UKBA response regarding extension applications post Apr'11

Hello,
I sent an email to find out about the changes and what effect they will have on my visa status. I am currently on my extension and due ILR in early 2012.

Here is what I received from them..

Dear ***,



Thank you for your enquiry.


Please be advised that currently, holders of an Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) / Points Based System Tier 1 (General) will not be affected by the introduction of the rule changes in April 2011.

The criteria for applying for extensions and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will remain the same.

However, please note that Immigration Rules are subject to change and you are advised to check the UK Border Agency website for clarification and guidance nearer to the time of application.

For current up to date information regarding these changes, please visit the UK Border Agency website at:


http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... nual-limit



The UKBA website will be updated with further information in due course.



Yours Sincerely,



*****
Immigration Group
UK Border Agency



If you intend to reply to this email please ensure that you re-send all the information from your original enquiry.



From:****
Sent: 06 December 2010 14:13
To: IND Public Enquiries
Subject: FAQ


Dear Sir,

I need to know the future of Tier 1 general holders who are already
in-country and yet to reach settlement as per announcement.

I previously was under HSMP and extended another 3 years under Tier1 and due my ILR in early 2012 and I can't find any information on it on UKBA website.


Please could you clarify what rules would apply after April, 2011 for
those who wish to apply ILR.

Regards,
***

After reading the link, the only change I could see to ILR is to ADD 12 months Payslips or less (if you have enough earnings) at the moment.


Please do not make this thread a battlefield

I got two conflicting replies:

Thank you for your enquiry.

Please be advised that the changes announced recently by the Home
Secretary only applies to new applicant. Existing migrants will not be
affected by these changes when making an extension application.

I hope that this information will be of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely,

-------
Immigration Group
UK Border Agency

A day after that:

I have been conducting a quality check of e-mail responses.

Please accept my sincere apologies for the initial misinterpretation of
your enquiry.

The correct information is as follows:

At present we do not have specific information on how these changes will
affect migrants that are currently in the UK.
The UKBA website will be updated with further information in due course.

This doesnt look good

strange. I honestly believe most of the call centre handlers are not trained well and each one of them tries to interpret information provided to them their way

I will wait till April 2011 and see what is thrown at us.

viki83 : What was your original question. can you please post up mate

http://www.workpermit.com/news/2010-03- ... -april.htm



read this lads.

innocentdevil wrote:http://www.workpermit.com/news/2010-03- ... -april.htm



read this lads.

21-03-2010!

innocentdevil wrote:strange. I honestly believe most of the call centre handlers are not trained well and each one of them tries to interpret information provided to them their way

I will wait till April 2011 and see what is thrown at us.

viki83 : What was your original question. can you please post up mate

I emailed:

My First Email:

I need to know the future of Tier 1 general holders who are already in-country and yet to reach settlement as per announcement http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... ual-limits

This article does not mention anything on 'extensions' of existing tier 1 holders.

Please could you clarify what rules would apply after April, 2011 for those who wish to extend stay on Tier 1 general?

UKBA First Response:

Thank you for your enquiry.

Please be advised that the changes announced recently by the Home
Secretary only applies to new applicant. Existing migrants will not be
affected by these changes when making an extension application.

I hope that this information will be of assistance to you.

My Reply:

Thanks for your response.

My question is specifically regarding Tier 1 General and not any other route.

Can you please clarify in terms of Tier 1 General extensions after April 2011 as the Tier 1 General category will be closed after April 2011. So how are we able to extend as the category is being closed?

UKBA Second Response:

I have been conducting a quality check of e-mail responses.

Please accept my sincere apologies for the initial misinterpretation of
your enquiry.

The correct information is as follows:

At present we do not have specific information on how these changes will
affect migrants that are currently in the UK.
The UKBA website will be updated with further information in due course.

I sent another email back and this is what I got back


I have been conducting a quality check of e-mail responses.
Please accept my sincere apologies for the initial misinterpretation of your enquiry.
The correct information is as follows:

At present we do not have specific information on how these changes will affect migrants that are currently in the UK.

The UKBA website will be updated with further information in due course.

this is same reply I got second time. Its quite worrying since UKBA page was updated last night and still no word on extensions.

This is really frustrating. I think we should come back to our petition letter idea.

I think you guys are reading way too much into this.

