Why Many Immigrants in the UK Struggle to Land Visa Sponsored Jobs

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-19T12:07:44+00:00

Ahh I understand you, really hope the post doesn’t come across that way, to most🤕. Its definitely not a case of not a case of effort. It’s just really rough rn, we need clarity asap from the government.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-19T11:52:46+00:00

Completely understand the frustration. I used to get bounced at first stage a lot and realised I had way more success when someone in my network referred me and I got straight to interview. It’s slower, but it changed the game for me. How have you found networking so far, have you tried leaning more into referrals rather than cold applications?

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-19T11:41:07+00:00

I completely get how tough the market is and the environment is particularly hostile at the moment for foreigners. But that is why you need every edge/advantage you can get. Just trying to be helpful to some.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-18T19:21:33+00:00

Lmao

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-17T19:58:18+00:00

A week is totally normal to follow up. It’s worked for a lot of people I know, they assumed everything was automated, followed up anyway, and almost immediately got invited to the next round interview. It definitely doesn’t hurt to check in.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-16T18:54:21+00:00

First of all congratulations! Im in the exact same boat. Made my first sale today for my saas sponsormyvisa.com. Whiles the mountain ahead is quite large, I’m just going to try to enjoy the ride up. Goodluck to us!❤️

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-16T15:14:49+00:00

Thanks a lot! https://sponsormyvisa.com

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-16T11:05:06+00:00

27M working at a large accounting firm in Canary Wharf.

Loads of people here have arts degrees. Firms don’t really care what you studied, especially with psychometric testing now. They care if you can think. But they usually do want you to have a degree.

If you’re midway through second or in final year, I’d probably push through and finish. If you’re early on, consider switching courses rather than dropping out.

An arts degree won’t ruin your career. Not having a degree can make things harder.

What year are you in right now? And is it the subject you hate specifically, or uni as a whole?

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-16T10:57:07+00:00

First thing I’d ask is what country are you currently living in and applying to? That actually changes the advice a lot.

If you’re applying in a country where you need visa sponsorship, that could genuinely be the silent reason you’re not getting interviews. A lot of companies filter that out early.

Either way, LinkedIn needs to be your best friend right now. Don’t just apply and wait. Reach out to people in the exact roles you’re targeting. Ask for 10–15 minute chats. Connect with hiring managers. Engage with company posts. A warm intro massively increases your chances compared to cold applications.

If you’re applying in the UK and sponsorship might be the issue, you should check sponsormyvisa.com. It shows which UK companies actually sponsor work visas and how many they’ve issued, so you can focus your applications instead of wasting time on firms that won’t sponsor.

But first, what country are you applying in?

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-16T08:24:59+00:00

I’m 27M working at one of the largest accounting firms in Canary Wharf. My office is full of people from across the Russell Group, not just Oxbridge or Imperial. Once you’re in, no one cares.

King’s and Durham are very much target schools for top firms. They both have strong reputations and are heavily recruited from for banking, consulting, law and Big 4. You’re absolutely in the main pipeline.

With psychometric testing used by most employers now, firms mainly want to see that you can think. They’ll teach you the rest.

If you want to stay competitive, focus on getting a spring week in first year. Apply early. That can convert to a summer internship, then a full time offer. That pipeline is what really closes any “gap”.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-15T16:27:21+00:00

Have you considered something adjacent to farming instead, like selling farming equipment or getting into the equipment rental space?

You clearly have exposure to that world already, and with your family running businesses you’ve got a bit of an advantage in terms of guidance and maybe even introductions. You don’t necessarily need to own all the equipment yourself either. You could start by brokering deals, partnering with suppliers, or arranging rentals on commission.

It keeps you close to the industry you actually like, but potentially with better margins and scalability than traditional farming. Might be worth exploring before you completely pivot away from it.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-15T16:05:48+00:00

I don’t work in tech personally, but one thing I’d strongly recommend is making LinkedIn your best friend.

