diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d3a9506b3..dcad9f6db 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ parallel copies under `docs/` or `scripts/notes/`. At cut time: rename
   ambiguous. `wait_agents` returns `awaiting_director` with the question;
   soft `send_input` answers it. The operator is not in that loop unless the
   director escalates. Leaves still cannot call `ask_operator`.
+- Agents and contributor docs move Linear issues to In Review when a PR is ready
+  for review.
 
 ### TUI
 
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index e5c2c8789..4ec7e4922 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -223,6 +223,12 @@ Fixes #123
 
 Omit magic words. Do not invent issue IDs.
 
+### At PR-open (SHOULD)
+
+When the PR is ready for review (not a draft or WIP), move the linked Linear
+issue to In Review. Never mark Done on PR-open. Done is after merge, when every
+outcome is complete.
+
 ### After merge (SHOULD for agents running the full workflow)
 
 1. Confirm the PR is merged and CI is green on the merge commit.
@@ -230,6 +236,8 @@ Omit magic words. Do not invent issue IDs.
 3. Tick only description checkboxes that `main` actually completed.
 4. Mark the Linear issue Done only when every outcome is truly done — never on
    "PR opened" alone.
+5. If leftover work remains, set the issue to In Progress. Do not leave it In
+   Review after merge.
 
 ## Contributor License Agreement
 
diff --git a/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/implement/SKILL.md b/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/implement/SKILL.md
index a8d3dfd84..950426a2d 100644
--- a/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/implement/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/implement/SKILL.md
@@ -179,4 +179,4 @@ This skill produces commits. When the work is tracked in Linear and ends in a pu
 1. **Post a real GitHub PR review** with `gh pr review` after the PR exists — not a one-line self-review issue comment.
 2. **Multi-persona when used:** if critic / greybeard / OSS-quality lenses ran with substance, each posts its own labeled review. Primary owns approve/request-changes; secondary lenses comment only.
 3. **No AI slop in review bodies:** lens · verdict, one present-tense line on what the branch does, `path:line` findings. No filler, journey narration, or "LGTM" alone.
-4. **Linear checkboxes and Done are post-merge + green CI only.** Flip boxes only when `main` actually has the outcome. Never partial-Done on open PR.
+4. **Linear: In Review at ready-for-review PR-open; checkboxes and Done post-merge + green CI only.** The Phase 6–7 handoff in `linear-issue-workflow` must move the issue to In Review when the PR is ready for review. Flip boxes and mark Done only when `main` actually has the outcome. Never Done on open PR.
diff --git a/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/linear-issue-workflow/SKILL.md b/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/linear-issue-workflow/SKILL.md
index 1d7cd126e..cc0df7aea 100644
--- a/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/linear-issue-workflow/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/linear-issue-workflow/SKILL.md
@@ -255,9 +255,19 @@ EOF
 
 Then post the PR review(s) with `gh pr review` as drafted above. Paste the PR URL **and** every review URL to the user.
 
+### Set Linear to In Review
+
+When the PR is open and **ready for review** (not a draft or WIP), set the issue state to "In Review" with `mcp__linear__save_issue`. Do not mark Done. Done is Phase 7 only (merge + green CI + every outcome complete).
+
+If Linear MCP is unavailable or `save_issue` fails, report that the issue status could not be updated. Do not pretend the move succeeded. Do not mark Done as a fallback.
+
+Draft or WIP PRs stay **In Progress** until they are ready for review. Then move to In Review.
+
+Phase 6 ends when the PR is open and the review is posted. Ready-for-review PRs must be In Review (or the operator has been told the status update failed). Draft or WIP PRs stay In Progress.
+
 ## Phase 7: After Merge — Linear Closeout and Cleanup
 
-Phase 6 ends when the PR is open and the review is posted. Phase 7 runs **after the PR is merged** and **CI is green** on the merge (or on `main` at the merge commit). Do not mark the Linear issue Done on open PR alone. Do not tick outcome checkboxes on hope.
+Phase 7 runs **after the PR is merged** and **CI is green** on the merge (or on `main` at the merge commit). Do not mark the Linear issue Done on open PR alone. Do not tick outcome checkboxes on hope.
 
 ### 1. Confirm merge
 
@@ -287,7 +297,7 @@ Re-read the issue with `mcp__linear__get_issue`. For every checklist item the me
 
 ### 5. Mark Done only when complete
 
-If **every** outcome checkbox is checked and nothing residual remains, set state to `Done` with `mcp__linear__save_issue`. If anything is still open, leave the issue In Progress (or the team's equivalent) with remaining boxes unchecked — never partial-Done theater.
+If **every** outcome checkbox is checked and nothing residual remains, set state to `Done` with `mcp__linear__save_issue`. If anything is still open, set the issue to In Progress (or the team's equivalent) with remaining boxes unchecked — never partial-Done theater. Do not leave it In Review after merge when work remains.
 
