Dependent Visa versus T2G/ICT

[cinydorieno]

Hi folks,

My wife works in UK on a Tier-2 ICT Short Term Visa (issued on 28-July-2012, valid till July 2013). I have a Dependent Visa from her and I am currently working in UK. Both of us are Indian citizens.

I now have an offer from a company which is originally based in Canada, but has branches in UK and India. The offer might be based on my dependent visa, but this company also wants to explore the possibilities of sponsoring me. The company's name is listed as a valid sponsor in the Register of Sponsors (Tier-2 A rating against ICT and General). I had a few questions regarding the above scenario.

1. If I quit my current job, can I join the new company directly without any Certificate of Sponsorship, if I chose to remain in Tier-2 (ICT) Dependent Visa?

2. If I chose to being sponsored by the company (Tier 2 ICT or Tier 2 General), do I need to go back to India to get the sponsorship? If yes, do I need to apply for a fresh visa against the new visa type / CoS?

3. I have seen answer to this question, but just trying to confirm because the rules have changed recently: if at all I switch from Tier 2 Dependent to Tier 2 ICT/General, and if my wife wants to switch from Tier 2 ICT to Tier 2 Dependent, does she need to go back to India to get the new visa?

Thanks in advance!

Cinydorieno.

[geriatrix]

1. Yes.
2. Yes. Yes (with restricted CoS).
3. Like you, she will also need to make the change from outside UK.

[cinydorieno]

Thanks, sushdmehta.

I am a little worried over the rule changes since July 2012. I am seeing this caveat listed in the link http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... onditions/

"When your permission to stay expires, you must leave the UK. You will not be able to apply to return here under Tier 2 (Intra company trnafer) for 12 months after your permission expires."

Do this mean that my wife (whose Tier-2 ICT expires in July 2013) is not eligible for extension at all and cannot come back for 12 months? Or is that rule applicable only if chooses to go back?

Also: since July 2012, are there any restrictions being imposed on a change from Tier-2 ICT/Dependent to Tier-2 General visas? My current visa was sanctioned in July 28 2012, so I am a little worried that I have missed some kind of cut!

Thanks in advance.