Tier 2 ICT short term visa to TIER 2 ICT Long term Visa

[simranmehra]

I have been working in UK for past 8 months on tier 2 ICT short term(1 year) visa. My present visa is valid till Nov 2014.
I am planning to find a new job with a new UK based employer who is ready to sponsor my visa for a better salary structure.
My questions are:
1. Based on the immigration policy am I allowed to switch to a new job with sponsorship for Tier 2 long term without going through 1 year cooling off period.
2. Is it legally possible to move to tier 2 general from tier 2 ICT short term visa?
3. Can I switch job when I am on tier 2 ICT short term (1 year) visa.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help.

[manci]

I have been working in UK for past 8 months on tier 2 ICT short term(1 year) visa. My present visa is valid till Nov 2014.
I am planning to find a new job with a new UK based employer who is ready to sponsor my visa for a better salary structure.
My questions are:
1. Based on the immigration policy am I allowed to switch to a new job with sponsorship for Tier 2 long term without going through 1 year cooling off period.
you are allowed to change to T2 ICT Long Term Staff with the same (your current) sponsor without cooling off by applying from home country but changing to T2G would require 1 year cooling off in home country

2. Is it legally possible to move to tier 2 general from tier 2 ICT short term visa?

3. Can I switch job when I am on tier 2 ICT short term (1 year) visa.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help.

[simranmehra]

Thanks for your reply Manci.

So would that mean that I cannot switch to another employer while I am in the UK ?

And if I switch to another employer from home country would the 12 month cooling period apply for all types of work permits to the UK or is there any type of visa that I can still apply for without going through the cooling period.

Lastly can I apply to can other tiers like transfer to T1 while I am in the UK and continue here without having to go back to my home country ?

[simranmehra]

It would be very helpful if you could help answer my queries. Unfortunately this information is not available online

[moonlight55]

All the details are available in threads in this forum!

Thanks for your reply Manci.

So would that mean that I cannot switch to another employer while I am in the UK ?
Yes, you cannot switch with the ICT visa

And if I switch to another employer from home country would the 12 month cooling period apply for all types of work permits to the UK or is there any type of visa that I can still apply for without going through the cooling period.
Currently, there is only Tier 2 (General) which is an employee sponsored visa, available to come & work in UK.

Lastly can I apply to can other tiers like transfer to T1 while I am in the UK and continue here without having to go back to my home country ?
T1 is now closed for new applicants. You cannot apply for it.

[manci]

All the details are available in threads in this forum!

Thanks for your reply Manci.

So would that mean that I cannot switch to another employer while I am in the UK ?
Yes, you cannot switch with the ICT visa

And if I switch to another employer from home country would the 12 month cooling period apply for all types of work permits to the UK or is there any type of visa that I can still apply for without going through the cooling period.
Currently, there is only Tier 2 (General) which is an employee sponsored visa, available to come & work in UK.

Lastly can I apply to can other tiers like transfer to T1 while I am in the UK and continue here without having to go back to my home country ?
T1 is now closed for new applicants. You cannot apply for it.
Tier 1 (General) is indeed closed to new applicants but there are 3 new Tier 1 categories (exceptional talent, investor, entrepreneur) and I believe switching from T2 to any of these is allowed.

[simranmehra]

Thanks a lot everyone for your responses. Very helpful indeed.

Last few queries -

1.regarding switching employer in home country - In case I switch employers in the home country would I have to serve a one year period with the new employer before I can get another work permit for the UK ?

2. Can we as employees apply for a TIER 2 general visa ourselves , I mean does'nt the employer need to sponsor it ?

3. Would I have to go to home country to switch to TIER 1 visa (for any of the three categories - investor , exceptional talent and enterpreneur)

Really appreciate your help here.

[manci]

Thanks a lot everyone for your responses. Very helpful indeed.

Last few queries -

1.regarding switching employer in home country - In case I switch employers in the home country would I have to serve a one year period with the new employer before I can get another work permit for the UK ?
only if you plan to apply for T2 ICT. For T2G you just have to wait for the cooling-off period to end and don't even have to work,

2. Can we as employees apply for a TIER 2 general visa ourselves , I mean does'nt the employer need to sponsor it ?
You need a sponsor for T2, for T1 you don't

3. Would I have to go to home country to switch to TIER 1 visa (for any of the three categories - investor , exceptional talent and enterpreneur)
see above

Really appreciate your help here.

[simranmehra]

Thanks Manci for your responses. Just one final question to ensure I have understood you correctly.

As per the posts I have been reading , it seems I can switch from Tier 2 to Tier 1 without going back to home country , is that right ? Please let me know if I am wrong.

[manci]

Thanks Manci for your responses. Just one final question to ensure I have understood you correctly.

As per the posts I have been reading , it seems I can switch from Tier 2 to Tier 1 without going back to home country , is that right ? Please let me know if I am wrong.

see above

[simranmehra]

thanks Manci once again for your inputs.

I am not sure if I got you right..but my assumption is that one could switch to T1 from T2 in UK if all other criterias are met. Please let me know if I am wrong.

[manci]

@simranmehra
The T1(entrepreneur) policy guidance is here:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov. ... dance1.pdf