UK Immigration Topics

about to submit documents

Sat, 17 May 2008 15:05:40 +0000

hi huys and girls, we are just about to submit the visa application for my wife, i have added the following documents, please can someone tell me if i missed something, or if there is anything more i could add, thanks.

� Certified copy of my passport including immigration stamp to Malawi.

Original Birth Certificate
wifes original passport and birth certificate.
12 months Current account statements showing �2000 average.
All tracker savings account statements from 2006 showing �18000, with letter from bank saying this is readily available.
All fixed bond investment contracts dating from 06 showing �48000
Letter of my bursary dating 2007/08 and 2008/09
some of wifes bank statements.
letter from the university where i am studying and that i will be qualyfing as a nurse end of this year.
Letter from me saying out relationship, and budget plan
Letter from mum saying she is happy for wife and me to live with her.
Accommodation certificate from council
Certified copy of house deed in mums name
Average budget
Print out of all emails and MSN chat conversation
Photos of me and wife before marriage
Photos of me and wife at the wedding
Marriage certificate
Nikkah certificate
Wedding invitation cards
receipt for wedding ring

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thank you for any contribution in advance.

Further leave to remain for spouse

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:59:56 +0000

Has anyone applied for further leave to remain for their spouse. I have got 20 letters that i will submit with the application. What else do i need to send. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

problem with PBS calculator on BIA website

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:27:31 +0000

Hi all,

PBS self calculator is not working on my laptop(totally blank), does it need any software.

please see below link

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator

SPOUSE OF SWISS NATIONAL WAITING ON EEA2 RESIDENCE CARD

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:54:29 +0000

Hello all,

I would like to know if anyone has had a similar experience or knows of anyone who has:

I met my husband while studying in London back in 2004, our relationship flourished from June 2005 and we got married in November of 2007. However after my studies I left the UK way before the expiry of my visa and re-entered on a Working Holiday Maker Visa in November 2006. We applied for a Certificate of Approval in 2007 and got married at our council registry.

My husband is Swiss and is exercising his treaty rights as an employed worker. As of January 2008 I went on to apply for an EEA2 Residency permit from the HO (my husband had already obtained his registration certificate in October 2007). I am aware of my rights as a spouse of an EEA national, however I would like to know:

1. Are there any potential hurdles based on the fact that I was on a WHM Visa when I applied for an EEA2 Residence Card?
2. Has anyone been in a similar situation and got some stick from the HO?
3. My current national passport is still in my maiden name on the biodata page (though it has a stamp that advises of my married name) and expires early 2009; and when my EEA2 comes through it is likely to be issued in my maiden name. When I get my new passport in my married name would I need to apply for the residence card to be transfered to the new passport or can I just travel with both old and new passport without any immigration worries?
4. On the HO site the application times for the EEA2 is still dated back in October 2007. Has anyone who applied after that time obtained their residence cards yet?

Many thanks in advance

Wait for another 10 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:35:50 +0000

hi people

i have today heard that if you apply for spouse visa ( or i think any visa), e.g. want to call spouse from pakistan, and your application is rejected, you are not allowed to put another application until 10 years, This seems odd to me and not ready to believe, but can someone pls clarify as i am getting really worried, because i am getting ready to apply for a spouse visa myself, just waiting for few more payslips and a bit more money in teh account.

Thanks

Many Questions About Settlement Visas

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:26:54 +0000

Hi,

I have a few questions on applying for a settlement visa in Pakistan. I have a British Citerzn got married in Pakistan recently. I work fulltime with no previous criminal history and living with parents.

1. Do the Nikkah (Marriage) papers in english, which have been translated from Urdu have to be signed by groom, bride, 2 witnesses, imam, lawyer and the district council? As they are on the Urdu version.

2. Is it bettter to get the home owener to be the sponser of the visa applicant (I heard) rather than myself the husband?

3. The documents which are required do any have to be originals or can the passports and identity cards and birth certificates can be good quality photocopies will they be acceptable?

4. I heard there many offices in Pakistan which you can apply Islamabad, Lahore, Mirpur, Karachi but i heard the Mirpur ones offers the quickest visa approvals is this true or depends on your luck?

5. Can the VAF4 Settlement forms be filled in by the sponser or the wife's husband, but signed by the applicant my wife?

6. I have made a wedding movie can this be sent in cd or dvd for the entry clearance officer to view as proof of marriage take place? Instead of photos, letters, phone bills etc

7. Do the VAC centres accept cash in hand when handing in your VAF4 settlement form?

8. How much is a TB test to take? Are they located at the VAC centres? I heard you require a letter from an approved clinic signed and dated before applying for your visa.

9. Does your passport have to be photocopied from A to Z? I heard visa applications can be declined due to only main pages of your passport photocopied in?

10. Employment letter is required but will your contract letter do when starting your positions, last 6 months and latest payslips?

Thanks.

SPOUSE OF SWISS NATIONAL WAITING ON EEA2 RESIDENCE CARD

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:12:41 +0000

SPOUSE OF SWISS NATIONAL WAITING ON EEA2 RESIDENCE CARD

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:05:49 +0000

Hello all,

I would like to know if anyone has had a similar experience or knows of anyone who has:

I met my husband while studying in London back in 2004, our relationship flourished from June 2005 and we got married in November of 2007. However after my studies I left the UK way before the expiry of my visa and re-entered on a Working Holiday Maker Visa in November 2006. We applied for a Certificate of Approval in 2007 and got married at our council registry.

My husband is Swiss and is exercising his treaty rights as an employed worker. As of January 2008 I went on to apply for an EEA2 Residency permit from the HO (my husband had already obtained his registration certificate in October 2007). I am aware of my rights as a spouse of an EEA national, however I would like to know:

1. Are there any potential hurdles based on the fact that I was on a WHM Visa when I applied for an EEA2 Residence Card?
2. Has anyone been in a similar situation and got some stick from the HO?
3. My current national passport is still in my maiden name on the biodata page (though it has a stamp that advises of my married name) and expires early 2009; and when my EEA2 comes through it is likely to be issued in my maiden name. When I get my new passport in my married name would need to apply for the residence card to be transfered to the new passport or can I just travel with both old and new without any immigration worries?

Many thanks in advance

Dependent Appeal

Sat, 17 May 2008 10:59:45 +0000

Hello

I applied for my wife student dependent visa from Pakistan and they refuse me on this objection.

" You have told us that you sponsor who is your father in law will pay for you stay in the UK as a dependent of your spouse. You have not provided the satisfactory evidence of our sponsor personal financial commitments, to show that they are able to support you without adversely effecting their own familyand economic circumstances. "

BAsically my Father is a sponsor of my wife who will support us until i finish my course, my wife attached 2 Millions RS of bank statement of my Father and also attached my property documents which is worth �90,000 but i did not attached my UK bank statement that i am receiving sufficent funds to support my wife and my self.

Please help me out regarding this matter.

Attached documents are
1.Marriage deed
2.my visa copy
3. tenancy agreement
4.Father bank statement
5. college letters
6.My Land ownership documents.

Now i am thinking to attach my UK bank statement and if possible my wife's father bank statement.

Also please advice me that should i submit this appeal to UK or Pakistan because i am allowed to appeal any of these place. All i want to sort this out as soon as possible coz its very hard to stay without my wife.

Your advice will be appreciated.

Thanks.

COA Granted / Marriage though no Visa, What Now. . ?

Sat, 17 May 2008 10:57:06 +0000

My wife and I applied for a Certificate off approval when her working holiday maker VISA had less than three months remaining, becuase of this the home office requested further information from us.

We supplied this further infomation along with a signed affidavid from a public notary. The home office quickly got back to us and granted us the certificate of approval

We set about making plans and on the 3rd May we got married !!

The situation we are currently a little confused about is where to go from here and what VISA we need to apply for now.

Currently my wife's working holiday maker visa has expired, though the home office must have been aware this would happen when granting the COA.

Is this a case of appling for a Spose VISA, with the same infomation we sent to the home office for the COA but including the Marriage certifcate or is there more to do.

I am a Britsh citizen and have lived in the UK all my life. My wife is South African and has been in the UK for 2 years and 2 months, entering the country on a Working holidaymakers Visa

We are both in full time employment and live together with no need for support from the goverment in any way.