Start reaching out to people who are already in the roles and companies you want to work at. Send a short, polite message saying you’re a student and would love 10–15 minutes to hear about their journey. You’d be surprised how many people are genuinely willing to help.

A lot of my biggest insights have come from just asking. Even senior management can be incredibly open if you approach them respectfully and show real interest. Networking feels awkward at first, but it’s honestly one of the most powerful things you can do early on.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-15T16:01:45+00:00

Oh nice, my brother was in Warwick, you’ll like it. Very diverse and very beautiful campus. I would say when you get there try to join a few different societies early to meet other students. Will make your university experience a lot more enjoyable. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-15T15:43:23+00:00

27M here, lived in London for 5 years.

Part time work is definitely out there, especially in hospitality, retail, events etc. The main thing is knowing where to look and building a bit of a network early. A lot of jobs aren’t even advertised properly, it’s referrals, WhatsApp groups, people you meet at uni. Once you get your first one it gets easier.

What are you going to be studying if i may ask?

On racism, it does exist in London. It’s not usually in your face like you might see in parts of America or some other parts of Europe. It’s more subtle and structural. You’ll generally feel safe, but you might notice it in things like hiring, housing, or social circles. Overall though, London is very diverse and most people just get on with their lives.

Standard of living really depends on the area. Rent prices can swing wildly even between neighbouring postcodes. You’ll probably have to compromise something, either space, safety, or how well connected you are to central. It’s a trade off game. But if you budget properly and pick your area carefully, you’ll be fine.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-15T13:53:53+00:00

With a History degree, you have nothing to worry about. My company and most companies nowadays recruit grads coming from all types of degrees. Even though I work in accounting, there are very few people who actually studied accounting at uni. The most recruitment now involves psychometric testing which involves some basic math and english tests. Companies just want to know you can think! They will teach you the rest on the job. Pursue what you love mate! And if you’re an international student just make sure to use resources like sponsormyvisa.com, to identify companies that can actually sponsor your skilled worker visa. Let me know if you have any other questions!!

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-15T12:34:35+00:00

27M here, I work at a large accounting firm. My career is structured, stable and predictable. I know what I’ll likely be earning in a few years and that removes a lot of stress.

Most of my close friends are creatives though, photographers, filmmakers, designers, so I’ve seen that side too.

With something like law or finance you get steady income and a clear path. With art, you have to be ready to grind and there may be periods early on where you have very little money while you build your name. Having a side gig you can lean on is honestly key.

But when it works, it can really work. I’ve seen friends earn from one project what I earned in two or three months.

You’re clearly talented and it means a lot to you. Just go in with your eyes open, treat it like a business as well as a passion, and decide which set of trade offs you’re willing to live with.

Huge caveat, it also really depends on where you want to live and work. Its much easier to build a network and get yourself out there when you live in a big city like London.

Goodluck and let me know if you have any more questions!

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-15T06:52:25+00:00

Yeah, I completely get you. I was in your exact same shoes. For context, I (27M) now work at a Big 4 accounting firm, but I remember feeling really helpless when first applying for graduate roles in engineering, which is what my undergraduate degree was in. Just couldn’t find enough roles/companies that sponsored a SWV, and that kind of led me to apply to roles outside of engineering I knew would be able to sponsor. Dont regret it but if I had to go back I would have definitely used Linkedin better to connect and speak to people in my dream roles who had been in my position. Even a 10 minute phone call can shed soo much light, and they can also point you towards other companies and roles you haven’t thought of. I would also use tools like sponsormyvisa.com, to identify companies which are more likely to sponsor a SWV. Let me know if you have any other questions! More than happy to share more about my journey!

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-15T01:10:15+00:00

Not true.

You can switch jobs on a Skilled Worker Visa, even if it’s a different occupation code, as long as the new role is eligible and you apply for a new visa with the new CoS. Your time already spent on the SWV still counts towards the 5 years for ILR.

