Switch from Tier 2 ICT to Tier 4 Student without cooling off period?

Hi...new to this board. My apologies if this question has already been asked and answered and I'm just not finding the relevant thread.

My wife and I have been in the UK since mid-2015. She holds a Tier 2 ICT visa and I am the dependent. Our five years will be up in mid-2020, after which we will face a 12-month cooling off period before we can apply for a new UK visa. It would appear that a Tier 4 student visa might be a way to avoid turning into nomads (in other words, no cooling off period).

But I have questions. Specifically:

Q1: If I were to secure a place in a masters degree program at an accredited UK university (a viable option), could I apply for a Tier 4 student visa?

Q2: If I were to secure a Tier 4 student visa, could my wife apply for a Tier 4 dependent visa and then continue working in the UK, perhaps for a different employer?

Q3: Could all of the above be done within the UK? Or must we apply from our home country?

Q4: Is it correct that, in this scenario, we would not be subject to a cooling off period?

Q5: After I've earned my degree in 12-16 months, could my wife and/or I then seek employment in the UK via sponsorship for a Tier 2 general visa?

Thanks in advance for any clarity you can bring to this matter. The Home Office rules can be very confusing, which I guess explains the existence of this board.

Yes to all.

Re (5), any switch from Tier 4 dependant to Tier 2 could only be done in your home country.

Thank you, sah10406. That’s very good news. Greatly appreciate your reply

The questions and answers are very clear and it’s very useful, thank you so much and its very useful.

Could you/someone please provide additional clarity with reference to Q5.

Is that cooling period of 12 months is still applicable for Tier 4 dependent who has switched over from Tier2 ICT (main applicant) . In case if Tier 4 dependent get any job and sponsorship are they allowed to switch over to Tier General within 12 months from the date he/ she switched from Tier 2 ICT visa (main applicant).

keziaJ wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2019 5:55 pm

Is that cooling period of 12 months is still applicable for Tier 4 dependent who has switched over from Tier2 ICT (main applicant) .

Yes. See paragraph 245HD(k) of the immigration rules:

(k) [T]he applicant must not have had entry clearance or leave to remain as a Tier 2 Migrant at any time during the 12 months immediately before the date of the application...

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... sed-system

Thank you so much for your response