Any infomation or help would be fantastic . . .

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards
Johnathon And Lisa

Naturalization process ! Need Help ....

Sat, 17 May 2008 08:11:33 +0000

Hello to all,

Status : 5yrs + 6months in UK --> ILR
Absent from UK : 207 total include final year with ILR
Absent from UK Final Year : 120days
Proof time out : ONLY the past 5years
Proof stamp/date when in/out from UK : ONLY WHEN I COME TO UK

My simple question is : Normally I don't have date/stamp in my passport when in/out from my home country, only get stamp when I come to UK normally. My last year with ILR - I have absent 120days (more than 3months) I would like to apply to Naturalization. What the kind proof of evidence can I show in my application.
They check something or can I put any dates on my absent aplication form. Have spoke with HO and the staff say to me try to remenber the dates when I out from UK and put in (when I come back to UK I have stamp here, but not when I out from UK to entry in my home country). Anyone know if they check something ? The staff from Home Office -told me to try remenber of date I have been out from UK in my last year with ILR and will be ok, - in fact they never know when I have been out from here !
This is a trouble if I will apply?
The point is what kind check happen or they not check little details like this ... ?

All advice are welcome, and I apreciate all,

Thank you to all,,
Vanquis

Applying ILR, WP+HSMP and how to get my wife (seperate WP) dependent

Sat, 17 May 2008 06:37:53 +0000

Hi,

Need advice...

I was in WP from 15th Oct 2003 till 3rd March 2007 and then in HSMP till now

I am planning to apply for ILR by 16th Sep 2008 (should not be a problem 5yr in WP +HSMP combination)

My question is: can I get my wife as dependent to me, She is in seperate WP and staying with me from last 3.5 yr?

Any help will be really appreciated

many thanks

Arman

COA Application

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:49:59 +0000

hi, i recently applied for a certificate of approval to enable i and my partner who is british to get married. im on a 2 year visit visa. i have received a letter from the home office just today asking for proof of our relationship and proof of the fact that my partner is a british citizen as she hasnt got a passport. i included her birth certificate and copies of her parents passports to prove her nationality as a british citizen when sending the COA application forms. Now included with the letter from the HO to prove our relationship is another letter still asking for proof of her being british by providing her passport or if she hasnt got one, then her mothers passport stating her immigration status at the time of my partners birth. we've been given only 7 days to provide this and the problem is that my partners mum will be travelling soon and is reluctant to give us her passport to send off as she is unsure whether she will get it intime to go on holiday. my question is will it be alright if we sent her birth certificate instead of her passport as she is willing to give us that instead and will that be evident enough to prove her immigration status as a british citizen at the time she gave birth to my partner. thank you.

Marriage to Illegal Immigrant

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:32:13 +0000

I am british citizen and have married my fiance who was illegal immigrant in UK. My partner went back to India in December 07 with voluntary leave and we got married in January 08 abroad. My partner applied for visa entry before 1st March 08 and Embassy has refused Visa. I can't understand why this is the case as they agreed all paperwork was ok but refused on new rules. Am i missing something and can someone explain some of this complex immigration law in context of my circumstances?? I have told i can appeal??

NHS CHECK UP

Fri, 16 May 2008 21:38:04 +0000

hello everyone !
I am a british ciizen.My mom is in visiting visa for six month and needs to see the doctor. Its not emergency but she needs the general check up coz of her medical history. Should i go to my GP??, is he allowed for NHS ?? Should i go to the private hospital? or as a out patient??.
I would appreciate for your any advice from you on this matter.
Thank you,

Spousal Visa Refusal Overturned.

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:58:37 +0000

Hi,

First I would like to thank everyone who posts on this forum as it really did help me during my ordeal.

My wife's student visa application was refused without appeal due to the fact she applied six days late and the Home Office felt she was not making sufficient progress on her course. Her passport was sent to the local Enforcement office in Old Street. The day my wife received her letter of refusal we went to the Enforcement office to start the process of my wife returning back to Africa to apply for a settlement visa. They could not locate her passport and we had to wait almost two weeks before they located her passport, during this time my wife was told she could not buy her ticket and arrange any travel plans.
Once the passport was found my wife went to the enforcement office and was told she was free to buy her ticket. We booked a ticket for 7th March 2008. After we had booked the ticket my wife was served Notice of Removal(IS151A) even though she was leaving voluntarily.

When my wife arrived back home she submitted her application form for a spousal visa and was given an interview date of 8th April. After a month of anxiety the interview date arrived but we were confident that it would be accepted as we submitted all the documentation and then some. The ECO asked my wife a couple of questions and then said that her application had been refused under Immigration Rule 320 7B because she had overstayed more that 28 days, and that they would have to confirm if she left voluntarily as Home Office records showed that my wife had been removed and, if so, she could be banned for 10 years. The ECO said he would call my wife to give her the refusal letter once he confirmed if my wife had been removed. I flew out to Africa on 15th April for a week and got a local lawyer to help find out why it was taking so long for my wife to get her refusal letter.

Two weeks later my wife received her refusal letter. We thought that the period of overstay the ECO was referring to was the time my wife spent in the UK from the time she was refused to the time she returned to Africa and, the lawyer we had in Africa emailed the ECO and asked them to reconsider as my wife was given Temporary Access to remain in the UK until she was due to fly back home. The ECO replied and said my wife was served IS151A as an over stayer and that is why the application was refused. If he bothered to look properly he would have seen my wife had overstayed for six days as her student visa ran out 31 October and she applied on the 6th November.

At this point I contacted Victoria at MediVisas and organised an appointment to go and see her. My wife sent all the relevant documents by DHL and I went to see Victoria on Monday (12th May). Victoria was great and very professional, she looked over all the evidence and commented that the decision was not lawful. She lodged the appeal with the AIT and also sent an email to the ECO asking him to reconsider. She wrote a great email telling him why the decision was unlawful and she really put it to him that this was a totally wrong decision.

I got a call from Victoria today telling me that the ECO had replied to her and that the decision to refuse my wife's application had been overturned and that she should go and pick up her visa on Monday. I was in disbelief and it still has not sunk in yet as I miss my wife and little son so much. These past two months have been the longest of my life but with the help of God we have managed to get the visa.

I would also like to give a shout out to Victoria at MediVisas. From the time I spoke to her on the phone to the time I went to see her at her office she was just great. She was very professional but compassionate at the same time and I really felt she was on my side and that meant allot to me. If anyone is thinking of getting professional help I would suggest calling Victoria at MediVisas as I was very impressed.

Please keep up the good fight guys and never give up. These ECO's really don't understand the pain caused by wrong decisions as being apart from your loved one is just torture.

Bye....

Spousal Visa Refusal Overturned

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:53:59 +0000

Fiance or Spouse visa. Please advice

Fri, 16 May 2008 18:57:07 +0000

Hi there,

I have already asked this question before, but as yet no answers, so apologies if you've read already!!

Anyway without going into massive detail again I just wondered whether anyone could give their advice or opinion on whether it is best to actually marry 1st (will have to be in fiances country - Kenya, due to fact he can't apply for visitor visa as no chance it will be granted) or whether we stand a chance of fiance visa. Our case is good, my finances are fine, we have lots of proof relationships geniune, but obviously him being African - will this be a big problem. What will be the biggest obstacles with fiance visa as apposed to marriage. I really can't see a big difference in the 2 looking at them (but I'm sure there must be) other than of course he cant work to begin with until we're married. Anyway please advice if you can, would be appreciated so much, and thanks to others who have helped so far, i'm really just checking every avenue before we make a decision.

Application for Tier 1 query.

Fri, 16 May 2008 18:12:11 +0000

Deal All,

I am currently on the 5 years WP visa ending in 2012. I wish to switch to Tier 1( General).

Do I need to leave UK to switch or I can do while staying here.

Much appriciated.

Immigration agency busted

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:44:28 +0000

Hi all,

I applied for HSMP through an immigration agency and obtained my HSMP in March 2008. I was trying to contact the agency to recommend a friend but shocked to find out that the company was busted in result of a police riad about 2 weeks ago. The people working there were accused of forgery hence are in custody waiting for trial.