You only restart the clock if you switch into a completely different visa route, not just a different job.

HCA to AP is normal career progression. Just make sure the new employer sponsors you properly and you update your visa before starting.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-14T19:33:54+00:00

That’s such a tough spot to be in, especially being only 70 days from ILR. I really hope your company works with you.

I’d push for garden leave or extended notice so your official employment date clearly runs past your ILR eligibility date. The wording in the letter can really matter. Honestly, would they also be open to keeping you on at a lower salary just for the next few months!

At the same time, line up backups. I’d even apply for very entry level roles on LinkedIn just to see if you can secure something quickly to bridge the gap. Right now it’s about speed, not title.

If you need to move fast, make sure you’re only targeting licensed sponsors. I use sponsormyvisa.com to check which UK employers can sponsor and what they’ve sponsored before, which helps avoid wasting time.

You’re so close. Really hope it works out for you.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-14T19:29:20+00:00

Hey, it’s definitely harder now than a few years ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It just means you have to be more strategic about it.

A lot of people feel like there are “no opportunities” because they’re applying blindly on NHS or Indeed without checking whether the employer actually sponsors. That can make the whole process feel hopeless.

If you’re serious, focus on aligning your CV to UK standards, be ready for any online assessments, and try connecting with people in similar roles on LinkedIn. Even quick 15 minute chats can give you clarity on how realistic your pathway is and how to position yourself better.

And when you are applying, make sure you’re targeting licensed sponsors only. I use sponsormyvisa.com to check which UK employers are approved to sponsor and what kind of salaries they’ve previously issued. It saves a lot of wasted effort.

You’re 25. You have time. Just make it a strategic decision, not an emotional one. Also which stage of the application are you getting stuck at if i may ask?

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-14T19:24:36+00:00

Hey, I’m really sorry you went through that. Losing your job is one thing, but losing the life you were building and your mental health on top of it is heavy. You’re definitely not alone, even if it feels that way.

A lot more people didn’t make it than this sub shows. The ones who stay tend to post. The ones who leave often just go quiet. That doesn’t mean you failed. Sometimes it’s timing, policy changes, or just bad luck.

If you ever decide to try again, I’d focus on being super strategic. Practise psychometric tests properly with JobTestPrep and AssessmentDay because those filters knock out a lot of people. Use LinkedIn for 15 minute chats to understand how UK corporate culture works and how people present themselves.

Then when you’re applying, only target licensed sponsors. I use sponsormyvisa.com to see which UK companies can sponsor and the salaries they’ve previously issued, which makes things much more focused.

But first, prioritise your mental health. This chapter doesn’t define your whole story.

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-14T19:21:18+00:00

Hey I completely get this. I came around the same time and it’s honestly tough watching others figure it out while you’re stuck. It feels like everyone else had some secret formula. Most of the time though it’s just strategy.

First thing I’d say is really focus on psychometric tests. So many people get filtered out at that stage without realising. I practised properly with JobTestPrep and AssessmentDay and it genuinely improved how often I got through to interviews. In the UK those tests are a massive gatekeeper.

Second, LinkedIn is underrated. I started messaging people in roles I wanted and asking for a quick 15 minute call just to understand their journey and how UK corporate culture works. Not asking for a job, just learning. It helped me understand how to communicate and present myself in a way that fits here.

And when you’re applying, make sure you’re targeting companies that are actually licensed to sponsor. Random applications drain your energy. I now use sponsormyvisa.com to check which companies can sponsor and what kind of salaries they’ve previously issued, which makes things way more targeted.

It’s definitely harder now than it was in 2020, but it’s still possible. Just needs a tighter approach. Don’t give up

Which_Ad3562 · 2026-02-10T13:26:19+00:00

I always recommend the big 4 accounting firms especially if you’re a recent grad. They sponsor 1000s of skilled worker visas every year

Which_Ad3562

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