Tier 2 General Switching to BNO Visa

Hello,

I am currently holding a Tier 2 General Visa and it will expire in Oct 2022. I was wondering if I could switch to the BNO Visa such that I don't need sponsorship anymore, in case I need to change job before Oct 2022.

My questions are as follow:

1. I am a BNO Passport holder but my wife and children are not - My wife is holding the HKSAR passport, my children were born in Canada and UK, and we are also Canadians. Are we eligible to apply?

2. If I applied for the BNO visa and is rejected, will this jeopardise my Tier2 status?

3. If BNO Visa status is granted, will I be able to switch to ILR by Oct 2022?

Thank you very much for your help, truly appreciated.

Once you switch to the BNO visa you will no longer need sponsorship to work

1. I am a BNO Passport holder but my wife and children are not - My wife is holding the HKSAR passport, my children were born in Canada and UK, and we are also Canadians. Are we eligible to apply?

Your dependants can apply the same time as you and they can be of any nationality.

2. If I applied for the BNO visa and is rejected, will this jeopardise my Tier2 status?

No

3. If BNO Visa status is granted, will I be able to switch to ILR by Oct 2022?

Yes, provided that is the date when you would have become eligible for ILR under T2G. The actual rule is:
HK 62.1. The applicant must have spent a continuous period of 5 years with permission in the UK on a route under which a person can settle, of which the most recent grant of permission must have been on the Hong Kong BN(O) route.

Refer also to the full caseworker guidance:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... .0-ext.pdf

Thank you very much for your prompt response, truly appreciated.

Additional question:
We paid IHS for 5 years when we first applied the Tier2 Gen visa, do we still need to pay IHS when we switch to BNO Visa?

Thanks!

You need to pay the IHS for the BNO visa.