TIER1 General Dependent VISA for my wife and daughter

Please advise.

I am on TIER 1 General VISA valid till April 2018 and due for ILR in Dec 2015. My wife VISA expired on 24 April 2015.
She travelled to India in early April for the delivery of our daughter( born last month). Now we are planning to apply for VISA for both my wife and daughter.

1) I would like to know whether my wife VISA application be considered as extension or a fresh VISA application.
2) In case, it is considered as fresh VISA for my wife, do we need to submit TB screening test certificate.
(UKBA site says returning resident who stayed not more than 2 years outside UK need not submit it.)
3) My wife came to UK in Aug 2012 and VISA expired on 24 Apr 2015. We are applying for VISA now with 3 months gap.
Will this reset the counter for her eligibility to apply for ILR.

1. Extension cannot be applied for from outside the UK.
3. Yes, settlement by PBS dependant (partner) requires "continuous leave" during the qualifying residential period (319E(d)).

Thanks for the reply.

one more question. Will my wife require to submit TB screening certificate?

My wife was here in UK from Aug 2012 - Apr 2015. She went to India for delivery of our first child. Meanwhile her UK visa expired.

Now we are applying for Visa again from India. Is she required to submit TB screening certificate?

I would expect so.

I have indefinite leave to remain under Tier1 general category. My wife came to live with me in the UK in 17 august 2012.

She stayed outside UK for 183 days for her maternity.

My wife and daughter now have a dependant visa till February 2018 and are in UK with me. Will my wife and daughter be eligible for Indefinite Leave To Remain by 17 August 2017 when my wife has completed 5 years in the UK.

Knowing that my wife has stayed more than 180 days outside UK will the reason of maternity be considered.

Kindly let me know.

Her continuous leave, required for ILR under 319E, may have been broken when her leave expired while she was outside of the U.K.