Switching From Tier 2 (ICT) Partner Visa to Tier 2 General

[piyushm82]

Hello Everyone,

I read most of the post but still want to clarify if my understanding is correct. This is urgent for me as I need to apply for Tier 2 General Visa. Can anyone please advice me in this regard?

I came to the UK on December 2014 as a Tier 2 ICT long term staff partner. On 16th March 2015 I got the job in the UK.
Now I want to switch my Visa to Tier 2 General.

Ques 1: Can I do it within the UK or do I need to go back to India and apply from there? ( One of the solicitor told me that you can do within UK and no need to travel to India for that so now I am confused and thought to confirm this as there might be any changes which I am not aware of)

Ques 2: Do my employer need to apply for Restricted COS, which means that they have to do a Labour Market Test etc or does it differ from company to company? What cost is involved in doing LMT? How complicated is this process of doing LMT ? What is the time frame for this LMT?

Ques 3: Apart from LMT what else is required?

Can anyone who knows this process or have undergone such process help me out as if it will need long time then I need to start the process now to stop myself getting into trouble.

HELP!!!! HELP!!!! HELP!!!! Please

Kind Regards
Piyush

[moonlight55]

1. You need to go back to India and apply for Tier 2 General entry clearance visa.

2. Yes. The process is - Conduct RLMT successfully. -- Apply for restricted CoS -- Assign CoS once approved -- You apply for visa. RLMT will take a minimum of 28 days + few weeks for CoS approval (it happens only once a month).

3. Read the Tier 2 guidance document on gov.uk. It has all the information.