Tier 2 General to Tier 5 YMS - Query

[kruunch]

Hi All,

I was hoping I could get some guidance / pointed to the right direction. Apologies, I looked around the site and couldn't find what I'm looking for.

I'm an Australian currently working full-time in the UK under a Tier 2 (General) visa and have been working for 2 months for the same company. I want to do some contracting work, but as I understand, I'm not able to do under my current visa.

In this case, I'm exploring the option of applying for the Tier 5 (YMS) but wanted to know any catch I need to be aware of. Would I need to go home to Australia to apply for the Tier 5? What would happen to my Tier 2 visa - I would assume that this would be cancelled and I'll be on a 12 mo cooling period?

Any guidance / links would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Frontier Mole]

Correct on can't do contracting work under T2
Have to return home to apply for T5YMS
T5YMS is a two year non renewable visa that lets you do what you want but at the expiry you go home.
Your current Tier2 gets superceded by T5 if granted.
If you intention is to stay long term in the UK don't go down the YMS route.

[CR001]

+1 on what FrontierMole said. Also, are you under 30 years of age?

Tier 5 does not lead to ILR either, unless you clock 10 years long residence, i.e. you can't combine time on Tier 2 G with Tier 5 to make up 5 years residence for ILR.

Do you perhaps have any UK born grandparents? If yes, you could look at a UK Ancestry visa.

[kruunch]

Thanks Frontier Mole and CR001 for your responses!

I am not looking into staying long-term in UK and still under 30, hence, the decision to want to do contracting for a short-term.

Apart from the T5YMS fee, there's no fee I need to pay eg. leaving my T2, right? Is there anything else I need to look out for, if I end up going down this route?

Thanks again!

[CR001]

If you qualify for Tier 5, you can apply from Australia and then return. You will likely need to pay the immigration health surcharge though (£200 per year upfront).

If you resign, your current employer will notify HO anyway.

[kruunch]

Thanks CR001!

Just to confirm, do I need to be in Aus to apply for the T5YMS? Or would I be able to start the process here in UK and then finish it off in Aus?