Tier 2 General Visa Extension

[vrai]

Dear Team,

I am currently on Tier 2 General visa.

If I change my sponsor company, can still my Tier 2 General visa will be extended?

Please advise.

Best Regards,
Rai

[CR001]

To change sponsors you have to apply for a new visa with the new sponsor, UCoS and RLMT done.

[vrai]

Dear Team,

Thanks very much for your reply.

The SOC code for my job profile requires minimum annual salary of 33,300 GBP.

Does my sponsor need to pay me this salary for the duration of my stay in UK on this visa or they can just pay at the time of application?

Another question, for switching from Tier 2 dependant visa (in UK for 12+ months) to Tier 2 General visa - Does that need to apply from Home country India

Please advise.

Best regards,
Rai

[CR001]

Does my sponsor need to pay me this salary for the duration of my stay in UK on this visa or they can just pay at the time of application?

You must be paid at the SOC level for the whole duration. Your employer cannot drop the salary to say £25000 once you get the visa. For ILR the salary requirements are also different and mandatory.

Another question, for switching from Tier 2 dependant visa (in UK for 12+ months) to Tier 2 General visa - Does that need to apply from Home country India

Yes, you must apply for entry clearance (not switching) from home country. You cannot switch in country regardless of how long you have lived in the UK.

[vrai]

Dear Team,
Thanks very much for your advise.

One more query - My COS will expire in March 2019.

If I go back to India after Tier 2 Visa expiry, and apply for job to my company again - whether my company can issue me new COS under 'new entrant' salary rate?

or company need to issue me new COS as 'Experienced salary rate' under Tier 2 visa?

Please advise.

Thanks.
Best Regards,
Rai

[CR001]

1. You are not a 'new entrant' if you have held tier 2 visas already.

2. If you leave the UK, you will be subject to the 12 month cooling off period before you can come back on a Tier 2 general visa.

[vrai]

Thanks for your advise.

If Tier 2 general visa is for 5 years, can I apply for British citizenship by the end of 4 years (4 years 11 months)?

or

Do I need to apply for ILR instead in order to apply for British citizenship?

Please advise.

Best Regards,
Rai

[CR001]

1. You need ILR before you can apply for citizenship.

2. You must hold ILR for 12 months before you can apply for citizenship unless you are already married to a British citizen.

3. Citizenship requires 5 years residence and holding ILR.

[vrai]

Thanks very much for your advise.

Is the the ILR application has to be made end of 5 years (4 years and 11 months)?

For ILR application does company need to sponsor at the minimum salary required for my SOC code?

Please advise.

[fielddrive]

For the purposes of ILR, you should be earning a min of 35,500 (or 35800 after april 2019), which is the requirement of ILR and you can apply up to 28 days before the end of 5 years.

[vrai]

Thanks very much for your advise.

Please advise is it allowed to change the sponsor under the same job role?

If yes,

does new tier 2 general visa application using new COS will be required? Then start date of new visa will be after the end of current one?

my current 3 years on tier 2 visa will be considered?

Please advise.

Best Regards,
Rai

[CR001]

Please advise is it allowed to change the sponsor under the same job role?

Yes.

does new tier 2 general visa application using new COS will be required?

Yes and you have to pay visa fee and IHS fee.

Then start date of new visa will be after the end of current one?

No, it will be from date of approval or from the start date on the new CoS.

my current 3 years on tier 2 visa will be considered?

Considered for what exactly???

[vrai]

Thanks very much for your advise.

As you advised, if the sponsor is changed new Tier 2 application need to be done.

So whether my 3 years on tier 2 general visa with my current sponsor will count to qualify for Tier 2 ILR?

Please advise.

Best Regards,
Rai

[CR001]

5 years on Tier 2 qualifies for ILR if you meet the requirements regardless of how many tier 2 employers/sponsors you have had!

[vrai]

Thanks very much.

[vrai]

Dear Team,

My SOC code for experienced person says minimum salary requirement of £33,300.

So, for ILR application £33,300 will not be ok?

Thanks.

Best Regards,
Vandita

[CR001]

Dear Team,

My SOC code for experienced person says minimum salary requirement of £33,300.

So, for ILR application £33,300 will not be ok?

Thanks.

Best Regards,
Vandita

No it will not be ok. You must earn what your SOC says or £35500, (before April 2018), whichever is HIGHER.

[vrai]

Thanks very much for your advise.

Best Regards,
Rai