Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Visa (ICT)
The Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa category is for existing employees of multinational employers who need to be transferred to their UK branch for training purposes or to fill a specific vacancy. You will need to have an offer of employment in the UK from a licensed Tier 2 Sponsor before applying for a visa and the overseas employer must be linked by common ownership or control to the UK branch.
Eligibility:
There are currently two open sub-categories of the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa: Long-term Staff and Graduate Trainee.
If you are applying in the Long-term Staff sub-category then you must have worked for your employer overseas for at least 12 months, unless you will earn £73,900 or more in the UK.
If you are applying in the Graduate Trainee subcategory then you will need to show that the role you are applying for is part of a structured graduate training programme, with clearly defined progression towards a managerial or specialist role within the organisation. Each Sponsor can only sponsor 20 people in this category per year.
You will need to show that you have a job offer in the UK from an employer that holds a Tier 2 Sponsor License. The organisation you are transferring from must be listed as a linked entity on your Sponsor’s licence.
The job you are sponsored for must be at least graduate level or a specified creative profession, as well as on the Home Office’s list of skilled occupations.
If you are applying in the Long-term Staff sub-category then you must be paid a minimum of £41,500 per year, or the minimum for your exact job, whichever is higher.
If you are applying in the Graduate Trainee sub-category then you must be paid a minimum of £23,000 per year, or the minimum for your exact job, whichever is higher.
You will need to have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds.
Duration of Visa:
The maximum stay for the Long-term Staff sub-category of the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa is either 9 years (if you earn more than £120,000 per year) or 5 years, 1 month (if you earn less than £120,000 per year) or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter.
The maximum stay for the Graduate Trainee sub-category of the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa is 12 months or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter.
You will be able to work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship and do a second job in the same profession and at the same level as your main job for up to 20 hours per week.
Your partner and any children under the age of 18 may accompany you as your dependents.
You can include some allowances to demonstrate that you meet the minimum salary criteria, as long as they would also be paid to a settled worker.
If you have held a Tier 2 visa in the last 12 months you may be subject to the ‘cooling off period’. You will not normally be able to apply to re-enter the UK in this category from overseas during this period. You will be exempt if you will be earning at least £120,000. You will also be exempt if you previously had leave in the Graduate Trainee or (now closed) Skills Transfer or Short-term Staff sub-category and are returning in Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Long Term Staff.
You cannot settle permanently in the UK, unless you applied for a Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa before 6 April 2011.
If you wish to obtain advice or legal assistance in respect of your immigration matter, we offer an affordable and confidential consultation at a fixed fee with and experienced immigration lawyer where we can answer your questions and explain the processes that will apply. Your consultation fees will be set off against your instructions to the firm if you go on to instruct us.
For more information or to book an initial consultation, please contact us.