Switching Tier 2 ICT (Long Tern Staff) to Tier 2 General

[rganu_123]

Hi,

I am in UK on Tier 2 ICT (Long Term Staff) visa obtained in June 2011.

Can I switch my visa to Tier 2 General category from within the UK or if I need to go back and apply from India?

On UKBA website I see that Tier 2 established staff can apply from UK... Its bit confusing if Tier 2 Long Term Established staff is similar to old Tier 2 Established staff Category?

Thanks for the help.

Cheers
Ganu

[physicskate]

Nope.

The info you are looking for is on a sticky at the top of this page...

[sur2rock]

That is not clear info

you can switch to Tier 2 General as long as you are under Long/Short Term Staff under ICT

Established Staff was broken into Long and Short term staff in 2011

No where in UKBA website has it been mentioned that you cannot apply to switch and on cooling period which many people are talking about.

Nope.

The info you are looking for is on a sticky at the top of this page...

[physicskate]

That is not clear info

you can switch to Tier 2 General as long as you are under Long/Short Term Staff under ICT

Established Staff was broken into Long and Short term staff in 2011

No where in UKBA website has it been mentioned that you cannot apply to switch and on cooling period which many people are talking about.

Except here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... idance.pdf

page 10

"Please note that Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Long Term
staff granted entry clearance under the rules in place after 6 April 2011 cannot switch
into Tier 2 (General)."

Cooling off period:
And on page 12:
a Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) applicant in the Long Term
staff sub-category will be granted leave up to 3 years with the possibility of extending for a further 2 years. You will not be able to extend your stay beyond 5 years (or 9 years for any staff earning £152,100 or more) and you will not be able to re-apply to return to the UK under an Intra-Company Transfer category until 12 months after your last leave as an Intra-Company Transfer expired or 12 months after you left the UK, whichever is sooner, unless you will be paid an annual gross salary of £152,100 or higher.


BOOM!

[sur2rock]

Fantastic! thanks for the info, so the cooling off period applies only to re-enter UK in the same category which is ICT.

So If i go outside and apply for Tier 2 general then I dont have to wait for cooling period.

The reason I am so after it because , I am in a situation where my project is taken over by another company and if they want to take me for the same job , same role then can I get Tier 2 general clearance from UKBA? which means i change my sponsor but remain in the same job and for the same client with little extra pay .... is this possible ??

That is not clear info

you can switch to Tier 2 General as long as you are under Long/Short Term Staff under ICT

Established Staff was broken into Long and Short term staff in 2011

No where in UKBA website has it been mentioned that you cannot apply to switch and on cooling period which many people are talking about.

Except here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... idance.pdf

page 10

"Please note that Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Long Term
staff granted entry clearance under the rules in place after 6 April 2011 cannot switch
into Tier 2 (General)."

Cooling off period:
And on page 12:
a Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) applicant in the Long Term
staff sub-category will be granted leave up to 3 years with the possibility of extending for a further 2 years. You will not be able to extend your stay beyond 5 years (or 9 years for any staff earning £152,100 or more) and you will not be able to re-apply to return to the UK under an Intra-Company Transfer category until 12 months after your last leave as an Intra-Company Transfer expired or 12 months after you left the UK, whichever is sooner, unless you will be paid an annual gross salary of £152,100 or higher.


BOOM!

[physicskate]

Fantastic! thanks for the info, so the cooling off period applies only to re-enter UK in the same category which is ICT.

So If i go outside and apply for Tier 2 general then I dont have to wait for cooling period.

The reason I am so after it because , I am in a situation where my project is taken over by another company and if they want to take me for the same job , same role then can I get Tier 2 general clearance from UKBA? which means i change my sponsor but remain in the same job and for the same client with little extra pay .... is this possible ??

Erm, NO. Go to the guidance and read the surrounding passages. I did not want to clog up the forum with pages and pages. Click the previous link... go to page 12....

[sur2rock]

I know its something obvious there which I should have spotted but Page 12 is for ICT category.. further down Part 3 is General Category which mention Tier 2 general limit and sponsors code / Salary for getting a Tier 2 general immigrant

Pls let me know what do you mean ?

Fantastic! thanks for the info, so the cooling off period applies only to re-enter UK in the same category which is ICT.

So If i go outside and apply for Tier 2 general then I dont have to wait for cooling period.

The reason I am so after it because , I am in a situation where my project is taken over by another company and if they want to take me for the same job , same role then can I get Tier 2 general clearance from UKBA? which means i change my sponsor but remain in the same job and for the same client with little extra pay .... is this possible ??

Erm, NO. Go to the guidance and read the surrounding passages. I did not want to clog up the forum with pages and pages. Click the previous link... go to page 12....