Switching from Tier 2 ICT Long Term to Tier 2 General

[akshmehra]

Hi All,

Need your advise here urgently. I have been living in UK from May'14 under Tier 2 ICT Long term staff. I understand that I will have to serve 12 months cooling off period if I complete 5 years on ICT visa. But what I want to know is :-

Q1. Is there any way that I stay in UK ( before completing 5 years) and apply for a switch to Tier 2 General visa?

Q2. If I need to leave UK in order to switch the visa category, will I still be required to serve cooling off period (mind this is before completing 5 years in ICT).?

Q3. Can it be any country where I can move and apply for Tier 2 General or it has to be my home country ?


Looking forward for your advise! Thanks

[poper]

1. No
2. Yes
3. Country of residence(you cannot apply from a country you are visiting)

[akshmehra]

Thanks Poper for your swift response. Clarification on Answer 3. If I move to another country (not home country) on a work visa and makes it a residence country, then I can apply it from there.

[CR001]

Thanks Poper for your swift response. Clarification on Answer 3. If I move to another country (not home country) on a work visa and makes it a residence country, then I can apply it from there.

Yes, any country where you have legal residence not as a visitor.