Post
by John » Tue May 03, 2005 1:27 pm
Voot, OK as far as I can see, I don't think you or your wife are within any of the exceptions, so as from 15th March 2005 there should not have been a claim for Child Tax Credit. Until that date it was totally OK.
By the way, just to make sure, has a claim been made for Child Benefit? That has been a no-no for anyone holding a visa with a "No recourse to Public Funds" restriction since about 1995.
Other opinions obviously very welcome here but I think just be honest and open with IND when the applications are made for ILR. The restriction only came in on 15th March, less than 7 weeks ago ... you have only just discovered that .... and on the CTC application form the nationalities of you and your wife were fully disclosed .... and the CTC office have not been in touch after the change in "Public Funds" definition.
Were you intending to apply for the ILR in person at a PEO or by post? If you were intending to apply in person, cost £500, I would save the extra money and apply by post, cost £335. Only straightforward cases are dealt with on the same day and I suspect that your applications might be a bit too complicated to be allowed same-day consideration.
I think, in any case, why not contact the Tax Credits Office and withdraw the CTC claim, and ask them to what arrangements need to be made to refund money paid to you since 15th March 2005.
The stupid thing is that after ILR is granted you and your wife will be able to claim CTC again.
John