visas, which include proving your relationship (marriage or civil partnership), showing that you intend to live together in the UK, and that you both meet the financial requirements.
- Effect on ILR Timeline: If you switch from your own Skilled Worker visa to a dependent visa, the time you’ve accumulated toward Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a primary visa holder will not carry over. Instead, you would then be on a dependent visa, and your route to ILR would follow the rules for dependents, typically tied to your wife’s visa and immigration status.
So, yes, you can become her dependent, but it’s essential to weigh how this might affect your plans for ILR.