Tier 2 to BNO Visa

[eliza720]

Hi,

I have applied for the BNO Visa at the end of March 2021. I am currently in the UK and have been on a Tier 2 Visa since March 2019. I received an email from the HO today asking me to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge and upload a TB certificate.

I have two questions:

1. My company has previously paid for my IHS - could I use the same reference for this application?

2. I have been in the UK for the last 6 months so I assume I don't need to do the TB test. Can you confirm? If so, how do I demonstrate that I should be exempt from the TB test?

Thank you so much.

Thanks,
Eliza

[zimba]

1. No. You must pay the IHS every time you apply for a new visa
2. TB certificate is not needed as you were resident in the UK for the last 6 months. That is requested in error

[abcsusanpf]

1 You still need to pay ihs but you can apply for a refund for the remaining t2 period.

2. I you have stayed in uk for more than 6 months before you submitted the application, no need to provide tb test result

[secret.simon]

1 You still need to pay ihs but you can apply for a refund for the remaining t2 period.

I don't think there is a refund of any part of the IHS if you switch visas.

In the list on IHS Refunds, I think that switching visas is analogous to applying for ILR.

But I could well be wrong. Wait for others to respond.

[eliza720]

Thank you for the quick replies.

I want to clarify that I was away from the UK in July 2020 - early Jan 2021. Prior to that, I have always been in the UK. Do I still need to do provide the TB certificate?

[abcsusanpf]

Thank you for the quick replies.

I want to clarify that I was away from the UK in July 2020 - early Jan 2021. Prior to that, I have always been in the UK. Do I still need to do provide the TB certificate?

Definitely you can get ihs refund, see the past in 2017
uk-tier-2-employer-sponsored-visas/ihs- ... 07428.html

[abcsusanpf]

Thank you for the quick replies.

I want to clarify that I was away from the UK in July 2020 - early Jan 2021. Prior to that, I have always been in the UK. Do I still need to do provide the TB certificate?

Where did you stay when you are not in UK?
If you lived for at least 6 months in a country where TB screening is not required by the UK, and you’ve been away from that country for no more than 6 months, no need for tb test. But i assume you stay in HK.
Unfortunately, you need to provide tb test result

[eliza720]

Thank you for the quick replies.

I want to clarify that I was away from the UK in July 2020 - early Jan 2021. Prior to that, I have always been in the UK. Do I still need to do provide the TB certificate?

Where did you stay when you are not in UK?
If you lived for at least 6 months in a country where TB screening is not required by the UK, and you’ve been away from that country for no more than 6 months, no need for tb test. But i assume you stay in HK.
Unfortunately, you need to provide tb test result

I was in HK, it was just under 6 months (but was very close to 6 months).

[abcsusanpf]

Thank you for the quick replies.

I want to clarify that I was away from the UK in July 2020 - early Jan 2021. Prior to that, I have always been in the UK. Do I still need to do provide the TB certificate?

Where did you stay when you are not in UK?
If you lived for at least 6 months in a country where TB screening is not required by the UK, and you’ve been away from that country for no more than 6 months, no need for tb test. But i assume you stay in HK.
Unfortunately, you need to provide tb test result

I was in HK, it was just under 6 months (but was very close to 6 months).

As long as you were not away For more than 6 months, you can come back to ukvi and waive tb certificate

[eliza720]

Hi,

Is it normal that I still haven't received my decision yet? I applied on the March 30th, paid health surcharge on June 26th and submitted the TB certificate on July 22nd.

Will the HO email me on the decision or will they send via post? I have moved house since beginning of July but have updated the new address on my account.

I called the helpline and they said they couldn't escalate my application before the 6 months period so they advised me to call again at the end of September if I haven't heard back from HO.

I have applied for a masters programme which will start at the end of Sept so I would need the BNO visa issued before the start of the programme.

Would appreciate for any advice or to share if they have similar experience.

Thanks,
Eliza

[zimba]

You cannot get an update from them. You must wait to hear back

[eliza720]

Thanks.
Would I be able to start a masters course / change to a new job before the decision is made?

[secret.simon]

Thanks.
Would I be able to start a masters course / change to a new job before the decision is made?

I don't think you can start a university course before the decision on the application is made. Also see this thread.

And until the decision is made, you are still bound by the visa limitations of your existing visa. If it is a sponsored Tier 2 visa, you can't change your job either.