They are currently formulating exact rules for new applicants from April onwards. Only once they know what the rules are for new applicants do I think they can decide what to do with existing visa holders.

By muscling someone from UKBA who has no say into policy and probably does not know what the new policy will entail (Theresa May probably doesn't know either, because they are still formulating it!) is not going to help. You can keep emailing them, but you are wasting your time because the policy is simply not there yet.

They cannot confirm something which has not yet been decided.

mulderpf wrote:I think you guys are reading way too much into this.

They are currently formulating exact rules for new applicants from April onwards. Only once they know what the rules are for new applicants do I think they can decide what to do with existing visa holders.

By muscling someone from UKBA who has no say into policy and probably does not know what the new policy will entail (Theresa May probably doesn't know either, because they are still formulating it!) is not going to help. You can keep emailing them, but you are wasting your time because the policy is simply not there yet.

They cannot confirm something which has not yet been decided.

What "new applicants"? There will be no new applicants to Tier 1 G from April 2011!

New applicants for PBS migrants. E.g. new Tier 1 category, Tier 1 PSW, Tier 2, Tier 4 etc.

ukswus wrote:

mulderpf wrote:I think you guys are reading way too much into this.

They are currently formulating exact rules for new applicants from April onwards. Only once they know what the rules are for new applicants do I think they can decide what to do with existing visa holders.

By muscling someone from UKBA who has no say into policy and probably does not know what the new policy will entail (Theresa May probably doesn't know either, because they are still formulating it!) is not going to help. You can keep emailing them, but you are wasting your time because the policy is simply not there yet.

They cannot confirm something which has not yet been decided.

What "new applicants"? There will be no new applicants to Tier 1 G from April 2011!

Exactly, the only applicant for tier1G from April 2011 will be those for extension, so what stops them from letting us know instead of waiting till April unless ofcourse they are planning of changing things even more...

mulderpf wrote:New applicants for PBS migrants. E.g. new Tier 1 category, Tier 1 PSW, Tier 2, Tier 4 etc.

I agree to wsus : there won't be new applicants at all. Tier1(General) is now closed afaik. So we are only left with people like me who are on route to ILR or existing Tier1 holders who are on route on their Extension.

PSW ain't going anywhere me thinks.


also, if UKBA isn't clear about info then instead of giving out mixed replies, why don't they advise the workers (email handlers) to just reply in a SAME TEMPLATE to everyone.

hope this helps.

innocentdevil wrote:

mulderpf wrote:New applicants for PBS migrants. E.g. new Tier 1 category, Tier 1 PSW, Tier 2, Tier 4 etc.

I agree to wsus : there won't be new applicants at all. Tier1(General) is now closed afaik. So we are only left with people like me who are on route to ILR or existing Tier1 holders who are on route on their Extension.

PSW ain't going anywhere me thinks.


also, if UKBA isn't clear about info then instead of giving out mixed replies, why don't they advise the workers (email handlers) to just reply in a SAME TEMPLATE to everyone.

hope this helps.

This is exactly what they have done. They have advised their call centre workers to just reply:

"At present we do not have specific information on how these changes will affect migrants that are currently in the UK."

which is a clear indication that there isn't any policy in place for extensions. If extensions were meant to be closed, they could have simply replied tier 1 general is closed and so are extensions. This is clear indication they are formulating a new policy for existing migrants and might say something altogether in January with details of new tier 1 routes and changes.

viki83 wrote:

innocentdevil wrote:

mulderpf wrote:New applicants for PBS migrants. E.g. new Tier 1 category, Tier 1 PSW, Tier 2, Tier 4 etc.

I agree to wsus : there won't be new applicants at all. Tier1(General) is now closed afaik. So we are only left with people like me who are on route to ILR or existing Tier1 holders who are on route on their Extension.

PSW ain't going anywhere me thinks.


also, if UKBA isn't clear about info then instead of giving out mixed replies, why don't they advise the workers (email handlers) to just reply in a SAME TEMPLATE to everyone.

hope this helps.

