need urgent help long post---

I have been reading here for hours trying to find something even close to my situation and alas have not, because it's so damn bizzare. I need help, and I don't know where to start. this will be a long post because I know you need the information to try to set me in a direction so here goes.

In Sept 2001 I was granted a work permit.
I hold no degree but have a speciality which at the time caused a first refusal of the permit and then we had to get a solicitor involved to prove I was the only one capable in the world of performing this specific job for this company. Work permit granted- company title President.

Initial permit expiry 28th June 2003. No problems.

Reissued a new permit, 8th May 2003 got a stamp in the Passport when travelling which states, leave to remain until June 2006 and does not carry the disclaimer about changes needing to be authorized etc.

I know that I need to be here 4 years AND that I need assistance from my employer to acheive ILR. The work situation is extremely EXTREMELY abusive and I don't mean this guy isn't nice to me, I mean hours of screaming, my job title has been taken from me and my salary cut in Half.

I know that my employer lied to the home office on my work permit reissue by telling them my salary was at it's old levels as was my title change. (Essentially I was told to take it or leave it, yes I know I should have left it but there were reasons at the time which seemed like good ones)

I am trapped here, and because of my type of job, my career in the US is essentially over. (part of my coming here meant the rat employer got my existing comany, going back means I have essentially nothing). Ihave built a reputation here and have some interest from other people who MIGHT sponsor a work permit, however I have actually been told by this employer that if I @harm the company@ he will kill me. Now, I don't for one minute think he will do that, however he WILL view my leaving the company for another one as harming the company and things are going to get very VERY ugly. Obviously on half salary, I don't have much money now, I don't know where to go for help and I spend my days in fear of the next tirade from the employer which tells me how stupid or useless I am. In any other world I would walk, in fact if I COULD work at Tesco's I'd do that happily at this point to be free of this nightmare. To the point where I have begun to record the abuse when it happens, because no one but no one will believe how bad it really is.

Citizen's Advice in my area wasn't much help I need expert advice and I might be able to borrow enough money to get it but don't know who is good.

My questions are this:

If I DO begin negotiations with another company, and get them to apply for a work permit, at what point does my existing employer become informed of this? I mean I will give notice, when the time comes, but frankly I am frightened of what he might try to do to me if he finds out too soon.

Because I have "leave to remain" until June 2006, does that mean I Can work for anyone else and might not need a WP?

IS there ever a tiime when ILR is granted early? Without it, I can't work in the UK and there is no career for me to go back to in the US.

If I stoop to the lowest level and buy a degree which is all I could hope to do at this point, could I convert to HSMP and what are the chances of HO Saying to me,,, "You're joking,, Costa Rician University?!" and even if I could convert, at what point would my existing employer be informed?

I know the thing to do is bite my tounge and wait out the next year, however I've become increasing aware of things which aren't being properly done, like my taxes not being paid on time and there is the abuse factor which is so extreme I am beginning to believe him that I am worthless and miserable and that everyone hates me.

I never get a payslip and in fact I do not even have a copy of my contracts, the second of which was signed under duress.

Please don't tell me how stupid I've been, I know that. When I Ask for my contracts I am told they are @lost@ and he will give me a contract that "Says anything I want it to".

Please please help me to find some options that would enable me to stay in the UK and find work with someone who will appreciate my skills before I end up back on a plane to the US with the shreds of my very specialized career now useless.

the biggest problem i see is that even if I can get help it will mean turning this guy in for some of the things he's done and that will cause him to become violent as the company is on it's last legs and he needs someone to blame it's eventual failure on. The person most likely to find themselves actually physically hurt is me. I know I've done a lot of things wrong, and should have gotten help much much sooner, especially when the abuse began to escalate, but frankly this was my dream, and I didn't want to let it go. I have managed to create enough interest in me personally and my market niche is very small which means I could probably easily get a new permit, but I am genuinely afraid of what will happen when he finds out the application has been made. If some kind of way existed for early ILR then I could just qive notice, quit and do what I needed to do to move on with my life.

I know early ILR seems out of the question, but I also know stuff happens all the time that isn;'t supposed to,, for instance my original work permit was acheived while I was inside the country, which isn't supposed to happen. I am no spring chicken, I'm 46 american and female, and there has to be a way to salvage my life and escape this hell without losing everything I wanted to see happen.

Can anyone help? Advice? Action plans before I lose what is left of my mind?

Thanks in advance for listening to this soap opera. You'll pardon me for not puttin in my name but I will respond to any messages if anyone needs more detail.

Deskdiva,

Your message is very long and by the time I got to the end I had somehow lost the plot..

It would be nice if you summarised the issues

I think you will need a solicitor/lawayer to sort out your case - but you can also request another employer to get you a permit...

BTW, what is your profession

You're right I'm sorry the emotion gets in the way of the realities for me lately:

My questions are this:

If I DO begin negotiations with another company, and get them to apply for a work permit, at what point does my existing employer become informed of this? I mean I will give notice, when the time comes, but frankly I am frightened of what he might try to do to me if he finds out too soon.

Because I have "leave to remain" until June 2006, does that mean I Can work for anyone else and might not need a WP?

IS there ever a tiime when ILR is granted early? Without it, I can't work in the UK and there is no career for me to go back to in the US.

If I stoop to the lowest level and buy a degree which is all I could hope to do at this point, could I convert to HSMP and what are the chances of HO Saying to me,,, "You're joking,, Costa Rician University?!" and even if I could convert, at what point would my existing employer be informed? And the profession will identify me pretty easily so I'd rather not say, it's really that small a market....

My questions are this:

If I DO begin negotiations with another company, and get them to apply for a work permit, at what point does my existing employer become informed of this? I mean I will give notice, when the time comes, but frankly I am frightened of what he might try to do to me if he finds out too soon.

your employer will never know that anotther permit application has been made - except your 'old' employer may know once the new employer requests for references from old employer

Because I have "leave to remain" until June 2006, does that mean I Can work for anyone else and might not need a WP?

No, you should know that a WP is employer specific

IS there ever a tiime when ILR is granted early? Without it, I can't work in the UK and there is no career for me to go back to in the US.

No

If I stoop to the lowest level and buy a degree which is all I could hope to do at this point, could I convert to HSMP and what are the chances of HO Saying to me,,, "You're joking,, Costa Rician University?!" and even if I could convert, at what point would my existing employer be informed?

Many have tried and failed - so dont bother

And the profession will identify me pretty easily so I'd rather not say, it's really that small a market...]

small market -------yeah right - then you should be on the shortgae skills list earning loads of money and you could get HSMP based on income and experience only!!!

small market -------yeah right

I don't know why you're being rude to me. Thanks for making my day complete.

If you knew what I do you'd understand. and it's internet connected and like it or not it's a VERY small web out there if you know your stuff, so yeah sorry don't want to place my job title on a public forum board.

Why the rude statement to someone who is already obviously distressed?

Diva,

My post was not meant to be rude - there are many forum members who are in fields akin to to yours and may be able to help...


BTW, thanx for 'thanking' me for the advice given

all the best for the future