After you have completed your ID check and Borderless has submitted your application to the Home Office, there are a few ways to keep track of where it is.
Where status appears
Borderless platform: your case page shows the current stage (for example "Submitted", "Decision Pending", "Decision Made"). This updates within one working day of any change. Your timeline now also shows an expected completion date for the current stage and each upcoming stage, based on how long similar recent cases have taken. These are estimates, not guarantees. If a case runs past its expected date, the timeline flags it as running longer than usual and your Borderless contact is alerted automatically.
UKVI account: the application appears under your UKVI account once submitted. Status changes there are usually mirrored in Borderless.
Email: the Home Office sends an email when a decision is made. This goes to the address used on the application.
How long it takes
A standard Skilled Worker visa is typically decided within 6 to 8 weeks of biometrics. Priority decisions are usually within 5 working days of biometrics. If priority service has been selected and the Home Office later requests additional documents, the application falls back to standard processing. For an estimate specific to your case, check the expected dates shown on your timeline. You can read more here: Expected dates on your timeline.
When to chase
You do not need to contact us while the application is "Decision Pending". The Home Office gives no daily updates and chasing does not speed the decision. You can chase if:
The standard route has been pending for more than 8 weeks from your biometric appointment date.
The priority route has been pending for more than 7 working days from biometrics.
You receive an email from the Home Office requesting documents and you are not sure how to respond. Forward the email to your Borderless case worker straight away.
If you need to travel
You cannot leave the UK while your application is being decided. Doing so will be treated as withdrawing your application. If travel is unavoidable, contact your case worker first.
Government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa