can long residence (10 years) visa include the recent graduate visa? please help

[lcd1u18]

Dear friends,

Thank you for your help. Can you give me some advice on the following matter?

I have been in the UK for 8 years now under tier 4 visa (student visa) and tier 5 visa (I did an intern for 1 year during my study so I need to switch to this tier 5 visa). In order to switch the visa, I needed to leave the UK and then come back with the new visa but the time I left was less than 6 months. Now, I intend to apply for the 2 years graduate route and after that I will apply for the long residence 10 years route.

Here is the question, can the time in the Tier 5 visa and the new graduate route count towards the 10 years long residence visa?

I am a bit confused as some of my friends said the new graduate route can not count towards the 10 years long residence so any advice will be appreciated.

Cheers!

[CR001]

What is your current or most recent visa you hold?

You cannot switch to graduate visa if you hold a tier 5 visa.

All visas count for 10 years long residence, even visitor visas.

[lcd1u18]

thank CR001 for your reply. I am currently on a student visa and my tier 5 was last year when I did my internship. Another question if you don't mind, so I had to leave the UK and reapply for my student visa when my tier 5 expired. The time between the two visas are less than 6 months (5 months and 10 days) and have come back to the UK right after I get my student visa so the total time I left the UK due to the visa change was 5 months and 12 days. From what I read, it is not counted as discontinuity for 10 years of long residence but can you give a second opinion on it? many thanks. @CR001

What is your current or most recent visa you hold?

You cannot switch to graduate visa if you hold a tier 5 visa.

All visas count for 10 years long residence, even visitor visas.