Tier 2 ICT Long Term staff partner to Tier 2 General

[adviceme]

Hi All,

I am on tier 2 ICT Long term staff partner Visa and have started fulltime work from Feb 2015. My Current visa is valid till Sep 2016 and I want to explore the possibility of switching to Tier 2 general category.

I understand based on the conversations in the forum that I will need to apply for Tier 2 general visa from Home country (India) and employer will need to provide restricted COS. I work for a small company and not sure if employer is listed as licensed for tier 2 General as i cound't find it in the uk.gov website.

~ Does that mean my employer cannot process my Tier 2 General ?
~ If my employer can, then what is the procedure ?
~ If i managed to get my Tier 2 General then does my clock for ILR application reset again from the time i got my Tier 2 Gen or my earlier Tier 2 ICT staff partner years will be considered ?

Thanks !

[geriatrix]

1. If the employer is not on the list of licensed sponsors, then the employer must apply to become a licensed sponsor. Only then can an employer sponsor migrants.
2. Read the Tier 2 policy guidance.
3. Your ILR clock will start the day you enter UK as a Tier 2 (General) migrant.

A cooling-off period of 12 months may apply (245HB(g)).

[physicskate]

Hi All,

~ Does that mean my employer cannot process my Tier 2 General ?
~ If my employer can, then what is the procedure ?
~ If i managed to get my Tier 2 General then does my clock for ILR application reset again from the time i got my Tier 2 Gen or my earlier Tier 2 ICT staff partner years will be considered ?

Thanks !

1.) Not unless the become a licensed sponsor. List of sponsors:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... tings_.pdf

2.) They run RLMT, apply for restricted CoS, issue the RCos to you and then you apply from India.

3.) Clock is set to 5 years. If you are currently a partner, it is a different path than being the primary visa holder. Plus, if your partner's visa was issued after April 6, 2010, it does not lead to ILR anyway...

Be aware of the skill level required for the job and the earnings requirement.

[adviceme]

1. If the employer is not on the list of licensed sponsors, then the employer must apply to become a licensed sponsor. Only then can an employer sponsor migrants.
2. Read the Tier 2 policy guidance.
3. Your ILR clock will start the day you enter UK as a Tier 2 (General) migrant.

A cooling-off period of 12 months may apply (245HB(g)).

Thank you Sush.

So if i understood this right , If i managed to get a Tier 2 Gen visa sponsored from my company then 5 years from now will I be eligible for ILR ?

Now this crops another question in my mind:
My husband is on Tier 2 ICT Staff Migrant which is valid until Sep2016. If i change my visa to Tier 2 Gen, can he still continue to be on Tier 2 ICT ?

I was told he can switch from Tier 2 ICT staff migrant to Tier 1 General without cooling period. Is that assumption correct. His CoS is stated as appx £60K.

[physicskate]

I was told he can switch from Tier 2 ICT staff migrant to Tier 1 General without cooling period. Is that assumption correct. His CoS is stated as appx £60K.

Tier 1 General has been closed to new applicants for years. He can continue on Tier 2 ICT, or he can change to your dependent (Tier 2 dependent). A Tier 2 ICT to Tier 2 General is subject to a 12 month cooling off period.

[adviceme]

I was told he can switch from Tier 2 ICT staff migrant to Tier 1 General without cooling period. Is that assumption correct. His CoS is stated as appx £60K.

Tier 1 General has been closed to new applicants for years. He can continue on Tier 2 ICT, or he can change to your dependent (Tier 2 dependent). A Tier 2 ICT to Tier 2 General is subject to a 12 month cooling off period.

Thank you physicskate !!

[geriatrix]

My husband is on Tier 2 ICT Staff Migrant which is valid until Sep2016. If i change my visa to Tier 2 Gen, can he still continue to be on Tier 2 ICT ?

Well, making an immigration application has always been voluntary. No one can force another to change immigration categories.