Current Employer offer letter for PBS visa

[mitzee]

Hi,

Can you please help me with the below query?

I am on ICT tier 2 visa and staying in UK for last 3 years. As per the recent guidelines ICT tier 2 visa holders will also be eligible to switch their visa to point based system.

1) Can i use my current employer offer letter (which i use to extend my tier 2 visa every year) as a proof of employment under this new PBS rule?
2) Any information, by when shall we be able to submit our application for visa switch?

Thanks & Regards.

[CR001]

The news pbs route only comes into force in January.

The current rules prohibit you from changing to a tier 2 general visa with the same sponsor you have for tier 2 ICT. This is unlikely to change.

The immigration rules for the new lbs route is not yet available.

[mitzee]

Thank you CR001 for the reply.

One more query - will the time spent in ICT tier2 (3 years in my case) be considered for ILR? I understand need to stay continuously for 5 years to be eligible for ILR.

Thanks and Regards.

[CR001]

Until the immigration rules are published, no one can tell you the finer detail of the new PBS route.

At the moment, ICT time does not count unless you are applying for ILR based on 10 years long residence.

[mitzee]

Hi All,

Any update on PBS?

When can ICT tier-2 visa holders can apply, list of docs required, fees and other finer details ?

Thanks.

[CR001]

No one on the forum has any additional information to what UKVI has so far published. My understanding is that the immigration rules have been laid out in parliament. We don't have anything more to add than what is contained in the link below.

https://www.immigrationboards.com/gener ... 03410.html

Unclear what 'update' exactly you are looking for??

[mitzee]

Thanks for the reply!

Updates I am looking for are:

1) Will the offer letter from existing employer be enough to switch visa from ICTtier2 to PBS Or do we need to search for a new job and get a new offer letter from another employer in UK?
2) Will the PBS visa be employer independent - need to apply every time i switch employers?
3) What will be the duration of the visa (linked to Qs 2)?
4) PBS Visa fees?
5) From which date ICT tier2 visa holders can start applying for this ?
6) Timelines from date of application to switching to PBS confirmation - how long will it take?
7) If unclear about above questions - any expected date when the details will be published?

Thanks and Regards.

[CR001]

1) Will the offer letter from existing employer be enough to switch visa from ICTtier2 to PBS Or do we need to search for a new job and get a new offer letter from another employer in UK?

The current rules do not permit you to apply for Tier 2 General with the current employer who sponsored your Tier 2 ICT. No indication if this will change.

2) Will the PBS visa be employer independent - need to apply every time i switch employers?

The new PBS route is still an employer sponsored visa, i.e. you can only work for your sponsor and must change visas each time you change employers.

3) What will be the duration of the visa (linked to Qs 2)?

Depends on the CoS.

4) PBS Visa fees?

No idea, as already stated, we don't have secret knowledge as we don't work for UKVI.

5) From which date ICT tier2 visa holders can start applying for this ?

You need to follow the updates as and when they happen. The visa has very clearly stated that it is from January 2021.

6) Timelines from date of application to switching to PBS confirmation - how long will it take?

How do you expect anyone to know this when it is a new route/rules and there are NO applicants as yet??

7) If unclear about above questions - any expected date when the details will be published?

No. You should keep an eye on the UKVI website.