EEA to Tier 2 switch from within the UK?

Hello,

I am talking to a gentlemen who holds and EEA Article 10 obtained as EEA EFM. He would like to apply for a Tier 2 due to him no longer eligible to an EEA
or EUSS route (came as a dependent of an EEA citizen but there was no cohabitation or dependency after he moved to the UK. The EEA citizen naturalised British. So EU Settlement Scheme would go under Lounes and dependency has to be shown).

His employer is more than happy to provide a Tier 2 sponsorship for the role he already holds.

Problem: his country, has cancelled all flights and closed land borders due to Covid. This situation has been ongoing for months and it's unlikely that it will change in 2020.

Is it possible to apply for the switch from within the UK?

Which country is home country?

Is the employer a licensed sponsor on the ukvi sponsor list?

See also, no new updates for a while.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... -residents

The employer is a large corporation with a Tier 2 sponsor license held for a while.

I think the country is Botswana but I need to check.

Also, I am not sure the employer did a proper RMLT for the role.

Many African country borders are open and flights operating.

What is the job he is being offered for sponsorship?

The job is IT System Engineer (Associate Level)

The salary is above the £20800 limit for new entrants.

They are opening in Africa, but there are still some countries with zero flights and land borders totally or partially closed.

He likely isn't a new entrant. He needs to be experienced rate.

New entrant salary is for tier 4 graduates or those under 26.

CR001 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:13 pm

He likely isn't a new entrant. He needs to be experienced rate.

New entrant salary is for tier 4 graduates or those under 26.

Oh!

He is 24. So age wise, it's fine. But he is not switching from a Tier 4. I am going to review the new eligibility criteria. I knew for the age, but I thought the new entrant rate applies to any first Tier 2 regardless of previous history.

I checked, the age is fine for new entrant.

But the bad news is that the job as defined in the contract is not in the shortage list:

IT System Engineer (Associate Level)

So the RLMT is required.