Tier 2 ICT dependent work permit & permanent residency

[jhs123]

Hi All,

I am a software developer and I am planning to move to UK under Tier 2 ICT visa before April, 2016.
My wife is an experienced dentist in India and is also joining me as my Tier 2 Dependent.

My queries are :
1) As far as I know, for her to work as a professional dentist in UK, she needs to clear ORE (licensing exam for overseas qualified dentists.). Once my wife clears ORE, whether she will be allowed to work as a dentist in UK even being on T2 dependent visa?

2) If she gets a sponsor and switches to Tier 2 General, is there any way we can get permanent residency in UK (example my switching to her dependent visa)?

3) If above one doesn't help, is there any other way I can get advantage for my wife being a dentist(once she clears ORE) to get permanent residency for both of us?

I am aware of the cooling off period of 1 year after 5 years in UK on T2 ICT and there is no chance of getting permanent residency under Tier 2 ICT category. And that is why I am searching for an option to possibly get it by any other way.

Thanks in advance.

[geriatrix]

As a PBS dependant, one cannot work in the UK as a doctor or dentist in training. So, her employment opportunities will be restricted to non-training posts only. AFAIK, to work in the NHS even a UK qualified BDS graduate must undergo a 1 year vocational training ... and as a PBS dependant she may not even be eligible. Even if she is, do note that the number of VT places has only been slightly more than the number of dentists graduating from UK dental schools, so the demand is "extremely" high - with unemployed BDS graduates from previous years wanting to get on the training program.

For her to get onto a training post (for her to be able to be on a career pathway to become a dental consultant in the long run), she will need to be sponsored in her own right as a Tier 2 (General) migrant. Whether such sponsorships are available to overseas qualified dentists, readily or rarely, is something she will need to do a lot of research on (see also National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education (NACPDE).

[jhs123]

Thanks a ton for your response.
I fully agree about the difficulties for a dentist for getting selected for VT.

But still, I just want to know what are our chances to get PR. So let's say she clears the ORE and gets the VT of a year, and she gets the sponsor as well for T2 general. Unlike T2 ICT where there is no chance of getting PR because of cooling period clause, whether she will be eligible for permanent residency after certain years on T2 general? Or for her as well, it's the same like ICT?

[geriatrix]

Oh! You could have simply asked if Tier 2 (General) leads to settlement!

Under current rules, a Tier 2 (General) migrant may apply for settlement (ILR) after 5 years in UK as a PBS migrant (not dependant) provided he/she fulfils the immigration requirments on the date of such application (245HF).

That said, no one can tell you today what the rules may be in future.