Tier 2 ICT UK Visa conversion to Tier 2 General UK Visa

[mayurdoshi1989]

I am on a Tier 2 ICT Visa (after April 2011) and I want to convert to Tier 2 General Visa.
Is it necessary to change the employer?
I know it is necessary to have a salary of 159600 GBP.
Is there any other constraints?

[CR001]

You cannot be sponsored for Tier 2 General with the same employer who sponsored your ICT visa.

uk-tier-2-employer-sponsored-visas/swit ... 88997.html

Also, what is your current salary??

[mayurdoshi1989]

The Link according to me does not say anything to the Tier 2 ICT Visa given after April 2011.
Do we have some literature which specifically says for ICT Visa after April 2011.

Currently my salary is way below the threshold.
What prompted me to ask the question is to whether I should direct my energy to persuade my employer to increase the salary or to look outside my organisation for jobs with higher salary.
Personally i think it will be marginally easier to negotiate with the present employer, but if the visa rules does not allow that, then there is no point.

Also what are other ways, if my spouse is on Tier 2 General, can I become my spouse Tier 2 dependent?
Will it mean, there is no cooling off period for me and can stay in this country.

[CR001]

If you cannot get a sponsor offering the salary of £159,600, you would be subject to the 12 month cooling off period.

If your spouse managed to get a sponsor and tier 2 general then yes you could switch to PBS dependent visa. Once you have held the dependent visa for a full 12 months, you can apply for tier 2 general from home country if you get a sponsor.

[mayurdoshi1989]

Thanks for the below information, much appreciated

The question is, will the conversion to Tier 2 General (from ICT) work if my current employer/sponsor under whom I am on Tier 2 ICT Visa increased my salary to £159600?

[CR001]

No as the link I provided states this is not possible.

[GoGoUK]

If you cannot get a sponsor offering the salary of £159,600, you would be subject to the 12 month cooling off period.

If your spouse managed to get a sponsor and tier 2 general then yes you could switch to PBS dependent visa. Once you have held the dependent visa for a full 12 months, you can apply for tier 2 general from home country if you get a sponsor.

Your information is very helpful. Could you help to clear that when applying tier 2 general after full 12 months holding PBS dependent visa, does the applicant need to leave UK and back to home country or he can stay in UK while applying tier2 general visa?

[CR001]

If you cannot get a sponsor offering the salary of £159,600, you would be subject to the 12 month cooling off period.

If your spouse managed to get a sponsor and tier 2 general then yes you could switch to PBS dependent visa. Once you have held the dependent visa for a full 12 months, you can apply for tier 2 general from home country if you get a sponsor.

Your information is very helpful. Could you help to clear that when applying tier 2 general after full 12 months holding PBS dependent visa, does the applicant need to leave UK and back to home country or he can stay in UK while applying tier2 general visa?

1. You should start your own topic with your questions instead of tagging onto another members thread.

2. PBS dependent to tier 2 general is only possible to apply for from home country.