Tier 2 (General) extension & COS

[ann771]

Hi guys,

My Tier 2 (General) visa will expire end of July 2014 and my employer received an email notification last week from HO to renew COS for next year. My questions are:
• When can I apply for T2 extension? (I was thinking if I can apply before 6 April 2014 then I can avoid any major changes announced for that year - if there is any!)
• Shall I get my employer to request a COS for me in January 2013?
• If my employer request a COS in January 2013, do they have to pay the fee during COS request?
• What is the timeline and what information required to request & allocate COS?

Many thanks for your help.
Best regards

[psw2009]

i am in same situation

what date your current visa expire?

earliest you can apply before expiry is three months

[ann771]

thanks. my visa expire on the 28 July. So what date are you going to apply for your extension? and are you getting a COS for next year?

[AliZ]

Hi Ann

I'm also in the similar situation, I would like to know whether do we have to show maintenance fund for extension or its only require at the initial application.

Thank you

[psw2009]

Earliest you can apply is 28th april i think, and i will be able to apply on 25th april but not sure how to make sure unrestricted cos will be available around that time

[psw2009]

Earliest you can apply is 28th april i think, and i will be able to apply on 25th april but not sure how to make sure unrestricted cos will be available around that time

[visva_cool]

Hi all,

You can find answers for most of your questions in the tier2 guidance. It might be useful to go through this:

On the right hand side - Tier 2 policy guidance
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... /applying/


-> ann771, You have to wait till 2014. You can only apply 3 months before your visa expires (calculate the date based on your expiry in Jul 2014) - Same for COS which is valid for the next 3 months from the date of issue. COS for extension shouldn't take more than a day - of course, it depends on HR workload. You only pay when you apply for visa - COS has nothing to do with your payment. Issuing COS is your employers responsibility. You only need to remind them a few days before you are due for one.


-> AliZ, You don't have to for an extension coz you get the required points for currently being in tier 2. However, you have to be still paid the same or more - this will be in COS , so all you need to do is to tick the correct box.

-> psw2009, unrestricted COS means there is no restriction or limit on number of COS that can be issued. Tier 2 General extension needs an unrestricted COS. So, there is nothing to worry about availability or time of the year.

[psw2009]

thanks alot for your response,

my visa expire on 25-07-2014 and i am looking to apply extension on 25-Apr-2014,

by doing early extension, will i be able to avoid new ILR rules starting from 06th April 2016?

Thanks

[AliZ]

Many thanks visva_cool, really appreciate your reponse.

[visva_cool]

psw2009,

This is what you need:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... ettlement/

When did you get into tier 2 or any allowed categories? How long is you next extension going to be for?

It depends on whether or not you complete your 5 yrs (in tier2 or any of the allowed categories mentioned in the above link) by 06 Apr 2016.