Can I switch from Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) to a Tier 2 (General) visa inside the UK?
Why would you do that? Because a Tier 2 General visa leads to permanent residency (Indefinite Leave) after 5 years in the UK while most ICT visas don’t lead to an ILR at all. The answer to our questions is Yes if you meet both requirements below: 1) You had a Tier 2 ICT Established Staff visa under the Rules in place before 6 April 2011 and after that you extended it inside the UK. A word ‘extended’ is crucial here because those who had an Entry Clearance (outside the UK) at any time from 6 April 2011 can’t switch. 2) You are applying to change a Sponsor. You can’t switch from ICT to General for the same Sponsor. What is you can’t switch? Options include: leaving the UK, waiting for 12 months and applying for a Tier 2 General visa, to work for any Sponsor, including the one who sponsored you for an ICT visa at first place. Or to consider switching to a category other than Tier 2, such as a tier 1 Entrepreneur or a Depe...