ICT Tier 2 - Extension

[chandukc]

Hi all,
This is my first post on this forum.
I want to know if I can extend my visa beyond 5 years .
I got my visa in aug 2012 and travelled the same month to uk. Due to some reason my project was shut and I travelled back in Jan 2013.
In Nov 2014 I travelled again to uk on the same visa which was issued in 2012.
I had to renew my visa in 2015 and now my visa will expire in July 2017.
As I have not spent full 5 years in UK will I be able to extend the visa any further than July 2017?
Please guide me.
Regards
Chandra

[moonlight55]

Since you came back on the same visa, the continuity is maintained. In that case, the only way you can extend your ICT visa beyond 5 years is if you are a high-earner i.e. you are paid more than GBP 155,300. In this case, you can extend your visa until 9 years. Else, you will have to return to your home country in 2017.

[chandukc]

Thank you moonlight55, I want to contine in UK beyond 2017. What options would I have other than to higher salary band.
1. Can I move to tier 2 general?

2. Can i stay on a dependent visa? In this scenario can I get my next tier 2 visa after one year of stay as dependentl without serving the cooling period?

[CR001]

1. Yes, after 12 month cooling off period and applying from home country.

2. Yes, you can apply for a dependent visa within the UK. After 12 months on dependent visa, you will have to return to home country to apply for a Tier 2 General.

[chandukc]

Thank you for the information.
So the period of 5 years is not stay but the visa period. Though I have not stayed for 5 years on ICT I still have to go back and serve 12 months cooling off.
Is there a possibility of extending this period if I go through a solicitor?
Do they take such a case?

[CR001]

Is there a possibility of extending this period if I go through a solicitor?

A solicitor cannot change or influence the immigration rules. Why do you think this is the case??

[chandukc]

I don't know , there are solicitors who wants to take up the case and get a visa to continue staying in the UK.
So that's the reason I came asking .

[CR001]

The rules are the rules, nothing changes that. Any solicitor that says they can 'sway' HO to be lenient with you is likely only going to make money out of you and you will be poorer and have no visa.

As moonlight55 has said, you can stay longer if you earn in excess of £155k.

[chandukc]

Thank you guys for suggestion and help.