I’m a Tourist – Get me out of Here!

My Work Permit was due to expire on the 31st of March 2009. This 4 year work permit had been granted back in 2004 and at the time would have seen me through to permanent residency.

However in the run up to the 2005 election, in order to look tough on immigration, the Government retrospectively changed the permentant residency requirement to 5 years.

Work permit holders already in the system were left with a short fall between there leave to remain deadline and the permanent residence requirement.

After 5 and a half years in the country, I was facing the very real risk of been sent back home.

My employer was not in accredited to grant new Tier 2 work permits, so an extension was out of the question.

Furthermore, the local labour market had changed, meaning a work permit sponsorship was probably no longer justified in my sector.

Therefore, my only hope of extension was to switch in into Tier 1; previously the Highly Skilled category. Changes to the salary requirements made this possible.

The salary requirements for the old Highly Skilled scheme were very high and would have ruled my out. The Tier 1 scale is considerably lower.

My Tier 1 application was posted on the 3rd of February by Special Delivery next day. Payment was by personal cheque.

My main concern with this application was that having recently graduated, my degree certificate had not been yet been issued.

The documents requested from my university to confirm my degree did not turned up in a rather unofficial looking format,

which may not have been to the letter of the guidance instructions. One of my supporting bank statements was also a duplicate.

After posting the application, I became aware that I’d incorrectly completed the visa number field; I’d entered the VAF number.

The form was marked with a ’see enclosed passport’ note however.   I also discovered I’d made an 82 pence

error in calculating my earnings. I had alot to stress about.

3 February.

Package posed from Euston post office in central London. The package immediately showed as accepted on the Royal Mail track and trace website.

4 February.

The package mysteriously dropped off the track and trace service and stayed that way. There were snow storms across Britain this week, which could have resulted in delays.

A google search revealed that this could be standard behavior for Home Office mail. It’s not tracked because due to the volume of Home Office mail, it’s not been signed for.

Whatever the reason, this caused a considerable amount of stress. A lost passport at this stage of the game would be somewhat differcult to recover from.

9 February, Monday morning

750 Pounds deducted from cheque account; considerable relief as this suggests that the documents and passport made it to the Home Office.

13 February

The reference letter arrived, dated 11th of February.

“This letter confirms reciept of your application and that payment has cleared.”

27 February

The Tier 1 processing time page jumps ahead 2 weeks.

From 23 Feb -> received from 19 Jan to 2 Mar -> received from 17 Feb

6 March

The processing time page promptly jumps back 2 weeks!

27 March

My degree certificate had by now arrived. Posting a second application would be a way to get this new evidence before the Home Office and correct the

VAF number and salary error.

Once an application is rejected, you cannot submit new evidence in an appeal; a new application is required. However, due to the rule changes and my leave expiring, any second application would need to be posted before the 31st; after that date, I would no longer be allegeable to apply.

Therefore, a second application was posted at lunchtime; before the outcome of the first application was received.

4pm – phoned the Home Office.

Package dispatched in the post.

They don’t tell you the result or the content.

30th

Package is in pigeon hole at at the office.

Passport on top and open at the new visa – result!

One day before my leave was due to expire.

I asked my bank to stop the cheque on the second application, which was then returned about a week later.

Conclusion.

Paying by cheque does indeed seem to delay your application by 5 days.