Tier 1 Extension: your experience and best way to do it

[pred02]

Hi,
My Tier 1 (General) visa expires Jan 15, 2013. I have been in the UK since Feb 16, 2010, am working full time and need to extend my visa.

1. I heard that you can no longer get extensions outside the UK - e.g., home country (which is the US in my case). Is this true?

2. To satisfy the 5 year period for ILR and not have to get a visa the 3rd time, what is the ideal time I go in for renewal - how long before my visa expires?

3. To process by mail I heard that the process takes 8 weeks to 6 months and that in this period I cannot leave the UK. Because my work requires travel this in unacceptable so I need to get an in-person appointment.

3a. I heard that in-person appointments are near impossible to get without a lawyer - is this true?
3b. If easier - can I book an appointment for one of the non-London offices?

Many thanks

[longshift]

Hi,
My Tier 1 (General) visa expires Jan 15, 2013. I have been in the UK since Feb 16, 2010, am working full time and need to extend my visa.

1. I heard that you can no longer get extensions outside the UK - e.g., home country (which is the US in my case). Is this true?

True.

2. To satisfy the 5 year period for ILR and not have to get a visa the 3rd time, what is the ideal time I go in for renewal - how long before my visa expires?

Anytime within a month of expiry is best time for renewal.

3. To process by mail I heard that the process takes 8 weeks to 6 months and that in this period I cannot leave the UK. Because my work requires travel this in unacceptable so I need to get an in-person appointment.

True. Best option for you is same day application.

3a. I heard that in-person appointments are near impossible to get without a lawyer - is this true?

Not True. They are hard to get but not impossible. Might take few nights. You can only book 42 days in advance and the appointments are released at 00:00 hrs. So try every night at that time and you will get the appointment for sure.

3b. If easier - can I book an appointment for one of the non-London offices?

Its the same for London or non-london PEO. When you go for booking appointment you can choose 3 out of 7 PEO office to check for available slots. Personal expiernce says that london PEO(Croydon) releases more slots than other PEOs. So best of luck.
Many thanks

[pred02]

Hi,

Just to confirm the booking strategy. I register to book an in-person appointment on the UKBA site. My visa expiries Jan 15, 2013 which means I should try to book an appointment for Dec 15, 2012 onward.

My original visa was valid from Jan 15, 2010 and I entered the UK on Feb 16, 2010. Will this renewal window guarantee that the 2 year extension covers the 5 year period so I can subsequently apply for the ILR?

As the appointments are released at midnight 42 days before - I need to start trying to book from midnight 3 November 2012. Basically, log in at or around midnight and try to book a PES appointment for Tier 1 biometric?

Any other pointers for booking PES appointments in advance? At which point if I do no have any luck booking online should I contact a lawyer or agency to ensure minimal risk of not getting the paperwork sorted on time?

Many thanks!