I am very concerned about my case, although my file was closed at the agency when my HSMP was approved (March 2008) but I left copies of my documents which according to news police has confiscated along with some other forged stuff found there. My friend has told me that there is a risk that all the applications made through that company recenely can get cancelled. Although all the documents I provided were genuine but I am still concerned about my case. What shall I do at this point ?

Thanks for advise.

Mistake that has come back to haunt me

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:09:56 +0000

Dear Sir/ Ma�am,

I have a complex query for you, please help and guide me. These couple of weeks have been terrible for me, haven�t been to sleep or think. A mistake out of stupidity and ignornace that I have done a year back has come back to haunt me. I am miserable, plz help.

I am currently on a student visa about to expire on 3oth of June 2008. I am doing pgdiploma from a recognized university and on completing would be entitled for a 2 yr PSW permit. My wife who is on a dependent visa is also with me, she is working with a software company and after she gets the salary on July 15^{th 2008} would be eligible for HSMP visa as she will get all the required points.

A year back in 2007out of curiosity and stupidity when on current visa, I had applied for HSMP stage 1 through a lawyer and yes he must have used some false documents , for some reason my application got delayed and i realized my mistake and later that year I withdrew my application. I got a letter from home office saying that my hsmp application was withdrawn and i can reapply again, if I want to. I forgot this issue and went on to complete my course, some weeks back, I heard that the lawyer I have used was arrested by immigration authority and from that day my misery has started. I am scared HO will find out about me and ban me for 10 years. I agree what I did was wrong and i will regret it all my life. What should I do now, I don�t want to spoil my wife�s future also because of rash decision of mine. She will get her HSMP after July 15^th salary. Would a ban also affect her as she is my dependent. I haven�t told this to my wife, she is very enthusiastic about the HSMP and have absolute belief that i will get the PSW and this breaks my heart.

I have heard that with new amnesty rules, If I return back before 1^st October, the automatic ban is not mandatory or maybe I would be banned for only for 1 year. I really don�t want to be banned for 10 years. In the event, I am banned for a year, I m planning to get hsmp for my wife (not sure, if she will agree) and I will join her later after a year OR can I just go back to India in June and apply for PSW from India, this way, if there is no ban on returning to India before October 1 i can apply for PSW from India within weeks and come back in July. I am hoping against hope that there would be an outside chance that this all might pass by without any trouble and do you recommend me to submit my passport for the PSW visa in June. If yes, should I go for personal or postal submission?

There are so many plans going in my head, I am very confused, scared and need a professional help to guide me through this murky waters, Please can somebody would be willing to represent me professionally, if required ?

latsly, You guyz are doing great job and wonderful help for all of us. Thanking you in anticipation of your help.

God Bless.

Document privacy

Fri, 16 May 2008 15:47:32 +0000

Hello,

I'm in the middle of a case where a supporting letter from a former spouse is needed for my current partner's ILR application. In the letter she will say that their marriage broke down due to her having an affair and a child with another man. She's worried about who the letter could be read by in the future.

She isn't currently claiming child support from the father of her child and is worried that if she ever did he could get hold of the letter and challenge his paternity, that it could be used against her character and that her daughter could somehow get hold of it.

Is there any chance that any of these could happen? What happens to the file after (hopefully) ILR is granted? Would anyone outside the Home Office ever be able to obtain it, or even know of its existence? Could a warrant give access?

This letter is vital to my partner's case, and we're very worried that she's now not going to sign it for us. Can anyone give an answer to these concerns?

Thank you

ILR from combined HSMP/workpermit - documents required

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:52:19 +0000

Could someone let me know which types of documents and for what period I should take with me for my appointment at Croydon in a few weeks' time.

I have almost completed 5 years. The last 15 months on HSMP, and the remainder on a work permit. The application says proof of economic activity during your stay for HSMP applications, and letter from employer for work permit applications.

Does this mean I should take 5 years' worth of bank statements and payslips, or P60's. Some of my earlier documents are missing i.e P60 for the first year, will this be a problem?
Or will a letter from employer for the work permit period, and documents (bankstatement, payslips, P60) for the HSMP period be acceptable?

Thanks

Lost Passport

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:43:48 +0000

I wanted to apply for a COA and realised my passport was missing. I went to my embassy yesterday to apply for a paasport and was told will be ready in 1 n half month. My visa will be due in sep 2008 and i want to apply for a COA before the expiry of my visa as i am aware i must 3months validity on my visa. It will be a long wait for my passport to be ready after which i would have to apply for tranfer of old visa unto the new passport which might take extra 1 month or more. Then, the due date on the visa will be getting closer.

Pls i like to know if it would be possible to apply for the COA will the photocopy of my present leave to remain which i got last year from home office with a covering letter ? OR do i need to transfer my old visa first unto another passport and sent it to them even when the due date is near ?

I need urgent reply please. Thanks

When Can I apply for HSMP Extension under Teir 1

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:29:36 +0000

Hi All,

I have a quick question about when I can apply for HSMP extension?

I am currently on HSMP visa expiring on 15/10/2009, can I apply on 12/08/2009 (or 13th, 14th Aug, 2009) as I will be turning 30 on 14/08/2009 and will loose point for age. Or is there a time limit before which I cannot apply for HSMP extension.

Best regards,

Salman Elahi

When Can I apply for HSMP Extension under Teir 1

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:29:24 +0000

Unmarried Partner Visa - Pls help!

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:38:08 +0000

Hi there I wondered if I could get some advice please, please, please.

I am Australian and my partner is British. I am currently on a work permit.

My partner and I intend to apply for an unmarried partner via in June 2008.

I met my partner in rather strange circumstances. I moved in to his family home as a lodger in August 2005 (organised through his mother). My partner was living at home at that time. Instant attraction, yadda yadda, we began a relationship shortly thereafter. We lived there until October 2006 when I bought a property and we moved in together. We have PLENTY of documentation since moving in to the flat together - joint account, various bills in both or each of our names. However, the period that I am concerned about is the time that we spent at his mother's house (August 05 - October 06). We have various bits addressed to us at the same address but my concern is that we wont have enough evidence to demonstrate that the relationship changed from lodger to partner.

Documentation I am thinkinking we could provide is:

- Passport Stamps (he came to meet my family in Australia in Nov 2005)
- Car insurance - (we put each other on our respective car insurance's as partners in Jan 2006)
- Letter from his mother
- etickets to visit Ireland on holiday (booked Jan 2006, travelled March 2006)

Is there any advice that someone out there could give me???

Thanks in advance.

ILR application still awaiting consideration

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:02:59 +0000

Hi,

I am wanting to share this with you all and get some advice.

I applied on a SET M basis for ILR for my wife of indian nationality. I am a British citizen.

Date of application 4/02/08

How is this possible?

Fri, 16 May 2008 11:00:27 +0000

Maybe someone can shed a light on the table bellow.

I have been looking at the table since January. It hasn't changed since.
Is it possible that they haven't resolved cases of not even a month in last 4 months, or that BIA can not update the website which was suppose to be comprehensively informative?
heh!!!

Type of application All applications received prior to the date below are now under consideration
Registration certificate applications February 2008
Residence card October 2007
Permanent residence (EEA nationals) January 2008
Permanent residence (non-EEA nationals) November 2007
Family member residence stamp January 2008

Change of Employment

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:32:57 +0000

Hi Victoria,

I am writing on behalf of my wife who is currently in the UK on a work permit valid till 2012. Due to certain reasons she resigned from her job and was terminated from services on 30 Apr 2008. She is currently in the process of securing a new job and have change of employment processed. I am a HSMP holder and she can obviously convert to be my dependant but that involves going back to home country and securing entry clearance, hence the below clarifications.

1. She is in the verge of securing an offer the following week. However considering the 28 days grace period, May 28 is her last day. If in case the company delays rolling out an offer can she still process a change of employment a week after on the grounds that she already started looking for a new job?

2. From the below link

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/siteconte...pdf?view=Binary

it is evident that the caseworkers also accept change of employment applications even after the 28 days period as long as the job is advertised etc... Does this mean it is valid to remain in the UK and apply for such petitions if the person has leave to remain?

3. Today her employer will be informing Home Office about her termination from job. Does this mean that she can expect home office to intimate her shortly about her curtailed leave to remain? Will they inform her through a letter or ask for her passport to stamp the new valid date?

