Please Advice on Tier 2 Visa Extension

[saruche]

Hi,

I will be applying from within UK to extend my Tier 2 General visa. I will be with the same employer but my job title will change from Teaching Fellow to Lecturer. Salary will be £39K per annum.

Also my new contract is indefinite i.e. permanent. I have already been with my employer since September 2012 on Tier 2 General. I extended my visa annually as I was on temporary yearly contract. My current visa expires 14th Sept 2015.

My questions are as under:
1. Which tier 2 category I should apply for? Will it be unto 3 years or more than 3 years? I am confused as on UKBA weskits it says max duration for Tier 2 is 5 and I already had Tier 2 for 3 years.

2. How do I calculate my Health surcharge as it will be indefinite/permanent contract? Should I ask employer to issue CoS for 2 years?

3. Do I have to pay health Surcharge as I am in the UK already and will be paying NI and TAX? The UKBA website is quite confusing on this.

Please note my employer is the same but my Job title changes.

Many thanks for help and advice

[CR001]

1. Two years after which you will qualify for ILR.

2. Health surcharge is £200 per year so will be £400 for a two year extension. Surcharge not applicable for ILR applicants (when you get to that point). You will need a COS to cover two years, which will bring you to the 5 year requirement for ILR. A COS cannot be issued for 'indefinitely/permanet'.

3. Yes, as a Tier 2 General applicant, you are not exempt and will have to pay the surcharge.

[geriatrix]

Will your job responsibilities change, along with your job title, thereby changing your SOC code? If yes, then the employer will have do RLMT test before issuing you a CoS.

[saruche]

Thank you CR001 and Sushdmehta for your detailed reply.

Regarding RLMT the job was advertised for approx a month and I was interview along with several other candidates. does this fulfil the requirements for RLMT?

Best wishes and many thanks once again.

[nasmc92]

i you are chaging job title but lies with the same SOC as per your last leave .

1. apply as T2 extension upto 3 years

2. ask your sponsor to issue you 3 years COS. Pay IHS surcharge 600 pounds. the 6 year tenure will give all the time to prepare for your ILR application once you had your lawfull 5 years in UK

3. you have to pay IHS surcharge