Converting PBS dependant to Tier 2 General

[roth10]

Both me and my spouse are on ICT Tier 2 Long term visa working in UK. Now my spouse has an offer from anothet employer. So my spouse is planning to quit the current organization and convert to be my dependant. Once converted to dependant, can join the new organization in dependant visa. Is that possible? The new offer employer is ready to process Tier 2 General as well for my spouse. With this circumstance, Is there a cooling period for my spouse to convert from dependant visa to general visa?

[CR001]

A PBS dependent visa holder is free to work for anyone except the restrictions of no Dr or dentist in training.

The 12 month cooling off applies if applying for a tier 2 general. Your spouse would have to wait 12 months on PBS dependent visa before they can apply for tier 2 general from home country.

[roth10]

Thank you for your quick reply.
In case if the dependant visa expires before the 12 month cooling period, we would have to go back to the home country. If the rest of the cooling period be served from the home country, can general visa be applied from the home country then after that?

[CR001]

You simply need 12 months of NOT holding a tier 2 main visa, regardless if where you are.

In all cases, to apply for tier 2 general after tier 2 dependent, you can only apply from home country once you have not held a main tier 2 for 12 months.

[vinny]

If your wife’s expected salary is £159,600 per year or higher, then she may be exempt from the cooling off period.