Early Tier 2 (General) visa Extension - timelines

[aplinhar]

Hello all,

I'd like to know if someone has applied for an early extension of a Tier 2 visa and if you were able to use the expiry date of the current visa as the start date for the extension.

I've been reading some topics and found different answers to this question!!!!

My situation is the following:

Tier 2 General issued in Feb/2014 due to expiry in Feb/2017.

I have plans to extend in Dec/2016 to avoid losing some precious months of Visa when I try IRL.

However, I have been reading that an early extension is possible but nobody actually described if they were successful or not when applying early and keeping the the maximum time that a person can stay in the UK as Tier 2 (6 years).

I am afraid of extending now, for example: July/2016 and the new visa be issued from July, overlapping a good pair of months...ending with an expiry date in July/2019 (which would make my life very very difficult when applying for permanent residency).

Pleaseee, help!

[moonlight55]

If you apply for early extension (say in Jul 2016), you will not be able to put the start date after your current visa expiry. The start date will be on the date the HO approves your visa. Hence, the sutuation you mentioned will occur. Hence, in normal circumstances, people apply their extension closer to the expiry date.

[CR001]

HO don't issue visa to 'continue from expiry date of old visa'. The visa start date for the extension will be when the decision is made. So yes, if you apply in July 2016, that is when it will be valid from (assuming same day service).

Edit : beaten by moonlight55

[aplinhar]

Thanks CR001 and moonlight55

I thought that wouldn't be so easy and straightforward!

...but reading some posts about this possibility...I had a little bit of hope. I am a bit afraid of submitting the extension in December and the process be too long or that I don't get a new CoS number because the cap of immigrants has been already used for 2016!

[aplinhar]

Oh, just saw a post with a similar question!!!

See: http://www.immigrationboards.com/uk-tie ... 11050.html

So, ok that I don't get to extend my visa earlier than my current plan, but:

Can I extend my visa in Dec/2016 but with the start date being the the same day (or next day) of the expiry date of my current visa?

Example:

Apply for extension in 05/12/2016, but the start date of the new visa being 05/02/2017 (and my current Visa expires in 04/02/2017)? (There is a maximum of a 3 month period right?)

OR

Apply for extension in 01/09/2016 (for example) but the start date of the new visa being 01/12/2016 (or something in November).

I need to sort this visa thing asap but I can't too many months for this extension.

[CR001]

You cannot ask HO to 'post date' your new visa/extension. It will be dated when the application is decided.

[aplinhar]

The million pound question now:

Can my company issue a CoS today (for example) with start date in August or September?

[CR001]

They can issue a CoS but you must apply for your visa extension within 3 months of the CoS start date.

[moonlight55]

Edit : beaten by moonlight55

My first in 100+ attempts or so!

[CR001]

Edit : beaten by moonlight55

My first in 100+ attempts or so!