The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has set up arrangements for those migrants here under the skilled workers route that have now closed. The new arrangement will allow them to extend their stay in the UK to a total of five years.
The UKBA commented:
‘When we introduced Tier 2 of the points-based system in 2008, we made transitional arrangements so that migrants in closed work categories could apply to extend their stay under Tier 2. We intended that their permission to stay (known as ‘leave to remain’) under Tier 2 would take their total stay in a work category to 5 years, but the UKBA is aware that some migrants may have been granted an incorrect extension owing to technical restrictions.
The UKBA will shortly introduce the arrangements for those migrants affected. The additional leave will be gratis.
To qualify for the additional leave, applicants will need to have been given permission in one of the below categories for less than two years:
- a Business and Commercial work permit holder (which includes ICT work permits);
- a Sports and Entertainment work permit holder;
- a Jewish agency employee;
- a member of the operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline; or
- a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order;
To apply for the additional leave under the new arrangements, you will need to use application form T2(W) which will be available in early August 2011.