Tier 2 Extension query

[AJC]

Hi All,
My current tier 2 (general) visa is about to expire in Jan 2017 (3rd week). I just wanted to know when is the earliest or latest i can apply for the extension before my current visa expires.

Thanks,
AJC

[dragon098]

Hi AJC,

My expires in Jan 1st week and as far as I know you can apply at-least 3 months before but I will be applying at then end of October or 1st week of November.

Thanks.

[AJC]

Thanks for the reply, I tried finding abt the requirements about when to apply but coulnt find anything on the website. It just says "you should apply before your current leave expires". Can you share the document where it says about the 3 months time period.

Thanks,
AJC

[dragon098]

Hi AJC,

There is already a older thread similar to yours and it state in that and some answers are based on experience as well.
http://www.immigrationboards.com/uk-tie ... 16148.html


Regards,
dragon

[AJC]

Thanks

[AJC]

Hi,
I called UKVI helpline today, and i was told that the earliest i can apply is 28 days before my current leave expires in Jan 17 (3rd week).

Can somebody shed some light on when is the earliest, one can apply for Tier 2(General) extension application in UK?

Thanks
AJC

[Casa]

I don't know where dragon098 got the idea it would be possible to apply 3 months early.

You can apply no sooner than 28 days before the expiry date of your current visa. For once, the UKVI helpline have given the correct advice.

[KGM]

Hi Ajc,

If it's a Tier2 extension, you can apply for an extension anytime before your current visa expires. Remember the early you apply for an extension, the early the visa expires.

If it's a Tier2 General to ILR application, you can apply for ILR 28days early when you complete the 5 year qualifying date.

Thanks
KGM

[Casa]

Hi Ajc,

If it's a Tier2 extension, you can apply for an extension anytime before your current visa expires. Remember the early you apply for an extension, the early the visa expires.

If it's a Tier2 General to ILR application, you can apply for ILR 28days early when you complete the 5 year qualifying date.

Thanks
KGM

Correct. I missed it was an extension and not ILR. Applying too early as KGM has advised will result in the requirement for an additional extension in order to make up the shortfall.

[dragon098]

Hi Guys,

I am confused too because my visa Expires in 14th of Jan 2017 and I thought I was able to apply atleast 2-3 months before my visa expires.

Casa can you please clarify if KGM is correct or wrong, are we eligible to apply before our visa expires for Tier2 extension only not Tier 2 to ILR.

Regards,
dragon

[Casa]

If you apply earlier than 28 days before the expiry date you will have a shortfall in completing the 5 year period and will need an additional extension to make up the gap of 2 months.

[dragon098]

Aren't we able to stay in UK under tier-2 visa for upto 6 years.

According to https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general/extend-your-visa

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your visa for up to another 5 years, as long as your total stay is not more than 6 years.

Doesn't that mean when we extend our visa now we will get for another 3 years but we will be eligible within 2 years. For example:- I applied my first application on 7th of Jan 2014 and my expiry date is 14th of Jan 2017. Should I get another 3 years of visa which should be till Jan 2020 but I should be eligible by Jan 2019.

Or we get visa extended for only 2 year which would definitely mean I would be short of 2 months.

Regards,
Aarif

[dragon098]

Hi guys,

I called UKVI again and finally, your extension depends upon you how long your employer will hire you for. My employer will put 3 years in my Tier 2 Extension COS so therefore, I should have my visa for another 3 years and I should be eligible within another 2 years for ILR.

Regards,
dragon

[aplinhar]

Hi All,
My current tier 2 (general) visa is about to expire in Jan 2017 (3rd week). I just wanted to know when is the earliest or latest i can apply for the extension before my current visa expires.

Thanks,
AJC

Hi AJC,

When do you plan to apply for the extension?

I am thinking about extending in October, more than the recommended 3 months before my current visa (which expires in 02/2017). I will ask my company to issue the CoS with a start date later this year but respecting the 3 month before rule (example: apply for the extension in Oct/16 but CoS start date in Dez/16 or Jan/16).

