Will there be a tier 5 extension?

Does Tier 2 visa extension allow gap period?

• This is about UK visa policy. I will like to know, in order to fulfil the Tier 2 (General) extension application requirement, do i have to be employed continuously without any gap between my previous contract and my extended contract? I am currently at the end of my current Tier 2 (General) visa and my employer has given me a new CoS code to allow me to apply for a new visa. Since I will be working on the same post for the same employer, we have decided to go for an extension application. However, there is a chance that I will need to have a one month gap period between the end of my previous contract and the start of my new contract. So that I don't work during this period but will be back to the same post after this gap. My question is, is it ok to have such an unemployed gap? Given that my new CoS has planed to start in the middle of this gap period. However, my new contract will definitely start when we get the Tier 2 visa approval though, so that we don't need to report to UKBA as a change of working hours?.

• Answer:

  Your employment needs to be continuous for an extension to be viable. Otherwise you must apply for a new visa from scratch. If your employer is paying you for the 'break as a holiday, then that's okay. If it is unpaid leave, it breaks your continuous employment.