Appreciate your valuable advice. Thanks.
bad7823

Refused to accept application

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:23:08 +0000

I am so shattered at this point. I have been married to my wife a UK Citizen for 3 years now. I was awarded a spouse visa in May 2006 and have lived with my wife for 18 out of the 24 months of the visa timeframe. The six months apart was because of delays with the US immigration authorities providing her a spouse visa for the US. I moved from the US to the UK in November 2007 and went to the home office in Croydon yesterday with all my documents.

They refused to consider my case for both ILR of FLR because I have not lived with my wife for 6 months. My visa also expired yesterday and I mailed my application today and don't know what my status is.

I have to travel for work every month to various countries and the 14 week timeframe provided will really mess up my employment.
Is there anything I can do to speed up adjudication in my case. I chose an interview based on what the Home Office said. They said apply for ILR and that is what I did even though I explained to them the 6 month absence. She was so rude and made us feel like petty criminals for nothing.

Why would they not even listen to me. How can I explain things in a letter better then I can in person. I just do not get it. My whole employment is now in jeaprody as I have back to back travel for the next 4 months that I cannot honor

Someone please let me know if there is anyway at all to speed up ones adjudication... I do not mind paying a solicitor or premium processing fees etc....

when to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:07:53 +0000

Hello, .

I am married to a British citizen and my visa was issued on the 27th June, 2006 and I arrived UK 30th July, 2006. when can i apply for ILR? do i need to extend my stay? please advise.

Thanks

right to reside

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:59:02 +0000

Hi,i seem to be in a big mess.....I came to the UK 1994 dec as an au-pair & worked & lived here for two years with an au-pair visa.In 1995 i met with my partner,came back with a tourist visa & got married>06.1997,since then i was getting entry certificates in every 6 month.In 2001 march i successfully got a right of residence as a spouse of him.Unfortunatly the marriage broke down,he moved out of our home(his name was only on the tenancy agreement),6 month later he broke in,changed the lock & throw me on the street.Apparently this was legal as my name was not on the tenancy.Our divorce nisi was absolute in 2002 nov.Also my passport expired with my visa in 2002 march.However i stayed & carried on working,until in 2004 jun when i lost my job & started to claim JSA with no complication,as Hungary was part of the EU by then & i had 3 years of continuous work with the same company(paid tax+ni).I was self employed for 3 month,then claimed JSA again,until i became temporary ill,my application for income support got turned down,because i didnt qualify for the habitual residency test=no right to reside in the uk.i am 12 weeks pregnant.Was i staying here illegaly after my divorce & my passport becoming invalid??????????????I lived here for 14 years by december.....At the moment i am not well to work & i can get no help from IS.... :( Anyone has an advice?? please help....

transfer work permit required?

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:20:00 +0000

Hi,

I am in the middle of renewing my old passport. Do I need to transfer my work permit onto my new passport? Or can i just carry both passport with me when travelling to/from UK.

Any info is much appreaciated.

Is it possible to apply for a UK passport from abroad if I have got ILR?

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:44:35 +0000

Hi,

I have got ILR in 2003, recently (in May 2008) moved to the UAE. I was wondering how frequent do I have to visit the UK in order to keep my ILR valid and also doI have to be physicaly present in the UK to apply for a UK passport or is it possible to apply without being present in the UK. Help please as I do not want to lose any time. Thank You.

How long i have to wait for WP

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:39:55 +0000

Hello

I got an offer from uk employeer 2 months before.The employeer had applied for my workpemit and still i am wating for this to be approved by UK home office.

Any one pls tell me normally how long it will take to get the WP approved.the employeer applied on 28 th march 2008.Still i am waiting for the feeback.

Also after i receive the approval how long it will take to get the entry clearance.I am living in india-Chennai.

Pls give some information based on your previous experiance with work permit and entry clearance.

Regards

sathishkumar

Getting Indefinte Leave to Remain and EEA Permit

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:08:28 +0000

My wife (Australian) wishes to obtain indefinte leave to remain in the UK (permant residency) and then to get a UK passport. However, her permit to be in the UK is an EEA permit and her applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain was rejected.

I am a UK citizen, originally from the UK. However, we were living and working in Italy before coming to the UK to live again. My wife originally applied to the Embasy in Rome for a UK visa. However, we were advised that this was going to take a long time (many staff were on holday and they were behind in processing these apparently). We were advised that we could get an EEA permit much more quickly. My wife had just got a teaching job in London and needed to be there for the start of the school year. So we applied and she received an EEA permit to live and work in the UK with me as an EEA national exercising a treaty right. At that time we did not expect to stay in the UK permanently. However, now we do.

She applied to Indefinite Leave to Remain (Form SET(M)) and was rejected because "the Secretaray of State is not satisfied that you were admitted.... to the UK for a period of 2 years as the spouse of a person settled here under the UK Immigration Rules."

Surely as the wife of a UK citizen, she should now be able to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain, even if she originally came in under what seem to be a completely separate set of rules. Does anyone have any advice on any course of action that we may be able to take to achieve this?

income

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:32:26 +0000

hi,me and my baby are travelling back to nigeria to apply for a visa as dependants of my husband who is on a hsmp.I want to know if he needs to have a lot of money in his account.

plzz help me..

Fri, 16 May 2008 05:58:28 +0000

Hello

can any body let me know the break period for work permit dependants outside UK?

Regards, Durga

break period for work permit dependants outside UK

Fri, 16 May 2008 05:56:52 +0000

Hello

can any body let me know the break period for work permit dependants outside UK?

Regards, Durga

conditional discharge and transfer of ILR on new passport

Fri, 16 May 2008 05:42:56 +0000

Hi!
I was arrested 2 yrs ago and got a conitional discharge, Now i wanted to transfer a ILR stamp on a new passport, there is question if i ever arrested. but according rehabilitaion act, if it was spent and one year has passed one does not need to disclose it.
I am very up set and dont know what to do, I really need your help. Should i mark No ? Or Yes ?
Thanks

TWES, dependant spouse and his status

Fri, 16 May 2008 05:35:47 +0000

Hello, I would really appreciate if you could help me clearing the following out. A person is on TWES in the UK with her husband and the latter is allowed to work as a dependant of his spouse who is on TWES. I understand that when TWES period is over the person who is the holder of TWES cannot apply for a work permit unless she spends 12(24-36) months (depending on the time spent in UK) outside the UK. My question is, whether the couple can stay in UK if her dependant husband gets a work permit? Will in this case she become a dependant and will she be allowed to stay in the UK without the period of staying outside for 12-24(whatever) months?

And the second question is as follows: while she is still under TWES in UK, can her husband switch to a regular work permit from his dependant status or does he have to wait till the end of his wife TWES's expiration date?

Thank you very much in advance.

EEA Family permit from Australia - advice needed

Fri, 16 May 2008 04:40:39 +0000

Hi,

My Girlfriend and I are in the process of getting our documentation together for the EEA family permit from Australia.

Does anyone know what process to apply for this is from Australia? So far from the research I have done I can see that we need to fill out the online application form, go to the consulate for an interview but after that I am unsure. Is the whole application done online?

Do we need to send any forms? and if so do we need to lodge this in 2 seperate parts? one for the EEA family permit and 1 for the unamarried part or does this fall part of the EEA family permit.

I also wanted to know about the type of documentation required.
Unmarried PArtner:
How Stringent are they? We have bank statements and other bills showing same address for last 2 years however we lack alot of joint bills. We only have several of these.
EEA family permit:
What documentation is required?

Appreciate anyones advice on this,

Mat

How long for married visa from Hong Kong

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:35:22 +0000

Hi,
Any idea whats the minimal & average time it will take my soon tobe Chinese wife (getting married in hk, shes also a hk resident) a uk marriage visa. (Iam British lived here my whole life)

It should be a straight forward case, she has no criminal record, never overstayed on a visa etc.
Any answers would be appreciated, iam desperate to know as the though of spending a long time away from her is just makes me feel so unhappy.

A rediculous situation

Thu, 15 May 2008 22:32:03 +0000

Went to Liverpool PEO yesterday to get my wifes ILR. While there I enquired as to which form my step daughter has to submit as he is now over 18. The response was that she needs to complete form SET{O}. But they informed me that she has to be dependant on us to be accepted. Up until now she has been on a dependants visa but has been allowed to work but at 18 and an adult she has to give all that shes achieved so we can remain as a family.

