tier 1 switch

[joy_kavee]

I am on a student dependant visa and my wife is student. Our visa expires in November 2010.

1. Since i do qualify for the points based tier 1 general, i would like to know if its possible for us to SWITCH to the tier 1 now, thus , making my wife as dependant of my tier 1? and this being done in UK itself?

I have had various controversial answers in the past , so i would be grateful if you could enlighten me.

2. Can we actually switch to tier 1, thus making me the main applicant of tier 1 from student dependant, bearing in mind that we still have more than one year left in our current visa?

3. Is there a difference in home office procedures between switching visa and renewing visa ? ( i.e, changing from student dependant/student to tier 1/tier1 dependant)?

4. Does having more than 6 months remaining on our current visa makes th case different as from some previous answers , it seems you can't move from student dependant to tier 1 ( main applicant)?

5. If the student dependant and student are applying at the same time makes the case different?

Thanks a lot.

[push]

You cant.

[dextar]

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/worki ... lications/

If you will goto above link you will find following information and unfortunately student dependent is not in this list. So, push_hsmp is right and you cannot switch to Tier1 General.

The immigration categories from which you can switch into the highly skilled worker category

If you are in the United Kingdom and wish to stay as a highly skilled worker, you will need to be sure that you can switch into this category.

Switching into this category is allowed if you currently hold leave in the following categories:

* Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP);
* Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland;
* International Graduates Scheme (IGS);
* innovator;
* postgraduate doctor or dentist;
* student;
* student nurse;
* student re-sitting an exam;
* student writing up a thesis;
* work permit holder;
* business person;
* self-employed lawyer;
* writer,composer or artist;
* entrepreneur (tier 1);
* investor (tier 1);
* post-study worker (tier 1);
* a skilled worker (tier 2 General);
* an intra-company transferee (tier 2);
* a minister of religion (tier 2); or
* a sportsperson (tier 2);

See the section on extending your stay for further details. If you are here under any other category, you will not be able to switch into the highly skilled worker category. You can find more information on switching on the pages of Working in the UK that are relevant to your category.

If you are given leave to remain (permission to stay) as a highly skilled worker, you will be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for a maximum period of three years. When the end of this period approaches you will need to apply to extend your stay as a highly skilled worker.

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