Tier 2 - months short of qualifying period / employer change

[ahmed117]

Dear Members / Experts,

I would be grateful for your input.

I am on a Tier 2 (Sponsored Skilled Worker) visa and I complete the 5 year qualifying period for ILR in a few months. However, my current employment contract expires before I complete the qualifying period, although my current leave to remain is valid up to and beyon the 5 year period (employer issued a longer visa than contract in view of extending). I do understand that I will still need to be employed and paid in order to satisfy criteria for ILR when I complete the qualifying period. Fortunately, I have been offered another job with an employer who is happy to issue a CoS for a new Tier 2.

My questions are:

1- Logically I think I should apply for a new Tier 2 visa for the new employer, even though I am only a few months short of ILR and my current leave covers this. Is this correct? or is there any other exception / means to work for the new employer without issuing a new Tier 2 given the fact that I will be eligible for ILR in few months?

2- My wife is my dependent (Tier 2 PBS dependant). When I change employer and apply for a new Tier 2, do I need to include my wife in my application and get her visa changed as well? Knowing that her current leave is valid for another 2 years?

Many thanks for your input

Ahmed