This to me seems a rather rediculous rule as it would surely mean that she would have to still be dependant on us for the rest of our lives. Surely its rather dumb to tell her she must apply while relying on us to support her and then giving her ILR which surely would allow her to work, but one of these must be the right one.

Has anyone else had this problem and what is the outcome. Id be extremely grateful to know as the so called officials at Liverpool couldnt seem to answer the question.

Thanks all

Student Dependant to Tier 1

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:57:42 +0000

Hi

I am currently on a Student Dependant visa (my wife is a student). I have checked and qualify for the Tier 1 visa. However I have a big dilemma when it comes to applying, as there is no clarity from BIA on this issue. I have read that my visa category does not fall as a switching category. Which means I need EC from my home country (India). Now this is where the confusion starts.

Where should I apply from UK or India? What form should I use the Tier 1 (General) form or VAF9, VAF9B?

It gets even more confusing, if I want to apply a Tier 1 dependant Visa for my wife. Where should she apply from UK or India? What form shall she use Tier 1 (dependant) or VAF10?

As in Tier 1 they require us to submit passports, it is fine if I apply in UK, but if I have to apply from India, there is no way I will get 6 weeks off from my company for this process.

Hope someone can throw more light and help me. It seems I am a loner with such circumstance and BIA has not given enough thought for a case like mine.

Cheers

15 May New Concessions Re-entry bans (320 7b)

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:53:11 +0000

Liam Byrne MP, the Minister for Borders and Immigration announced the following further concession to the rules:

"First, we will not automatically refuse applications from people applying to join their family permanently in the UK�that is to say, those applying for visas as a spouse, civil partner or unmarried or same-sex partner under paragraphs 281 or 295A of the immigration rules; a fianc�e or proposed civil partner, as set out in paragraph 290 of the rules; a parent, grandparent or other dependent relative, as set out in paragraph 317; a person exercising rights of access to a child, as set out in paragraph 246; or a spouse, civil partner or unmarried or same-sex partner of a refugee or person with humanitarian protection, as set out in paragraphs 352A, 352AA, 352FA and 352FD. Following some of the comments made by hon. Members this evening, I will of course check to see whether we have cast the scope of those exceptions correctly, but my initial analysis is that that is where the discretion should apply.Secondly, we will not automatically refuse anyone who is under the age of 18 at the time of the breach of the immigration rules."

when does clock start for ILR?

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:47:43 +0000

Dear All,

My Work permit was approved on 11 Jan 2006.

Subsequently I have applied for FLR (IED) ( Previousely I was on Greduate scheme visa) and my passort has been stamped with 23 Feb 2006 date on it.

When does clock for ILR ( Permanent Residency) start for above?? 11 Jan or 23 Feb?

Much appriciated.

indefinate stay after 10 years as student

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:38:58 +0000

Hi,

This is the question on behalf of my friend. His stay as student in uk would be 8 years in september 2008. his recently done MBA from a recognized university and his visa is gonna be expire at the end of june 2008.
Sone one told him if he complete 10 years in uk with student or legal permission then after 10 years he can apply for indefinate stay in uk.
He is thinking to get IGS visa and if apply at the end of june 2008 then might be he get two years IGS visa on new scheme(at present IGS is for one years).
If he granted IGS for two years then his IGS visa will be end around july 2010. (approx 3 months before completing 10 years period in uk)
or
he is thinking to get admission for any two years course to complete his stay in uk for 10years and then apply for indefinate stay.

Can anyone reply, what is the best option for him and is there any immigration law if complete 10 years in uk with immigration permission can get indefinate stay.

thanks

New Tier 2 stupidity-resident labour market test

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:23:22 +0000

New Tier 2 PBS will be force soon. Look at the stupidity residency market test.

There is one area where we do not believe that
the resident labour market test is required.
Under Tier 1 of the PBS, the Post-Study
Work category aims to retain the most able
international graduates who have studied in the
UK. However, this is intended only as a bridge
to other categories and people with Post Study
Work leave will be able to switch into Tier 2
once they find suitable employment. In keeping
with our policy of retaining these individuals,
and as they will already be part of the resident
labour market, then where they have been doing
a job for at least six months, we will not require
that job to meet the resident labour market test.

I understand that Tier 1 and post study worker are the part of resident market so do not need this test. But look at below policy.

Where someone previously given leave to enter or
remain in the Skilled migrant tier (Tier 2) is seeking
an extension of stay in respect of a change of
employment, their application will be subject to the
points test but will receive 10 points for English
language ability (except in the case of ICTs) as this
will have been established previously and they will
not have to re-prove their qualifications or to provide
further evidence of �maintenance�. However, change
of employment applications will be subject to the
resident labour market test.

Now why tier 2 applicant should again be subject to this test. Are they not the part of UK resident market which effectively lead to settlement. Does it make sense to anybody????????? This is another attempt to make skilled worker's life more difficult.

Re-entering UK as a tourist shortly after expiry of WHM

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:31:54 +0000

Hi,

My WHM visa will be expiring at the beginning of August. I have organised to leave at the end of July to travel around Ireland for 2 weeks before returning to the UK via Northern Ireland as a tourist for 1 day to join a bus tour around Europe that leaves from London.
This seemed sensible to me when I booked all this travel (and my departing plane ticket to Canada when I return from the tour) as I entered the UK quite late on the visa and thought it would be silly to spend time that I could be working and travelling in the UK - out of the UK, but now I am a bit worried that I may have trouble re-entering the UK so soon after the expiry of my WHM visa although I will have all my documents proving that I am only in the UK for one day and will be leaving at the end of the tour.
Has anyone else had a similar situation or any advice?

Suzy

DIVORCE AFTER ILR

Thu, 15 May 2008 17:49:04 +0000

Hiii
I need some help.I am married and i had indefinite leave to remane in the U.K.
Now we are having problems. My in laws family thretening me to kill and my wife told me that they can cancel my ILR anytime. i informed police about it and they suggested me to stay away from my wife for a while.
I really fed up with it and want divorce but worried if they can really cancel my ILR.

when i applied for ILR then we had to go through appeal, but Home office officer agreed there was no ground to reject our application and they suddenly allowed our appeal. i got a child with my wife and i cant live without baby.
so dont know what to do?
What i know if we stayed together anymore it could cause some serious problems.
Divorce is the only option.
Can somebody help?

to apply later - allowed?

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:19:35 +0000

I will be in the UK 10 years in August. Do I have to apply 4 weeks in advance or i can go on holiday and do it after? Currently I am on student visa.
thanks

spouse visa granted...yahoooooooooo

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:57:53 +0000

Hi all

Just to let you all know that that my Uk hsmp dependant visa is granted. here is the details:

applied at: VFS, India
applied on : 23 april 2008
mailed vfs with ref no, passport no, name and date of birth: may 2nd 2008.received reply as to the application is still with british high commision for processing.
mailed high commision fco: may 12. received automated response same day
mail from high commision: may 13. outcome will be know at the end of the week.
mail to high commision: may 14.asking them when the status will be known exactly
mail from high commsion may 14: visa granted and will be despatched the next day.
Update on vfs website may 14: your visa application is ready for collection
May 15: collected pasport from vfs

I am happy though it has taken exactly 15 working days for my application, I can join my wife in UK soon.I hope it all goes well. looking forward to the trip.
cheers

A caution affects Application to ILR

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:51:16 +0000

Hi,

I wonder if a police caution would affect application to Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.

Would be grateful if anyone could provide some experience or advice.

Ansence from UK, Indefinite Leave to Remain uder HSMP

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:44:27 +0000

I'm wondering what's the starting point of each year. For Example, I initially got my HSMP visa in Sep 2005. Is it correct that I' allowed for maximum 90 days absence, between Sep 2005 and Sep 2006, and then between Sep 2006 ans Sep 2007, and so on. Many thanks!

Fiance visa

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:14:44 +0000

Hi,

I was wondering if it absolutely neccesay to include my Birth Certificate along with all my other documents, I can have a copy sent from Australia, but it is going to take a while & am not sure if it will reach me on time before my meeting at the British High Commission...

