Switching from TIER 1 (Post Study Work) to TIER 2 (General)

[djinn456]

A quick question to anyone who can help please.

I went to the UKBA Points calculator page for TIER 2 (General) visa and within the Maintenance section the policy guidance says that:

Automatic Points for Maintenance
You will automatically be awarded 10 points for maintenance (funds) if you satisfy any of the following criteria:

• you can score points for sponsorship for switching from the post-study worker category of tier 1;
  you have current permission to stay as a Jewish agency employee;
  you have current permission to stay as a member of the operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline;
  you have current permission to stay as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order;
  you have current permission to stay as a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation;
  you have current permission to stay as a current work permit holder.

Does this means that I don't need to show any proof of maintenance as in any bank statements or anything because I am switching from PSW to TIER 2(General)?

Please suggest...

[koolguykvs]

Yes

[Corzmentine]

Your assertion is incorrect and you may be taking a risk!

According to the latest UKBA Tier 2 Policy Guidance (version 04/12 - as of now) ...

Points awarded for maintenance
145. You will be awarded 10 points if:
• you currently have entry clearance, leave to enter, or leave to remain as a Tier 2 skilled
worker; work permit holder; Jewish Agency Employee; Member of the Operational Ground
Staff of an Overseas-owned Airline; Minister of Religion; Missionary; Member of a Religious
Order; or Representative of an Overseas Newspaper, News Agency or Broadcasting
Organisation; or
• your A-rated (Premium), A-rated Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME+) or A-rated
sponsor certifies on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will maintain and accommodate
you up to the end of your first month of employment in the UK if required. Your sponsor
may limit the amount of the undertaking but any limit must be at least £800 (for applications
submitted before 14 June 2012) or £900 (for applications submitted on or after 14 June
2012); or
• you have personal savings of at least £800 (for applications submitted before 14 June
2012) or £900 (for applications submitted on or after 14 June 2012) which must have been
held for a consecutive 90 day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of your
application. Any partners or children (also known as dependants) that you want to bring
to the UK with you must have money in place to support them. The points based system
dependants’ guidance provides more information on this and can be found at: www.ukba.
homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/dependants.

The rest of the UKBA website may not have been updated!

Also, according to Wright Hassall Solicitors interpretation of the new changes http://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/resource ... rules.aspx

"The 6 months' employment requirement is now being removed. This means that sponsors will be exempt from carrying out the RLMT before assigning an unrestricted Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). However, the automatic granting of maintenance points for switching into Tier 2 from Tier 1(PSW) will be removed, though employers will be able to certify maintenance on the CoS."

In a nutshell, you now have to show evidence of maintenance funds when switching from PSW to Tier 2(General).

[djinn456]

Many thanks for your reply guys, it is more clear now for me.