Q: Kindly explain to me how the new UK Tier 2 Visa rules will work that will limit leave in this category. Also, will the new rules only apply to new applicants?
A: The UK Home Office has introduced a new rule that will limit leave in the Tier 2 Visa category to a maximum of six years. This new rule will only apply to applicants who entered Tier 2 after 6 April 2011.
Applicants who entered Tier 2 on or before 5 April 2011, will not be affected and will be able to apply for further periods of leave in this category.
However, migrants who do not apply for or obtain settlement must leave the UK on expiry of their leave and wait 12 months before applying to return in Tier 2. This ‘cooling off’ period of 12-months will apply to any Tier 2 Visa migrant who leaves the UK and applies for entry clearance on or after 6 April 2012, regardless of when their previous leave was granted.
Please contact our offices for more information.
JP Breytenbach
Director of Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Limited
www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com
Also read: Tier 2 Visa – Pay Threshold