Set(O) Success at Solihull

[ukresident123]

My Case: Entered UK on Work Permit in 2005, changed to HSMP and switched jobs, subsequently changing to Tier 1.

My Application: ILR, booked an appointment with Solihull PEO for 1st week February.

The documents I had taken: 5 years' P60, 5 year bank statements, 5 year pay slips, Life in UK pass certificate, Home Office correspondence on original work permit, subsequent HSMP and Tier 1 approvals, mortgage statement, latest council tax bill, P45s.

The documents taken by the UKBA officer: The latest P60 after examining all 5 year P60s, Life in the UK test certificate, all Home Office correspondence and last three month pay slips.

Result: All documents returned along with passport stamped with ILR after 2 hours.

Lessons: 1. Don't panic. All you need to show is your economic activity for the past 5 years and that you have not been out of the country for more than 220 days (as the UKBA officer enquired if I had been out of the country for more than that time upon seeing my list of absences). I had just changed jobs this month and was worried if I would be asked to show the latest pay slip from my new employer (which I did not have, as I am only 1 week into my new job). I did have a letter from my new employer, which was not required.

2. Ask for a token number if you were not given one: I was told that I would be given a token number, but after half an hour found that people who came in later than me were being given token numbers. I then asked for one and got it. I would have been out half an hour earlier, if the security(can't blame them I guess, with the amount of work they have to handle) or I had been more attentive.

[pcb_in]

Hello UKResident123,
First of all many congratulations.
One query to you, you mention about 220 days of absent, do you mean 220 days of absent including all( business+paid holiday+unpaid) or excluding business+ paid holiday.
BR
pc

[ukresident123]

Thanks pcb_in. If I understand it right the 220 days includes all holidays. My list of holidays included business and paid holidays, but the UKBA officer didn't make a distinction between them.