Tier 2 ICT Renewal (Visa not expired)

skiro wrote:Hi

Not sure if this is a common query.

I have a valid Tier 2 ICT Long Term visa upto March 2016, I got it in March 2013. However, I am NOT living in UK and travel once a year to UK.

Now the same company wants to Hire me locally. And I can bring my family along.

But, if I continue on the same Visa, and renew it when it is expiring, I only get to stay for another 3 years and go back in March, 2018 as I will complete 5 years on ICT.

I have been out of UK for 10 Months now and it will be 12 months in April'15. Can this be considered as "cooling off" period, and I can enter UK after April'15 and get at-least another 5 years to stay in UK? Should I re-apply in May'15?
you can apply for T2G entry clearance with a restricted CoS, which will probably also involve the company doing a RLMT, 12 months after you left the UK. You will need proof that you have been out of the UK for 12 months. If the CoS is for 5 years you can get 5 years leave.

Any help or guidance on this will be very helpful.

Many Thanks
Shikhar