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04 Oct How can you switch from Tier 4 into Tier 2?

Posted on October 4, 2019 in Working in the UK by
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Under paragraph 245HD of the Immigration Rules, Tier 4 students are permitted to switch into the Tier 2 visa scheme without meeting the resident labour market test requirement. Applicants must apply to switch from Tier 4 to Tier 2 prior to the expiry of their visa in the UK.

How can you switch from a Tier 4 visa to a Tier 2 visa?

Tier 4 migrants must have completed or be applying no more than 3 months prior to their expected completion date of their course leading to a UK recognised Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or a UK Postgraduate Certificate in Education. This also applies to Tier 4 students who have completed a minimum of 12 months PhD study in the UK.

Sponsorship and minimum salary threshold

Tier 4 holders must receive a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK employer. The role they are being offered must meet the minimum skill and salary levels of the Standard Occupation Codes (SOC). Switching from Tier 4 to Tier 2 will be considered under the ‘new entrant’ category, thus, the Tier 2 minimum salary threshold will apply.

English language requirement

Tier 4 students will be able to satisfy this requirement through their UK qualification. Applicants must provide a degree certificate, academic transcript or an academic reference on official headed paper of the institution, which shows the migrant’s name, the course title/award, the course duration, the completion date having sat all exams and presented all academic papers, or the date they are expected to complete the course which must be the expected date when all the exams will have been taken and all academic papers submitted or confirmation of 12 months study if they are studying a PhD course.

Maintenance requirement

Applicants must show that they have held £945 in their personal bank accounts for a consecutive 90 days prior to the submission of their application or their maintenance can be certified by their A-rated sponsor.

Contact Our Immigration Team

For expert advice regarding any aspect of the Tier 2 (General) visa application, please contact our immigration team on 0203 384 3075.

The content of this article is for general use and information only. Since each case should be prepared on its own merit and in light of the constant amendments to the Immigration Rules, it is important to note that the information provided must not be relied upon unless Migra & Co has either given written consent or has been officially engaged in relation to a specific immigration matter. As a result, Migra & Co will take no responsibility for any damage, cost or loss resulting from relying on the information contained in this article, blog and website.