 ### 6. Clean up the worktree
 
diff --git a/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/review/SKILL.md b/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/review/SKILL.md
index db3cbf914..1a252bfd1 100644
--- a/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/review/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/corbits-skills/skills/review/SKILL.md
@@ -393,4 +393,4 @@ No findings.
 
 ### After posting
 
-Paste the review URL(s) back to the user. If `--request-changes`, do not mark the Linear issue Done or tell the user the PR is merge-ready.
+Paste the review URL(s) back to the user. Do not mark the Linear issue Done. `--request-changes` is not merge-ready. While the PR is open and ready for review, the issue stays In Review — including after `--request-changes`. Do not ping-pong it back to In Progress. `linear-issue-workflow` owns the In Review write; this skill does not set Linear state.
diff --git a/src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.test.ts b/src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.test.ts
index 21d90839a..cd490f4d1 100644
--- a/src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.test.ts
+++ b/src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.test.ts
@@ -219,4 +219,15 @@ describe("skywalkerPackage", () => {
     expect(p).toContain("ship → verify → fix → re-verify");
     expect(p).toContain("Cap re-fix rounds");
   });
+
+  test("systemPrompt Linear three-state: In Review at PR-open, never Done at PR-open", () => {
+    const p = skywalkerPackage.systemPrompt;
+    expect(p).toContain("In Progress");
+    expect(p).toContain("In Review");
+    expect(p).toMatch(/ready for review/);
+    expect(p).toContain("never Done at PR-open");
+    expect(p).not.toContain("mcp__linear__save_issue");
+    expect(p).not.toContain("gh pr create");
+    expect(p).not.toContain("gh pr review");
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.ts b/src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.ts
index 8ebb959fa..9ae70cede 100644
--- a/src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.ts
+++ b/src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.ts
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Do not reclassify COMMUNICATION as ORCHESTRATION just to justify parallel spawn
 - Interview when requirements are fuzzy; consult greybeard on architecture/approach.
 - Use counsel for multi-lane eng plans; clarify before a large fan-out.
 - Path tools are the DIY surface; shell file-writes stay denied. Track fleet work with manage_tasks.
-- When claiming Linear work: set the issue to In Progress via Linear MCP as a hard first step before explore/build thrash. Parallel lanes claim their own IDs. If Linear MCP is unavailable, report that status could not be updated.
+- When claiming Linear work: set the issue to In Progress via Linear MCP as a hard first step before explore/build thrash. Parallel lanes claim their own IDs. When a PR is ready for review, move the issue to In Review — never Done at PR-open. If Linear MCP is unavailable, report that status could not be updated.
 - Optional skills when needed on the primary session: style, philosophy, interview (use_skill is primary-mounted).
 
 # Spawn graph
diff --git a/tests/unit/corbits-skills-catalog.test.ts b/tests/unit/corbits-skills-catalog.test.ts
index 62f65819f..bb2310295 100644
--- a/tests/unit/corbits-skills-catalog.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/corbits-skills-catalog.test.ts
@@ -283,6 +283,22 @@ test("linear-issue-workflow references use_skill(git-worktrees)", async () => {
   expect(skill).not.toContain("git worktree add");
 });
 
+test("linear-issue-workflow moves ready-for-review PRs to In Review", async () => {
+  const skill = await Bun.file(join(pluginRoot, "skills/linear-issue-workflow/SKILL.md")).text();
+  expect(skill).toContain('set the issue state to "In Review"');
+  expect(skill).toMatch(/ready for review/);
+  expect(skill).toContain("Draft or WIP PRs stay **In Progress**");
+  expect(skill).toContain("Draft or WIP PRs stay In Progress");
+  expect(skill).toContain("Do not mark the Linear issue Done on open PR alone");
+  expect(skill).toContain("Do not leave it In Review after merge when work remains");
+});
+
+test("review skill does not own the Linear In Review write", async () => {
+  const skill = await Bun.file(join(pluginRoot, "skills/review/SKILL.md")).text();
+  expect(skill).toContain("`linear-issue-workflow` owns the In Review write");
+  expect(skill).not.toContain("Reviewers do not change Linear state");
+});
+
 test("slash skills do not set user-invocable: false", async () => {
   for (const name of SLASH_SKILLS) {
     const skill = await Bun.file(join(pluginRoot, "skills", name, "SKILL.md")).text();