T2_when does the cooling off period start?

[dancetomorrow]

Hi everyone, I have some queries regarding T2 and T4 visa, and would highly appreciated your help

I hold the Tier 2 visa at the moment. I left my last employer in Aug.2014, and the Tier 2 visa has been curtailed to Feb.2015.

In case that I cannot a new job/new sponsor before Feb (curtailment date), my backup plan is to attend a training course with the Tier 4 student visa, which gave me some time to find a job.

My questions are as below:

1. In Tier 2 guidance, there is a 12-month cooling off period, which means that I can only reapply for a Tier 2 visa 12 month later than the last Tier 2 visa.

My question is , in my case, when does the '12 month cooling off period' start ?
Is it the date when I left the firm (Aug.2014), or the date when I leave UK (I stayed at UK since last Aug), or the curtailment date (Feb.2015) ?

2. If I convert my current Tier 2 visa to Tier 4 student visa, then when I find a job using the Tier 4 visa, can I transfer to Tier 2 immediately, or does the '12-month cooling off period' still apply?

3. Can I convert Tier 2 to Tier 4 within the UK?

4.Can I convert Tier 4 to Tier 2 within the UK?

Your help is much appreciated!

[moonlight55]

Hi everyone, I have some queries regarding T2 and T4 visa, and would highly appreciated your help

I hold the Tier 2 visa at the moment. I left my last employer in Aug.2014, and the Tier 2 visa has been curtailed to Feb.2015.

In case that I cannot a new job/new sponsor before Feb (curtailment date), my backup plan is to attend a training course with the Tier 4 student visa, which gave me some time to find a job.

My questions are as below:

1. In Tier 2 guidance, there is a 12-month cooling off period, which means that I can only reapply for a Tier 2 visa 12 month later than the last Tier 2 visa.

My question is , in my case, when does the '12 month cooling off period' start ?
Is it the date when I left the firm (Aug.2014), or the date when I leave UK (I stayed at UK since last Aug), or the curtailment date (Feb.2015) ?
The cooling off period commences from the curtailment date.

2. If I convert my current Tier 2 visa to Tier 4 student visa, then when I find a job using the Tier 4 visa, can I transfer to Tier 2 immediately, or does the '12-month cooling off period' still apply?
The cooling off period will still apply from the last Tier 2 visa you held.

3. Can I convert Tier 2 to Tier 4 within the UK?
Yes. Check https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/overview for details.

4.Can I convert Tier 4 to Tier 2 within the UK?
Yes. But there are conditions on what kind of courses you can study to be eligible. Go through the T2 sponsor guidance for more details.

Your help is much appreciated!