Tier 2 Sponsorship

WORKING IN THE UK: APPLYING FOR UK TIER 2 FROM INSIDE THE UK

This section explains how you should apply for permission to remain in the UK under Tier 2 (General) of the (PBS) points-based sponsorship system, if you are currently: sponsored in the UK under Tier 2 (General), and you want to extend your stay in the same category; or in the UK under a different immigration category, and you want to 'switch' into Tier 2 (General) - see below for more information on switching visas.
Before you apply, you should assess whether you will score enough points for a successful Tier 2 sponsorship application. As part of your application, you will also need to enrol your fingerprints and facial image (known as 'biometric information') in order to obtain a biometric residence permit. The biometric information section explains how to do this.

When should you apply? You should apply for Tier 2 as soon as possible, and before your current permission to stay expires. The date of your application depends on how you submit your application. (See below). To find out how long you will need to wait for a decision on your application, see the Tier 2 permit processing times section.
How to apply - If you think you are eligible to apply for Tier 2, you must read the policy guidance before you make your application. When you have submitted your Tier 2 application form online, you must print out a cover sheet containing the details of your application. You will then need to: use our standard service to submit your supporting documents and cover sheet by post or courier, and then enrol your biometric information; or use our premium service to enrol your biometric information and submit your supporting documents in person at one of our UKBA public enquiry offices and, (in most cases), get a decision about your Tier 2 application on the same day
If you submit your supporting documents and cover sheet by post or courier, you must send them to the address on the cover sheet. Documents sent by courier must arrive during normal business hours (08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays), or receipt cannot be guaranteed. If you are making any applications for your family members ('dependants') to stay in the UK at the same time as your own application, you can also make their applications on your online Tier 2 application form. We will then consider their UK Tier 2 applications at the lower application fee. If you apply using a paper form and you want to make applications for your family members ('dependants') to stay in the UK at the same time, you should send all the applications together in the same envelope. We will then consider your dependants' applications at the lower application fee. If a dependant's application is sent later than or separately from your application, it will be considered in its own right and will be subject to the full application fee. There are special application requirements if you are currently in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Can you switch into Tier 2 (General)? If you currently have permission to stay in the UK under any of the following immigration categories, you can apply for switching into Tier 2 (General) from inside the UK:

If you are not in any of these categories, you must leave the UK and make your Tier 2 (General) work permit application from abroad. If you are switching from Tier 4 to Tier 2 or the former categories of student, student nurse, student re-sitting an examination or student union sabbatical officer, you must have a current permit to stay in the UK and, during that permission to stay, you must have lawfully obtained a UK degree, postgraduate certificate in education or professional graduate diploma of education. You must have obtained one of the named qualifications. They do not include, for example, vocational qualifications at degree level which are not degrees. If you are a PhD student, you do not need to have completed your course, but you must have completed at least 12 months' study towards it in the UK.
Switching to Tier 2 from a post-study category - You can be assigned a certificate of sponsorship and score 30 points if you are switching from:

If you are switching from student, student re-sitting an examination, student nurse or student union sabbatical officer, you must have current permission to stay in that category. If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to claim points for sponsorship in another way (such as through a resident labour market test).
What is the date of your UK Tier 2 application (Applying online inside the UK)? The application date is the date when you submit your application form and pay your application fee online. Your application won’t become valid until your supporting documents are received and your biometric information is enrolled. 
What is the date of your application for Tier 2 (Applying by post or courier from inside the UK)? If you send your application form and application fee by post, the date of application is the date of posting. This is decided by the postmark. If the postmark is illegible or missing, the date of postage is taken as being at least 1 day before it is received by us. If you send your application form and application fee by courier, the date of application is the date when it is delivered to our payment handling service.
What is the date of your application (Applying in person inside the UK with a fast track UKBA appointment)? If you are applying in person at one of our public enquiry offices (ie you have a fast track visa appointment), your application date will be the date when you attend the public enquiry office to make your application and pay your application fee.
Withdrawing your application - If you want to withdraw your Tier 2 application, you must use the 'return of documents form'. Your application will not be considered, and we will return your documents to you with no decision. We will not refund the cost of your application if you use this form. If you submit the request before 12:00, we will aim to withdraw your application and return your documents on the same day. We will return your documents by standard recorded delivery. If you want to arrange a courier, please state this on the form and we will contact you with a suitable time for collection.

Duplicate applications - Please refer to the Application Fees section of this Tier 2 sponsorship guidance. 

How to pay your application fee if you are inside the UK – Please refer to the application fees section of this Tier 2 sponsorship overview.

Payment information on the application form - Please refer to the Application Fees section of this Tier 2 sponsorship summary.

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