六、延长签证
持有二级(一般)签证，你可以申请延长居留在英国的时间。
当前签证上有家人(家属)姓名的，需在延长签证中说明。家人(家属)包括在你居留英期间长满18周岁的孩子。
你应该在签证到期之前申请。
延期签证申请资格
你必须属于以下人员，才能持有当前准许证进入英国或在英国居留：
1.一级(企业家)
2.二级(一般)签证者;
3.合格工作许可证持有者;
4.海外报社、新闻社、或广播机构代表;
5.海外航空公司地勤人员;
6.犹太代办处员工。
你还需要符合以下情况：
1.有和被准许进入英国或在英国居留时一样的工作;
2.还在为之前给你发放赞助证明的雇主工作;
3.目前的工资仍属于合适工资。
必须是在英国申请。
你可以待多久
只要你的居留时间总共不超过6年，你就可以申请另外延长5年。
申请费用
核实签证类型相关费用。
如何延长签证
申请之前阅读二级签证指南。
还需付附加医疗费，作为申请的一部分。在申请之前要核实好要付多少钱。
如果你是在英国，你可以：
1.以个人或家庭小组在线申请，使用标准服务或优先服务;
2.线上申请时预订优质服务，申请当天即可在优质服务中心得到申请结果。
准备生物信息(biometric information)
你还需要提供生物信息(指纹和照片)。可以通过以下途径准备：
1.部分邮政支行(需付19.20英镑);
2.优质服务中心(如果已经付费)。
延长签证有效期申请成功后，将收到生物居留许可(biometric residence permit)。
申请需要多久
不同申请方式出结果的时间不一样：
1.线上申请8周之内;
2.使用二级优先申请服务10天之内;
3.使用优质服务一般当天;
如遇以下情况，你会被告知申请结果延期：
1.提交的材料有待核实;
2.需参加面谈;
3.个人原因(如有刑事定罪)。
申请完毕，你可以在英国等待结果，只要你是在签证到期之前申请。
换工作
属于以下情况，你可能需要申请延长二级(一般)签证：
1.你想换工作，到新雇主处上班;
2.你的新工作和原来的工作不在同一职业范畴;
3.你的工作不再属于紧缺职业;
4.换工作导致你的收入降低，低于赞助证明或工作准许上写明的工资;
属于下列情况，你不需要重新申请：
1.换工作没有换雇主;
2.新工作和原来的工作属于同一职业;
3.换工作之后工资增长。
你需要持有新的赞助证明，满足其他所有申请条件，但如果你之前申请二级签证时已经发过，就不需要再次发送申请证件。
只要你当前的居留准许没有到期，你就可以继续为你之前的赞助者工作，到你的新赞助证明上面写明的新工作入职日期。
七、转入签证
你可以从别的签证申请转入二级(一般)签证。
你应该在当前签证到期之前申请。
申请资格
必须属于以下任意签证或计划，居留在英国，你才可以转入本签证：
1.一级签证;
2.二级(运动员)签证;
3.二级(牧师)签证;
4.二级(企业内部调动：正式员工)签证且正在申请换赞助者;
5.2010年4月6日之前移民法下的二级(企业内部调动)签证且正在申请换赞助者;
6.四级签证，或者另外一种学生签证;
7.职业足球运动员五级签证(临时工)且满足二级(运动员)要求;
8.高端技术移民项目;
9.创新者计划;
10.新人才：苏格兰工作计划;
11.留学毕业生计划(或它的前身，科学和工程毕业生计划)
12.商业工作许可(除了多次入境工作许可);
13.体育和娱乐工作许可(除了多次入境工作许可)。
符合以下任意条件，你也可以转入二级一般签证：
1.四级签证者的伴侣(配偶);
2.犹太代办处员工;
3.海外航空公司地勤人员;
4.牧师、传教士或宗教团体成员;
5.海外合格护士或助产士;
6.正在写论文;
7.研究生阶段医生或牙医;
8.海外业务代表;
9.海外报社、新闻社、或广播机构代表;
10.学生会公休工作人员;
如果你不属于上述情况，你需要离开英国，在英国以外申请转入二级一般签证。
从四级或其它学生签证转入
如果你有四级赞助者提供的资格证，你可以从四级或其它学生签证转入本签证。你当前的资格证学习签证必须得到赞助者的赞助。
资格证包括：
1.英国学生学位;
2.英国硕士学位;
3.研究生教育资格证;
4.专业毕业生教育文凭;
其它学生签证类别有：
1.学生;
2.学生护士;
3.重考学生;
4.海外合格护士;
5.论文写作者;
6.研究生医生或牙医;
7.学生会公休工作人员。
博士生申请
你必须是在你最近居留英国期间已完成至少12个月的博士学习，且得到获取学位证许可，才能申请转入本签证。
可以待多久
申请转入本签证之后，你最多可以在英国待5年时间。
申请费用
自行核实。
如何延长签证
申请之前阅读二级签证指南。
还需付附加医疗费，作为申请的一部分。在申请之前要核实好要付多少钱。
如果你是在英国，你可以：
1.以个人或家庭小组在线申请，使用标准服务或优先服务;
2.线上申请时预订优质服务，申请当天即可在优质服务中心得到申请结果。
准备生物信息(biometric information)
你还需要提供生物信息(指纹和照片)。可以通过以下途径准备：
1.部分邮政支行(需付19.20英镑);
2.优质服务中心(需本人亲自申请)，含优质服务申请费。
延长签证有效期申请成功后，将收到生物居留许可(biometric residence permit)。
申请需要多久
不同申请方式出结果的时间不一样：
4.线上申请8周之内;
5.使用二级优先申请服务10天之内;
6.使用优质服务当天;
如遇以下情况，你会被告知申请结果延期：
1.提交的材料有待核实;
2.需参加面谈;
3.个人原因(如有刑事定罪)。
申请完毕，你可以在英国等待结果，只要你是在签证到期之前申请。
6. Extend your visa
You may be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Tier 2 (General) visa.
