Switching T4 to T2 - some doubts of leaving and entering UK

[NinaNoor]

Hi,

I am a final year student of Msc programme in Uk under T4 visa. My current visa will expire on July 2015. I will apply for the T2 soon as I now get the job with sponsorship. My concern is that, my T2 visa will start on September 2015, 2 months after my current visa expired. From my understanding, I can only come to UK at least 19days before my T2 visa startdate. My doubts are:

1. Do I need to leave UK in July 2015, before my current visa expire and come back 19days before my T2 visa startdate?
2. If I need to leave UK, can I go to other European country nearby (such as Paris/Italy)-instead of going back to my country- for 2-3days and come back to UK as a tourist (which I eligable for 6months as I am from Malaysia) even I have my T2 work visa permit with startdate on September.
3. For No. 2 question, In this case, I will stay as a tourist until my T2 startdate, and continue my stay under T2 after the startdate - is it possible to do so?
4. If I do not have to leave UK because waiting for my T2 visa startdate after my T4 visa expired, can I work a part time job?

Your help are needed and highly appreciated.
Thanks

[Frontier Mole]

Two questions
Why are you starting your job in September and not earlier?
When will you know if you have been awarded your degree?

[NinaNoor]

Two questions
Why are you starting your job in September and not earlier?
When will you know if you have been awarded your degree?

Hi,

For my Msc, I will graduate in July 2015, and the job that I got is starting from September 2015 and I applied job using my Bsc degree from UK university, which I graduate in year 2013 and not the Msc degree.

Thanks

[manci]

Provided you had continuous T4 leave since your BSc (which makes you eligible to switch) do apply for T2 leave before the T4 leave expires in July. For this you'll need a CoS from your new sponsor. Keep in mind that you cannot apply more than 3 months before the work start date and a CoS is only valid for 3 months from the date of assignment. So if a CoS is assigned to you, say, at the end of June that should be OK. Unless an exception applies your sponsor will have to do a RLMT before assigning the CoS.

Your T4 leave will continue after you submit your T2 application and you can work as allowed by the conditions of that leave. There is no need to leave the UK.

[NinaNoor]

Provided you had continuous T4 leave since your BSc (which makes you eligible to switch) do apply for T2 leave before the T4 leave expires in July. For this you'll need a CoS from your new sponsor. Keep in mind that you cannot apply more than 3 months before the work start date and a CoS is only valid for 3 months from the date of assignment. So if a CoS is assigned to you, say, at the end of June that should be OK. Unless an exception applies your sponsor will have to do a RLMT before assigning the CoS.

Your T4 leave will continue after you submit your T2 application and you can work as allowed by the conditions of that leave. There is no need to leave the UK.

Hi Manci,
Great explanation. Now I have clear my doubt. Many thanks!

[NinaNoor]

Oh my.. i posted similar issues in Tier 4 forum, but it has been locked.. So cruel..Anyway, the explanation given before still make me a little bit confuse when im looking at it. <---- if not, why should i post the same topic in different forum --- of course to ask some help from expert (from T2 expertise to T4 expertise)!!

Here is at where im confused...

My current T4 visa will ended July 2015. And if I manage to get the sponsorship and my new visa will start in September 2015, two months after my current T4 expiry, should I leave UK before my new T2 visa start date??

What I understood is, if i get the sponsorship 3months before my new T2 start date and that time is around June 2015, I still have my current T4 leave to remain for about a month and I can do my part time job like normal.

But can someone explain, if my T4 leave to remain already expired even though I have got my T2 which the start date is in September 2015, should i leave UK or can I stay in UK? If I stay, what will be my status? is it under T2 or T4 visa? Am I able to travel outside UK that time? If I travel outside UK that time, am I be able to be back to UK like normal or do I need to come back 19days before my T2 start date?

Thank you. Hope no one will lock this topic.

[ethanng]

Hey ,


I have the same situation. Have you found and clue or solutiono for this yet ?

[NinaNoor]

Hi ethanng,

No solution yet. Im not sure what to do about it. If you have the answer for this, please share with me. Thank you.