Thanks,
Dani

IGS to marriage visa

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:44:42 +0000

I am holding a IGS visa which will be expired at the end of this year. Me and my british citizen boyfriend are considering to get married. Please could any expert give me some details about "when to do what". My questions are as follows:

If we get married in the UK (i am in the UK!)

1) Which immigration category should I switch to from IGS after getting married? Is it FLR(M) that I should fill out?

2) Am I allowed to stay in the UK after submitting FLR(M) if my IGS visa is expired after Dec 08?

3) Am I allowed to work during that period? How long does it normally take to get my passport and visa back?

I am also thinking to get married in my home country.

3) Does anyone know where I can check if the marriage is recognised in England?

4) Would it be quicker to get a spouse visa via overseas UK embassy?

Thanks a lot

Maternity Leave Allowance

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:32:29 +0000

Hi,

Wanted to know is maternity leave allowance a public fund? and also does anyone know how many months u can take off when ur working.

Changing jobs - can I submit multiple work permit applications?

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:08:22 +0000

Hi there,
I hold a current work permit for my job here in the UK, but am planning to change jobs soon. Question is, am I allowed to submit multiple work permit applications? I have already lodged an application for one new job, but would like to apply for several positions. If so, what happens if more than one application is successful? Can I simply choose which position I want, then get FLR for that particular permit?

Cheers!
Amy

270 days divided in the 3 years qualifying time

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:51:28 +0000

in my 3 years qualifying period i spent
160 days abroad in the first year(not feeling well as i was pregnant)
84 in the second year
31 days in the 3third year
in total 275 normally they accept 300 days

would it be ok if i apply for nationality?
is the the 270 days divided equally for the last 3 years?
thank you
Ima

student visa after 1year

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:41:55 +0000

hi victoria and andrew,
i got my student visa extension rejected and i am in overstay status. i had an appeal going on this 19th and i breached the student visa by working more than 20 hours. if my appeal was not allowed and left the country before 1 st october 2008 voluntarily. can i able to apply after 1 year as i had not able to finish my studies because of visa rejection. 1 year ban is from the date of visa rejection or the date i left UK voluntarily...

i was abroad before qualifying period start

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:39:51 +0000

my travelling date was before my qualying period start ,, how can i fill the application form as they ask for travelling date and number of days spent out the country?

Switching Visa and dependent

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:26:45 +0000

Hello

I am a international student and last month i applied for my wife dependent visa from pakistan and my visa expiring on 31st august .

Now i am expected to finish my Postgraduation next month , would it effect any on my wife dependent visa if i switch to IGS from student visa.

Thanks.

Need help......last minute confusion while applying for WHMV

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:23:20 +0000

Hello Friends,

I am in need of some genuine help. I am from Bangalore, India. Please don't ignore this seeing it to be a lengthy posting.

I started preparing documentation for WHMV in the month of February 2008. Now, I am ready with everything except for the documents describing the source of funds. Describe taking professional help from one of the well-known immigration consultants here, I am not getting a clear-cut advice on my below queries, which have put me in the fear of being rejected!! I am listing down a couple of queries, which have literally halted my preparation to submit the documents to VFS. Once I get some clarity on the below queries, I will be able to proceed with my submission. Hence, I request all those who are able to help me get out of this situation.

1) Regarding funds in my account, I am planning to show a sum of around 7000 pounds (Rs. 6,00,000) for my WHMV. One deposit of 5797 (Rs. 4,79,000) pounds was made into my account on March 7, 2008. This was an amount which my father-in-law gifted me and my spouse on account of our marriage which was solemnized in November 2007. Another deposit of 2420 pounds (Rs. 2,00,000) is going to be made into my account next week. This is an amount which one of my colleagues had borrowed from me more than a year back and has now arranged to repay me at my request for my visa requirement. Now, apart from the bank statement, what kind of documentary evidence should I prepare for these two deposits?

2) Another new worry has suddenly cropped up now. I am currently 28 years old and my wife is 23 years old. The age group for WHMV candidates along with spouses specifies to be between 27 and 31. Since my wife is not yet 27 years of age, will it become a reason for rejection? (here in India, normally age gap between a husband and wife would be 3-5 years). If I wait for her to attain 27 years, then I would cross 31 and be out of it. Please advice.

3) Thirdly, I do not wish to resign my current employment before submitting my application to VFS due to uncertainty of the outcome of my visa application. I might land in trouble if I quit my current employment now and also get rejected for the visa. So, I intend to inform my employer about my plan on visiting UK only after I am confirmed of the visa (however, I would satisfy the relieving conditions of my employer and obtain a no objection certificate at that time). Some posts on this forum say that the applicant should have a no objection certificate from the employer while applying. This has put me in a fix, because quitting the job and waiting for the visa to come through might paralyse my career and earnings. Please advice what should I be doing for this.

4) Lastly, there is an ongoing personal loan repayment in my bank account. This is a loan of amount Rs. 2,00,000 taken by me for my marriage expenses in the month of November 2007 (since my colleague who had borrowed money from me earlier failed to make arrangements to repay me during my marriage in a timely manner). However, I would like to continue the repayment of this loan without being affected even though I am in UK, since this loan repayment amounts to a very small part of our (mine and my wife's) income and we can manage to continue with it. Further, my brother would be following up with this repayment personally here on my behalf until I am back in India. Please let me know if this will cause a problem for my application and will the visa officers be bothered by this arrangement?

I would be very thankful to all those who can help me out on the above queries. Also, if at all possible, please let me know how long does the processing of WHMV applications in India currently take.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Shiju

TWES to Tier 1

Thu, 15 May 2008 08:43:49 +0000

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am on TWES permit sponsered by my employer if I qualify for the Tier 1 point based scheme. Can I make my initial application in UK and go for entry clearance to my home country( India). Can any one guide me on this.

Which form is used for TWES dependent application.

Thank you.

whmv question

Thu, 15 May 2008 08:35:20 +0000

I am about to submit my working holiday visa application.Just want to know how many MONTHS bank statement do they need?Does it have to be six months?Thanks

Entry Clearance

Thu, 15 May 2008 03:00:20 +0000

I girl I work with has applied for her HSMP from the BHC Canberra (Australia). Now she hasn't planned too well, and it appears her approval should come about a week before she is due to go travelling around Europe for 10 weeks, prior to going to the UK to settle.

It's taking about 3 weeks from Canberra to get entry clearance so she won't have time to do it before she leaves!

We were wondering if she has applied and gets approved for HSMP can she apply for entry clearance while she is travelling (probably in France)? Or does it have to come from Canberra? If so can she do biometrics etc in France and post her passport back to Australia? Or is it impossible to avoid returning to Australia?

Cheers

student visa holder to visitor's visa

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:28:17 +0000

i currently hold a student visa which ends really soon at the end of may- i should have graduated in january, but my dissertation failed to make the mark and i had to redo it.
so i am still waiting for my dissertation marks to be returned as i had to resubmit my dissertation. if all goes well, i will be due to graduate in june.
is it possible to apply for a visitor's visa while here in britain while i wait for my results and graduation? has anyone experienced this kind of dillemma before?

thanks very much..

bijoux

Permanent residence

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:05:12 +0000

HI There!

I am about to take life in the UK test to prepare for my EEA4 form. I am a non-EEA family's member of an EEA (my husband) who has been living in the UK for more than 10 years and now he is retired. I came to study in the UK since 1999 to 2003 and then I got married in September 2003 in London. My passport was stamped in April 2004 and valid until April 2009. I am not quite sure if I should apply for the permanent residence in September 2008 or April 2009. Could you please help? I�would be very grateful.�

Switching from Work Permit to Student Visa?

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:37:55 +0000

Hello,

Perhaps somebody can help me with my questions.

I am currently working in the UK with a work permit. I was accepted to business school, and will have to apply for a student visa. I have not been able to find too much information about this online, or on the UK Visa website.

What is the procedure to switch from a work permit to a student visa? Can I have both a work permit and a student visa at the same time? If I wanted to work up until the start of the school year (meaning I would need to keep my work permit), is there a way that I can time this so that is possible?

Thanks for the help.

spouse visa

Wed, 14 May 2008 22:31:38 +0000

me and my moroccan fiance are getting married in morocco next month.. i am british living in uk i would just like to know how long it will take for him to get a spouse visa to join me back in uk...we have been together a year and i have been to see him aboit 5 times in this year...i am not in employment yet but am applying for a job when i return to uk..i dont have much savings but my mum is garantor for my house and will help finacialy until i get a job...just like to know how easy (or hard) it will be and roughly how long it will take....i would be really grateful if somebody could help me.....thanks x

What is next after geeting Entry Clearance under the HSMP?

