Expiration of Tier 2 visa before the 5 year limit

[mel2910]

Hi,

I currently hold Tier 2 ICT visa that was issued in November 2013 for 2 years which was subsequently renewed to until September 2018.

Please can the following be clarified:
1. If I leave before my visa expires will I still be subject to the 12 month cooling off period? I intend to leave the UK in June 2018.

2. If I leave before the expiration of the visa and am subject to the cooling off period regardless, do I need to go back to home country for the entire cooling off period? Or does my application to re-enter (which will be under a tier 2 general visa) need to be done via my home country?

3. If I leave before the visa expires to work in another country of my the firm I currently work for, outside of the UK and not back at my home country, does this impede my application if I apply after 12 to 18 months of leaving the UK?

Thank you for your help.

Kind regards

[CR001]

1. Cooling off still applies. It starts on the date you leave the UK.

2. Apply from home country or a country where you have legal residence but not as a visitor.

3. No. If you plan on applying for a Tier 2 General with your current employer you better make sure the full and proper RLMT is done to prove you have not been pre selected.

[mel2910]

Thank you. Noted