Tier 5 -> Tier 2 skilled migrant - Do I have to go home?

[WellHydrated]

Hi guys,

I am on a Tier 5 currently working in the UK. My visa expires on July 7th and my company has just applied to for Tier 2 as a skilled migrant. Everything going well I will receive my CoS on June 19th.

Unfortunately, home for me is on the other side of the world (New Zealand) and a return journey is both expensive, exhausting and extremely time-consuming.

I know I have to apply from outside the UK, is it possibly for me to use a visa office outside my origin country or country of residence? For example - a quick journey to Amsterdam?

Bonus question - how does my timeframe look? Seems pretty tight to me...

Many thanks,
M

[CR001]

You need to apply from home country. You can't apply in a country where you do not have legal residence, i.e. NOT a visitor.

[WellHydrated]

Hi CR001,

Thanks very much for your response.

Considering that, I know I can easily retrieve a work permit for The Netherlands (I have friends who live there, whom I am able to stay with for a period of time as well). Is it against the rules, or at least a little bit dodgy, to get a visa, temporarily move to Amsterdam, and then apply from the visa center there?

I don't want to do anything outside the rules.

Thanks,
M