Switching from Ancestry to Tier 2 work visa

[matilderose1]

Good afternoon,

I am looking for some advice on switching visa categories. I am an Australian national currently living in the UK on a 5-year Ancestry visa which is due to expire in July 2019. I am looking at visa options after this point & am shocked by how expensive it is to apply for indefinite leave to remain, or to extend my ancestry visa due to the health surcharge that I did not have to pay back in 2014. I don't plan to stay in the UK for another 5 years, probably only 2 maximum so paying the huge fees does not seem sensible

I am full-time employed in London by my employer of almost 5 years who is happy in theory to sponsor me to keep me here, so I am wondering if anyone has any advice on whether this is possible/how to do this? I read somewhere that it needs to be vacancy - would they be able to sponsor me as my existing employer? secondly would it be possible for me to 'switch visas' as such from within the UK?

Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated,

Alex

[CR001]

You cannot switch within the UK. You have to apply from home country and your employer will be required to do the full and proper RLMT process before requesting a CoS from HO to prove you haven't been pre selected.

What is the job that you currently do?

Is it at RQF level 6?

Note that IHS is still payable.