Wed, 14 May 2008 20:09:33 +0000

Hi, I would like someone to shed some light on the procedures one has to follow after being granted Entry Clearance under the HSM programme and arriving at London. I have heard one needs to get a NI number or something similar to a Social Security (in the US) in order to start searching for jobs. Please let know what are the main hurdles one has to go through when looking for a job, a flat, open a bank account, etc. It would be very much appreciated.

MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN AFTER 2 YEARS+ REFUSSED

Wed, 14 May 2008 20:05:15 +0000

Hello All

I need advice and help in my immigration mater but I am not sure either I have right to go for immigration or not so 1^st I want to tell you about my situation if you think there is any way out for me then I can go any further! I am from Pakistan and got married with my 1^st cousin, she is British citizen.

I got entry clearance visa from Pakistan on base of my marriage and on 5^th Mar 2006 landed in UK.

We had subsisting relationship 2 years

My visa gone expired on 15^th Jan 2008 but I hadn't pass the life in UK test so I applied for (FLR) on 30^th Dec 2008.

In Feb 2008 I had some problem with my wife and things gone worse and on 13 Mar 2008 she wrote to home office that she is not intend live with me in future as spouse and our marriage is breakdown.

They refuse my application for further leave with reason marriage is not subsisting and give me right to appeal.

My wife didn't agree to support me for appeal but I appealed and chose oral hearing.

With my appeal forms I attached some of these evidences

Our latest mobile phone bill

Latest joint bank account statement

On 1^st Apr2008 out baby is die 10 days before birth so I attached baby birth and death certificate who shows I am the father of baby and informant to register office

I attached papers of funeral services was on my name

Life in the UK test pass certificate

But on hearing (8^th May) my wife didn't go with me so I am not hoping my appeal will be allowed and my wife is not gone support me in future

We are still living on same address but she is not gone support me

Please advice me if there is any way I can get further leave without my wife's support or can i apply on any other ground or i have to leave the UK.

Please help me out

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Partner has overstayed

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:12:12 +0000

Hello all,
I would really appreciate some advice about what to do. I have been with my Senegalese boyfriend for over 3 years now and have recently discovered I am pregnant. I am a British national. He came to Britain on a tourist visa and has overstayed by 3 years. Since being in Britain he has worked under a friends name and has been paying taxes with his national insurance number. I am very aware that what he has done is wrong but he is a good man and we would now like to get married.

I have read about the October deadline for overstayers and we originally planned to go to Senegal in September and apply from there for the spouse visa. However, we have since heard that we may be able to get married in the church of england. Is this possible and what is required? I was christened anglican as a child but my boyfriend is muslim.

Evidence for the visa is a worry. We have not lived together for long and the flat is in his friends name. His phone bills and everything are in his friends name also. The only real proof of our relationship is how well we know one another, my ability to speak his native language and photos of us together. Also i would be able to get letters from friends and family stating that they know him and our relationship is genuine. Would a receipt for an engangement and wedding ring help? Also perhaps plans for the wedding and scans/hospital documentation about my pregnancy?

I work full time as a nurse and would be able to support him if the visa were successful so i hope proof of earnings would also work in our favour.

Has anyone got any general advice for us about what we should do? I don't know if my pregnancy changes our situation or anything in the eyes of the law. I'm desperate for him to be legal so we can get on with our lives with our child without this hanging over us.

Thanks in advance

How long after doing the biometric data do you've until you've to send your supporting documents???

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:09:02 +0000

:x well, I'm fixing to send off my application.. So hectic. >_< But how long can I wait before I've to send off my supporting documents after doing the biometric data? Because I now found out I've some more stuff from my fiance in the UK being sent to me @_@; and it should take at least a week to get here.. >_<

Oh and another question. Since I will be staying with he and his parents for 3 months before we move into our flat and while we're waiting to be married, should I put their address as the main address we're living at our the flat address? Cause we wont be able to live in the flat until september.

student visa extension refused for not attending university

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:57:47 +0000

i was refused for three reasons:
1.The English Language school that i was studying at, didn't register with DfES. (unluckily it closed at the time i was applying visa extension, and i was transfered to a new school. i attached the letter from the new school to appeal. Actually those schools were runned by the same boss)
2.Why i didn't go to QueenMary university, as i had already got IELTS 6.5. Instead, i decided to spend two years' studing English and why i started from lower level - intermediate level(The real situation was IELTS 6.5 didn't mean adequate. i realised this soon after i came here, especially speaking and listening. I have been putting my every effect into English learning for one year and a half so that i will be at fully-prepared state for my master course. I enclosed a letter for the appeal, which is from the school explaining why i started from intermediate level from the start, suggested by experienced teaching staff.)
3.I didn't inform home office of my failure to attend QueenMary.(This was my fault purely because i didn't know i had to)

I also enclosed an offer from University of York in computer science MSc, which i received lately.

i did an appeal and haven't received any result yet. What do you think of my case?

Thanks in advance,
Cheng

UK visa for my husband

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:54:32 +0000

Hi

Has anyone been or know of anyone that has applied for a spouse visa in Turkey at one of the VAC centres?

My husband went just a couple of days ago and although I appreciate that it was just somewhere he needed to give his information to for it to forwarded onto istanbul - they couldnt give him a expected time for this to take.

Perhaps its becuase I am so desperate to get news that i am getting a little frustrated but I cant find time expectations or even the processes anywhere on the internet sites.

I am hoping that some kind soul will take pitty on my and tell me all so I can can go from being totally stressed to just stressed.

I look forward to hearing from someone.

Thank you x

How do they track overstayers?

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:06:57 +0000

I have written before; long story short but i lived in the UK for nearly 17 years and had ILR at the time I left. Never intended to remain in america permanently (God forbid) and always intended to return to the UK... however family, unemployment and other events and circumstances have conspired against me to cause me to miss my 2 year window to get back to the UK.

Of course, I was eligible to get naturalised quite awhile ago but kept putting it off because I never intended to leave the UK. And, as stated above, when I did leave the UK, I never intended it to be long-term.

Nevertheless, I returned to the UK last year as a returning resident. I was only able to touch base as I did not have the money to start over... so I had to return to the U.S. to save more money. Since then, things have gone from bad to worse in my life and I am presently penniless... have been unemployed since February and am just starting a new job next week. (I am, in fact, a well educated, hard working individual but have had the bad fortune to be located in an area of the U.S. which is absolutely dreadful for work prospects.)

It has been suggested that I would, in all probability, be allowed back to the UK as a returning resident if I get there by the anniversary of my last visit, which would be spring of next year. But, realistically, I doubt I will have the money to do so by then. I am afraid to make an application to return outside of my time limit, because that is giving them a chance to say No, and once they have said No, that is it. And quite frankly, I don't want to live my life if it is not in the UK; I cannot stand the United States and the culture here, in fact that is why I left this country at a young age to live in the UK. I do not wish to live in the UK for financial or governmental reasons, I need to live there because it is my home, I love it deeply and do cannot face the prospect of living my life elsewhere.

My question is this: if I were to return as a tourist, but then simply slip back into my life as normal, what are the chances of any averse consequence? I have an NI number, and a passport (expired) stating that I am a permanent resident of the UK. My feeling is that immigration has enough to do without worrying about a lone american woman who came in as a tourist but then stayed as a resident, when she was a resident for many years to begin with.

Do they actually track all tourists entering the country to see when they leave? Surely this would be impossible; I myself have flown out of the UK numerous time without having anyone so much as glance at my passport. And even now, surely many tourists move from the UK on to France, for example, on the Eurostar or ferries... surely their exits are not all tracked? What is the system?

I am not condoning lying, but I just want to go home and am trying to think of how I can do it. The system is built to deal with people as a mass and to establish guidelines; I am an individual who was always a solid citizen in the UK when I lived there, who thinks of the UK with an ache in her heart every morning she wakes, whose life happiness depends on being able to come home to the UK.

