Summer 2011 interns exempt from Tier 2 cooling off period
Students who worked as interns in the UK last summer and want to return to a graduate job with the same company are now temporarily exempt from cooling off rules, according to the UK Border Agency.
Cooling off rules, introduced to Tier 2 (General) in February this year, mean those who have left Tier 2 need to wait a year from the end of their last application before they can apply again through that route. This is similar to the arrangements put in place for intra-company transfers last year.
To qualify for the temporary exemption, which is available until 31st October, students must:
- be sponsored by the same company where they worked as an intern in the summer of 2011;
- have previously been granted permission under Tier 2 (General) with that company for a temporary job lasting no more than four months as an intern or a summer associate;
- have completed a degree course within 18 months of their application;be returning to the UK on a graduate trainee scheme; and
- be making a Tier 2 (General) application with a start date on the certificate of sponsorship of 31 October 2012 or before.
