Move to London now as Skilled Worker dependent or wait for a job offer first?
Hi everyone,
I’m currently in London on a Skilled Worker visa, and my girlfriend is considering moving here as my dependent. She’s currently based in a major EU city and has a bachelor’s degree from a good engineering/design polytechnic, plus internship experience in Marketing and Product Management at some of the biggest luxury fashion groups worldwide.
The issue is that her job search from abroad hasn’t been very successful so far, especially in fashion/luxury. We’re wondering whether it would make more sense for her to:
- move to London now on the dependent visa and continue searching locally/networking in person, or
- stay where she is until she secures a role first
For those working in fashion, marketing, luxury, or who moved to London in a similar situation:
- Is it significantly easier to get interviews once you’re already in London?
- How difficult is the market currently for junior/mid-level fashion or luxury roles?
- Would employers generally view a dependent visa positively since sponsorship wouldn’t be needed?
Would really appreciate any honest advice or experiences. Thanks!