This bit of information I got from the forum, but I haven't been able to confirm 100% if I understood it right!

Not sure if this is what you are looking for!

[dragon098]

Hi aplinhar,

Mine is expiring on 14th of Jan 2014 and I am flying back home for holiday in Dec2 for a month therefore, I am planning to extend my visa by end of October or November.

I will ask my employer for a specific day let's say 1st of Nov 2016 to be my start date in COS and plan to book priority 1 day service on the same date that's what I did when I was first applying for my VISA. So same date in COS and book appointment for same day.

Most probably on 1st of Nov.

Regards,

[aplinhar]

Hi dragon098,

Thanks for your answer.

I am not applying using the Premium service, but I imagine that your employer will be asking for the CoS before the planned start date/application date. (I have no idea how much time it takes to get the CoS).

So, that solves almost 100% of my doubt (it means the CoS start date doesn't need to be the same date the employer asked for the CoS).

However, I am still afraid that my arrangement won't work!!! Helpline confirmed it will, but the person on the phone sound like she was just repeating what I said!

Anyway, thanks for the info. I learned a lot with the forum.

[dragon098]

Aplinhar,

As far as I know COS generates instantly (that's if I am not wrong and if process hasn't changed), I know that because when I my employer generated COS for my first Tier-2 application, I was present with my HR while HR was filling the form just in-case all the information was right. Therefore, what I can say is that COS gets generated instantly. You submit and you get a COS assigned to you.

Can you confirm please, Did you say that we can generate COS of further date in future and apply before that date for example:- COS Job Start date would be 1st of Dec 2016 but we can apply for extension in Oct or Nov 2016. Am i right and if not please do correct me. And what did helpline confirm?

And in the phone when you contacted UKVI was it lady called Victoria (I think she was a bit rude to me but I think she answers to almost same questions everyday so should be little bit too much for her).

Regards,
dragon

[ShrutiBlue]

dragon098-

You're right, the CoS is assigned to you instantly after the form is filled, however the job start date mentioned on the CoS can be any time within 3 months of the CoS being assigned, and you can apply for your visa anytime within those 3 months as well.

So if the CoS was assigned today with the job start date of 7th December, you will have until then to apply for your extension.

And there have been many people on this board who have applied for their Tier 2 extension more than 3 months before the expiry date of their current visa. I myself planned on doing that but couldn't and am today sending my documents for my extension. My visa expires on 14th December and the job start date on my new CoS is 1st December.

[dragon098]

Thanks for help ShrutiBlue,

Like I said my Visa Expires in 14th of Jan 2017. Can my Work start date on COS be from 2nd of Jan 2017 and apply for VISA in first week of November 2016. That way I won't be losing many days on my extension. I hope I am right but correct if I am not.

Regards,
dragon

[aplinhar]

Hi dragon098,

I don't remember the name of the person, but their helpline isn't much of a help. She confirmed what I said: yes, I can apply earlier than expected with a CoS start date for the future...but all she did was "yes, it's possible 5 times", so I hope she understood it right.

To be fair, my company is paying a solicitor or some other company to do it. However, they had no idea about this arrangement (ask the CoS with start date up to 3 months) and they never confirmed if they understood what I asked nor if it's possible.

So, my company is paying for someone useless (in my opinion) to not known the information I need.

ShrutiBlue, thanks for confirming it.

My extension will be done around 15/10 so I can update everyone how it went...hopefully, I don't lose some previous months in my visa (I started to work a few months after the visa was ready, so I lost almost 3 months and my partner 5 months).

[ShrutiBlue]

dragon098-

Yeah, that will work as if you apply in November for 2nd of January start date, you would still be within the 3 month period provided you get the CoS on or after 2nd of October.

aplinhar-

You're welcome! If you're applying for a 3-year extension, loss of a few months shouldn't a problem in terms of ILR though.