Calling all those who have applied in past 3 months

sandeepvk wrote:Hi All,

I got my Visa approval today (HSMP to Tier 1 extension) . I have been a silent reader of this forum. My timeline is below
Current visa expires: Jan 02, 2010
Date Applied/Docs sent: November 16
Date Docs reached HO: November 17
Date Payment Deducted: November 19
Acknowledgement letter: November 23
Date Approved: December 11
Date Passport/Docs received from HO: December 19

Result & VISA stamped: Approved, new expiry Jan 02, 2013

I had not kept the self addressed envelope. So the documents came through signed for post. It was a nightmare waiting for this as my application had some issues. I am a contractor operating through a limited company. During the initial months of company formation, I had withdrawn Salary and Dividends as 2 or 3 payments each month. In one month I took more salary than what my accountant calculated. This was reduced from the dividend taken. My payslips and dividend vouchers show only one amount for each month. Everything was a real mess. I explained this in the covering letter in tabular form. Added my comments to each payment and made it clear. I think this helped as otherwise the caseworker would have been really confused. I would be glad to help anyone who is in a similar situation. Please send me a message if you need help as I wouldn't be visiting the forumn everyday.

Good luck to all who are still waiting.

mahajanvivek wrote: They didnt send me any letter saying that visa is approved just got the passport with my documents. The visa says Tier 1 migrant (general) -- VAF NO : xxx and no recourse of public funds and no employement as a doctor in training.

Do they normally send any approval letter or just the passport is enough as documentation.

sumitra219 wrote:Hello All,

I am planning to apply for Tier 1 General in last week of Feb'10 and have some queries regarding application:

1. enlish language assessment: i did not take any IELTS or TOEFL but my degree is taught in English. I have NARIC comparison letter saying that both my Masters and Bachelors degree are comparable to British degrees. And I have a letter from my University that the medium of instruction is in English.

Now my question is: Do I need a NARIC English Language Assessment letter seperately? Or what documents would suffice? Please suggest.

- Please check if PBS Calculator gives points for your English, but since NARIC letter says your degrees are comparable to british i think u shd be fine..

2. My spouse would be joining me 6 months or a bit later after I go there and settle. In the VAF9 application what should I mention for
Part 5a - under 5.1.
5.1 Is your partner accompanying you or joining later? If they are travelling later please provide their date of travel in Part 7. Put a cross (X) in the relevant box.

Yes [ ] No [ ] Not Applicable [ ] - should I check Yes or No ?

And what should I mention in Part 7? I am not applying for my spouse now along with my application...will apply later once i get mine approved.

- You can say NO and just give the details of your spouse

3. In the above case do I need to show Maintenance Funds only for myself or for my dependent as well? i.e, 2800 Pounds or 2800 + 1600 Pounds?

- Since you are applying alone and you mentioned your spouse would join u later your maintenance wouldbe 2800£

Regards,
Sumitra

for married people - do we have to submit marriage certificate along with the application even if we are not applying for spouse?

anandpathak wrote:Thanks a lot TVN_Ramesh for replying for my PM about this topic. Wanted to confirm from other folks who applied recently for Tier 1 -general
I am filing my visa next week and maintained only about 3000 ponds in my account for last 3 months.
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Hi,
From the UKBA website i understand that for tier 1 General the visa fees if 650 pounds which can be be paid in local currency.The exchange rate pegged by UK embassy in India is 1 GBP=75INR (Revides on 4th March 2009 ) making the current indian equivalent to 51400 rupees. The issue is that after the severe decline of Pound in past few week the actual market rate is near about 1GBP=68Pound. I would like to know if i can submit a demand draft of ICICI bank of 650 pounds directly rather then DD of Rs 51400 thus saving about 5K.

Best Regards
Anand

anandpathak wrote:Hi,
From the UKBA website i understand that for tier 1 General the visa fees if 650 pounds which can be be paid in local currency.The exchange rate pegged by UK embassy in India is 1 GBP=75INR (Revides on 4th March 2009 ) making the current indian equivalent to 51400 rupees. The issue is that after the severe decline of Pound in past few week the actual market rate is near about 1GBP=68Pound. I would like to know if i can submit a demand draft of ICICI bank of 650 pounds directly rather then DD of Rs 51400 thus saving about 5K.

Best Regards
Anand

Trojon wrote:

anandpathak wrote:Hi,
From the UKBA website i understand that for tier 1 General the visa fees if 650 pounds which can be be paid in local currency.The exchange rate pegged by UK embassy in India is 1 GBP=75INR (Revides on 4th March 2009 ) making the current indian equivalent to 51400 rupees. The issue is that after the severe decline of Pound in past few week the actual market rate is near about 1GBP=68Pound. I would like to know if i can submit a demand draft of ICICI bank of 650 pounds directly rather then DD of Rs 51400 thus saving about 5K.

Best Regards
Anand

Well, I have the same query as well. I was in UK on business visa sometime back and have requsite GBPs provided vfs accepts it.
Anand, in case you get info , pls clarify on the board or pm me.

anandpathak wrote:Hi Folks,
I submitted my application on 23rd April at VFS bangalore.
Got SMS same evening that document are despatched to Embassy at chennai. Got sms on 28th that application is under process.
Now I am keeping my fingures crossed. Little worried as i have submitted linked quantum optima fixed deposit of ICICI for maintenance funds. I have submitted a certificate from ICICI bank regarding liquidity of the funds but still worried.

so praying

Cheers
Anand