Tier 2 General Extension Process - Please Help

[arora003]

I am less than 3 months away from applying for a Tier 2 General visa extension with my current employer. I wanted to ask a few quick questions:

- Is a Resident Market Labour Test necessary?
- Does the Employer have to apply for an unrestricted CoS before the employee (me) submits the visa application to extend? How long should this CoS be for?
- Having worked on Tier 2 for approximately 3 years now, will I be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 2 years if my salary and SOC code is as per requirement.
- Is there any chance of applying for the visa without having to send in the passport? I have travel plans for both work and personal reasons, which could potentially be disruptive to this visa process.
- Is there anything that I need to be especially aware of during this extension process?

It's a stressful process as no one in my company quite knows the answers to these questions and every company is looking to charge exorbitant prices for basic advice. I hope one of you is able to help in this forum.

Many thanks!

[CR001]

- Is a Resident Market Labour Test necessary?

No, not if you are staying in the same job on the same SOC and paid at the current SOC list level.

- Does the Employer have to apply for an unrestricted CoS before the employee (me) submits the visa application to extend? How long should this CoS be for?

Yes, unrestricted. Depends how long you have been in the UK on a Tier 2 visa and how long your employer wishes to extend it for (2 or 3 years etc).

- Having worked on Tier 2 for approximately 3 years now, will I be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 2 years if my salary and SOC code is as per requirement.

Yes, if you meet ALL the requirements, including the ILR minimum income (different to the SOC) and absence limits.

- Is there any chance of applying for the visa without having to send in the passport? I have travel plans for both work and personal reasons, which could potentially be disruptive to this visa process.

Then apply in person or for postal priority (no guarantee of speed though).

- Is there anything that I need to be especially aware of during this extension process?

Meeting the requirements, unless there is something in particular you are worried about.

???

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