You should include any dependants who are on your current visa on your application to extend. This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
Eligibility
You must have current permission to enter or stay as one of the following:
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Tier 2 (General) qualifying work permit holder representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation member of the operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline Jewish agency employee You must also meet the following conditions:
you have the same job as when you were issued your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK youre still working for the employer who assigned your certificate of sponsorship youre still earning an appropriate salary - read the guidance if youre not sure You must be in the UK to extend your visa.
How long you can stay
You can apply to extend your visa for up to another 5 years, as long as your total stay is not more than 6 years.
Fees
Check the fee for your type of visa.
How to extend your visa
Read the Tier 2 guidance notes before you apply.
Youll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much youll have to pay before you apply.
If youre in the UK you can:
apply online as an individual or family group, using the standard or priority service get a same-day decision at a premium service centre, by booking a premium service appointment when you apply online Biometric information
You must also provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).
You can give your biometric information at:
certain Post Office branches if you applied online (this costs 19.20) a premium service centre if you applied in person Youll get a biometric residence permit if your application to extend your visa is successful.
How long it takes
Decisions are made:
within 8 weeks for online applications within 10 days if youre able to use the Tier 2 priority application service usually on the same day if you use the premium service Youll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:
your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction Once youve applied you can stay in the UK until youve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.
If you change your job
You may need to apply to extend your Tier 2 (General) visa application if:
you want to change your job and your new job is with a different employer your job changes to a different standard occupation classification (SOC) code your job is taken off the shortage occupation list your changes of job means youre paid less than the amount stated on your certificate of sponsorship or work permit You wont need to make a new application if youll be staying with your current employer but your job will change in other ways, for example you want to change to a job in the same SOC code, or your pay will increase.
You must have a new certificate of sponsorship and you must meet all other application conditions, but you wont need to send evidence in support of your application if youve sent it for a previous Tier 2 application.
You can continue working for your previous sponsor until the start date on your new certificate of sponsorship if your current permission to stay is still valid.
You should not start your new job until youve received your biometric residence permit with your new permission.
7. Switch to this visa
You can apply to change (switch) from another visa to a Tier 2 (General) visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
Eligibility
You must already be in the UK under any of the following visas or schemes:
Tier 1 visa Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa Tier 2 (Minister of religion) visa Tier 2 (Intra company Transfer: established staff) visa and youre applying to change sponsor Tier 2 (Intra company Transfer) visa under the Immigration Rules in place before 6 April 2010 and youre applying to change sponsor Tier 4 visa, or youre on another kind of student visa - read Switching from a Tier 4 visa below Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Creative and sporting) for a job as a professional footballer and you meet the Tier 2 (Sportsperson) requirements Highly Skilled Migrant Programme Innovator Scheme Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme) Business and Commercial work permit (except multiple entry work permits) Sports and Entertainment work permit (except multiple entry work permits) You can also switch to a Tier 2 (General) visa if youre:
a dependent partner of someone with a Tier 4 visa a Jewish agency employee operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order an overseas qualified nurse or midwife writing up a thesis a postgraduate doctor or dentist a representative of an overseas business a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation a student union sabbatical officer You must leave the UK and make your Tier 2 (General) application from abroad if youre not in any of these categories.
Switch from a Tier 4 or other student visa
You can switch to this visa from a Tier 4 or other student visa if you have an eligible qualification from a licensed tier 4 sponsor. They must have sponsored your visa to study for that qualification.
The eligible qualifications are:
a UK bachelors degree a UK masters degree a postgraduate certificate in education a professional graduate diploma of education The other student visa categories are:
student student nurse student re-sitting an examination overseas qualified nurse person writing up a thesis postgraduate doctor or dentist student union sabbatical officer PhD students
You must have completed at least 12 months study for your PhD during your most recent stay in the UK and had permission to take the qualification.
How long you can stay
You can stay in the UK for up to 5 years after switching to a Tier 2 (General) visa.
Fees
Check the fee for your type of visa.
How to switch your visa
Read the Tier 2 guidance notes before you apply.
Youll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much youll have to pay before you apply.
If youre in the UK you can:
apply online as an individual or family group, using the standard or priority service get a same-day decision at a premium service centre, by booking a premium service appointment when you apply online Biometric information
Each person applying must also provide biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).
You can give your biometric information at:
certain Post Office branches if you applied online (this costs 19.20) a premium service centre if you applied in person (this is included in the premium service application price) Youll get a biometric residence permit if your application to switch your visa is successful.
How long it takes
Decisions are usually made:
within 8 weeks for online applications within 10 days if youre able to use the Tier 2 priority application service on the same day if you use the premium service Youll be contacted if your application is complicated and will take longer, for example because:
your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction Once youve applied you can stay in the UK until youve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.