Off Topic - Is everything OK Victoria

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:00:30 +0000

Sorry, I know this is not the right Forum, but I am not sure which would be right. It is just that I haven't seen Victoria post for some time.

Fiance visa

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:07:18 +0000

I have booked an appointment with the UK High Commission in Ireland (where I have temporary residency due to a WH visa), I am Australian, my partner British, we have all the info needed & are 99% confident that the visa will be approved.
My question is, do you think we should have gone through an immegration lawyer, or should it be okay that we are not?
Once the visa is (hopefully!) approved & we need to apply for the Marriage visa we will definitely be going through a lawyer, I am just not sure if we should for the Fiance visa??
Can anyone offer any advice/past experience with this?

Thanks guys!!
Dani

Tier 1 HSMP - limited company earnings

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:41:37 +0000

Hi,

I would like to know if anyone has applied for an extension of HSMP visa under new Tier 1. I am working as a contractor through my own limited company. Please can you advise what supporting documentation I need to provide to prove my earnings for the last 12 months.

Thanks.

Student visa rejected for absence from college(maternity)

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:13:33 +0000

Just now a student visa extension is rejected , the reason because there was a period of absence for around 1 year between 2006 and 2007.
However, this absence was because of the applicant's maternity leave for which they have provided a letter from the university along with the visa application.

Considering an appeal, what do you think of this case??

Found this on other site good news

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:53:02 +0000

Good News: concession on mandatory refusals of family

New concessions to the mandatory refusal rules introduced last month have been announced in a reply in the Commons by Liam Byrne, the Minister. These changes will have immediate effect as a concession.

Full relevant section of his speech is below:

I am announcing two further reforms this evening... First, we will not automatically refuse applications from people applying to join their family permanently in the UK�that is to say, those applying for visas as a spouse, civil partner or unmarried or same-gender partner under paragraphs 281 or 295A of the immigration rules; a fianc�e or proposed civil partner, as set out in paragraph 290 of the rules; a parent, grandparent or other dependent relative, as set out in paragraph 317; a person exercising rights of access to a child, as set out in paragraph 246; or a spouse, civil partner or unmarried or same-gender partner of a refugee or person with humanitarian protection, as set out in paragraphs 352A, 352AA, 352FA and 352FD. Following some of the comments made by hon. Members this evening, I will of course check to see whether we have cast the scope of those exceptions correctly, but my initial analysis is that that is where the discretion should apply.

Secondly, we will not automatically refuse anyone who is under the age of 18 at the time of the breach of the immigration rules. My hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North spoke powerfully on this subject, as did the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey. That case has been well made.

...As to the caveats, this does not mean that people who need to go home and reapply will automatically get in; they will still need to meet the requirements set out in the immigration rules and they may be refused if they have contrived in a significant way to frustrate those rules. Nor is it or can it be a green light for the groups I have mentioned to deliberately overstay. We need to bring forward fresh proposals to ensure that there are consequences for these actions.

Suggestions have been made to me. Obviously, the need to go home and apply for entry clearances is one sanction, and other opportunities are presented in our Green Paper �The Path to Citizenship�. For example, we may, because we could, make those who have breached immigration rules wait slightly longer before they become citizens, but I do not want to go into detail on that proposal this evening. I simply want to flag it up for the House�s attention in order to illustrate the wider point: we must have sanctions for those who overstay. These changes will have immediate effect as a concession and will be added to the immigration rules at the first opportunity.
_________________
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EEA Family permit rejection.

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:07:30 +0000

Hi all!

Me and my girlfriend are now a bit lost. We are both currently living in China and as my girlfriends visa expires the 1'st of July (as almost every other foreigners, these damn Olympics is getting a bit irritating, updating the visas are more or less impossible until the Olympics are over) we figured out it was time to move on.
My girlfriend is from Russia, and I am from Sweden, so as we didn't really want to learn yet another language we wanted to go somewhere were English would be the commonly spoken language and which would be closer to our respective homes for easyness in travel during vacations and suchlike.
It would therefore seem like England would be our best bet. We checked up the visa rules and sent off an e-mail to the English embassy where someone replied that our best bet would be to go for the EEA Family permit as we have been living together for a little bit more than a year, but we haven't yet quite decided when to marry (although if it is needed to make us able to live together, then we definitely can do it. However Russian buerocracy being what it is, the stories go that you can expect AT LEAST 6 months to get a hold of all the paperwork, so we didn't want to try to go for the fiancee permit as they set a limit of 6 months to get married).

We don't have anywhere to live in England yet, and no jobs there yet (obviously, would you rent an apartment from across the world hoping for it to be good? And I wouldn't like to get a job and then hear that my girlfriend didn't get a visa) but have about 4000GBP in savings in China and another 4-5 in Sweden so we should be okay for enough time to find a job.

So we filled in all the papers and gave them the application only to get an rejection where the ECO said that all though all papers look good, he didn't have any proof that we were going there together, nor that the "balance of probablities" was in our favor. On top of this, in the rejection papers we got, they didn't mention me as a sponsor, but some other name (noone we've ever heard of) and wrote my girlfriends nationality as being Chinese (which obviously is wrong!).

We looked at some webpages who said that the general time for an appeal to go through would be 9 months to a year (so, little use for us as we have to be out of the country in a month, and anyways, we wrote down our "estimated time of entry" to be around the 1'st of July (which obviously will be hard to meet if we don't hear from then in less than a year)).

Things are looking kind of glum, but I assume we just have to start trying to get me a Russian work visa (as I assume the EEA Family permit rejection will effectively ban us from the EEA (Which includes Sweden)) which is way more difficult. If I can't get that... well... then I am out of ideas.

Anyone who have any ideas of what we might do in this situation?

ILR and Bulgaria

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:38:25 +0000

hi,
i am confused as to whether i can still apply for ILR now that Bulgaria is in the EU (I AM A BULGARIAN CITIZEN) I am in the uk currently on a further leave to remain visa as a civil partner of a british citizen so have already started the process towards naturalisation.(before bulgaria joined)
can i continue this route and apply for ILR , then naturalisation??

Spouse visa SET(M)

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:35:04 +0000

My girlfriend is living in the country courtesy of a fiancee visa. I understand that if we get married in the UK, we can apply for a spouse visa here, but if we get married abroad we must return to her country to apply for her next visa there. Does anybody know how marriages on the Channel Islands are viewed?

Jersey Immigration and Registration Office are happy for us to visit the island and get married there based on the fact that we have a valid fiancee visa for the UK. Would we be able to return to our home after the marriage and make an application with form SET(M) in this country?

Student Visa to EU residence Card

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:11:27 +0000

Hi,

I am currently on a student visa and I am in the process of waiting on a response from the HO for the COA approval to marry. My partner and I are planning to get married on 15 July 08 immdediately after the marriage we will be submitting the EEA2 application.

My student visa ( current visa) expires on 31 August 2008 and my course finishes on 30 June 2008 after which I will be on summer holidays.

I have two questions I need help with please?
1. What will the implication would be on me for the remainder of 2008 if I decided to only register to study next year.
2. If there is no implication on me not registering to study can I work for the remainder of 2008 and should I work under the 20 hrs per week rule as stated in the student visa guidelines or can I work full time.

I am aware that the current waiting time for the EEA2 application is up to 6 months and I don't want to put myself at risk of the EEA2 being declined if I decided not to register for college until next year.

Any advise will be appreciated

Many Thanks
Fay

i need some advice

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:45:22 +0000

good day!!!! im worry and confused i dont know what to do coz my spouse visa will expire on march 09. i dont know if i could apply ILR coz im only working 8 hours a week coz we have a little boy our baby to look after. my husband is not working coz of car accident and his suffering severe dipression. his receiving gov. fund. i dont know what to do if someone can help me give me advise. i cant sleep in the night thinking about this.

thanks you!!!

Marraige visa expiry

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:43:31 +0000

I married a girl outside the UK and she gained entry with dependents/marraige visa which I sponsored. The marriage was a sham and after 5 months we split. She is a total fraud. The two year visa probation period has just passed and she is still in the UK. She also has a history of being refused entry due to overstaying a visa previously before she married me. We are not yet divorced by have been separated for a long time. Divorce is in process. Will she be forced to leave the UK? I notice she is still here and seems to continue coming and going from the Uk after the 2 year probation and I know she does not have a visa in her own right - thanks