Visa Extension Length to Make it to ILR?

Hi All,

I've tried the Home Office and Citizens Advice and can't seem to get a clear answer. Basically, I'm due to renew my Tier 2 General Visa and am wondering if there is ANY way to avoid paying for a third year of the health surcharge for my family of 3 (£1200 cost!). I plan to apply for ILR as soon as I can, but I realize there's the 28 day restriction (i.e. that I can't apply until exactly 28 days before the five-year mark). My work says in my case as long as I apply before my visa expires I'm okay, but it's trickier in the case of my family because my daughter was born here. We therefore want to apply straight for citizenship for her but that requires one of us having ILR.

So, if you're still following, do I just have to pony up the extra £1200 and apply for a three-year extension on my Tier 2 visa to make sure all the paperwork lines up for ILR and then my daughter's application for British citizenship? I'd be thrilled if I can avoid at least some of this cost, but I'm not aware of any way to pay for, say, only 6 additional months of the health surcharge.

Thanks for any responses! I'm going crazy trying to figure this out on my own.

Hi Redstar,

What is your timeline?

What date did you enter the UK on your Tier 2?  When is your current expiry date?

Date of entry is August 2017 and the expiry for my current three-year visa is September 2020. One route recommended to me was to pay Super Priority Service for my and my husband's ILR and then apply for my daughter's citizenship, which would enable us to just do a two-year visa extension. The same person (local immigration specialist) also said that I'd only be eligible for a two-year extension (not sure why as I thought you can get a max of 6 years on a Tier 2), so I'm not entirely sure of the 'best' option in terms of safest visa path towards permanent residency/citizenship and the least expensive cost.

The same person (local immigration specialist) also said that I'd only be eligible for a two-year extension (not sure why as I thought you can get a max of 6 years on a Tier 2), so I'm not entirely sure of the 'best' option in terms of safest visa path towards permanent residency/citizenship and the least expensive cost.

It is maximum of 6 years.
https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general

People on here seem to be mainly those who use a partner as a sponsor for their settlement. If nobody on here knows the answers to your questions, there is a busy Tier 2 General forum here-
https://www.immigrationboards.com/uk-tier-2-employer-sponsored-visas/

I've just been reading your thread on that site I gave above. For the bit about needing health insurance for your daughter or pay 150% the cost of the NHS treatment; while your daughter is without a visa while you wait for ILR and then apply for her citizenship; this is the treatment the UK gives for free in England and the rest you would need to pay for. Free for those on a settled bases, will be citizenship for your daughter.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide

If youare  not living in England and are in another of the four UK nations, check their NHS websites.

Okay, thanks! Good to know about the GP. I was thinking more in case of emergency situations which would require specialist treatment. To be honest, I've never had anyone ask to check my BRP or passport other than my GP when I registered, but I wouldn't want to take the risk just in case.

I was thinking more in case of emergency situations which would require specialist treatment.

That's the sort of thing you would need private insurance for, until your daughter is allowed to use the NHS bill free to you.