This is exactly what they have done. They have advised their call centre workers to just reply:

"At present we do not have specific information on how these changes will affect migrants that are currently in the UK."

which is a clear indication that there isn't any policy in place for extensions. If extensions were meant to be closed, they could have simply replied tier 1 general is closed and so are extensions. This is clear indication they are formulating a new policy for existing migrants and might say something altogether in January with details of new tier 1 routes and changes.

and that proves my point, why does it take them 2 emails back to back to send the second email. why not just send the first email in response

I have a really good news for Tier 1 general extensions after 2011. I have emailed Richard Jackson who was mentioned in the statement of changes document laid out today:

13.1 Queries specifically regarding this Statement of Changes only should be addressed to Richard
Jackson at the UK Border Agency on 0114 207 8373 or email to: Richard.Jackson@homeoffice.
gsi.gov.uk.

Source: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

This is reply I got:

Dear Mr Zafar,

Thank you for your e-mail. There will be transitional arrangements for
those who are already in the UK under Tier 1 (General) and are seeking
extensions. We will announce details of these transitional arrangements
on our website early in 2011.

Regards,
Richard

Richard Jackson
Immigration Policy
UK Border Agency
PO Box 3468, Sheffield, S3 8WA

Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to


-----Original Message-----
From: Waqar Zafar
Sent: 21 December 2010 11:52 AM
To: Jackson Richard (Immigration Policy)
Subject: Query regarding Tier 1 General Changes

Dear Sir,

I have read "statement of changes in immigration rules" document from
UKBA
site but it doesn't clearly mention the fate of existing tier 1 general

migrants who would require extensions after April 2011. There is a
widespread confusion after Home Secretary's announcement of closure of
Tier 1 general route from April 2011. It doesn't mention anything
regarding tier 1 general extension applications after April 2011. There

isn't any information on UKBA website. I tried contacting public
enquires
office of UKBA but they too haven't got any information.

It would be really kind and helpful to us if we can get some information

regarding extensions of visas for tier 1 general migrants after April
2011.

Regards,
Waqar Zafar

His email clarifies that there will be transitional arrangements for existing tier 1 general migrants

Thats good news but dont know what transitional arrangements the UKBA would levy for us...

I am applicable for extension in 2012 so lets wait n see.

viki83 wrote:I have a really good news for Tier 1 general extensions after 2011. I have emailed Richard Jackson who was mentioned in the statement of changes document laid out today:

13.1 Queries specifically regarding this Statement of Changes only should be addressed to Richard
Jackson at the UK Border Agency on 0114 207 8373 or email to: Richard.Jackson@homeoffice.
gsi.gov.uk.

Source: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

This is reply I got:

Dear Mr Zafar,

Thank you for your e-mail. There will be transitional arrangements for
those who are already in the UK under Tier 1 (General) and are seeking
extensions. We will announce details of these transitional arrangements
on our website early in 2011.

Regards,
Richard

Richard Jackson
Immigration Policy
UK Border Agency
PO Box 3468, Sheffield, S3 8WA

Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to


-----Original Message-----
From: Waqar Zafar
Sent: 21 December 2010 11:52 AM
To: Jackson Richard (Immigration Policy)
Subject: Query regarding Tier 1 General Changes

Dear Sir,

I have read "statement of changes in immigration rules" document from
UKBA
site but it doesn't clearly mention the fate of existing tier 1 general

migrants who would require extensions after April 2011. There is a
widespread confusion after Home Secretary's announcement of closure of
Tier 1 general route from April 2011. It doesn't mention anything
regarding tier 1 general extension applications after April 2011. There

isn't any information on UKBA website. I tried contacting public
enquires
office of UKBA but they too haven't got any information.

It would be really kind and helpful to us if we can get some information

regarding extensions of visas for tier 1 general migrants after April
2011.

Regards,
Waqar Zafar

His email clarifies that there will be transitional arrangements for existing tier 1 general migrants

pgaitonde wrote:Thats good news but dont know what transitional arrangements the UKBA would levy for us...

I am applicable for extension in 2012 so lets wait n see.

Correct, we need to wait till we know what the "transitional arrangement" actually are. Given the noises this government is making wrt immigration, I suspect they will make them as tough as they can without them being illegal.

Why doesn't Vince Cable go through on his words and bring the govt down !!

Also, in anticipation of the transitional arrangements being made clear, might be prudent for current T1G holders to maintain a "suitable" minimum balance in their bank accounts for the next few months. Obviously not sure what suitable is, but I am going by the minimum of 800 and doubling it (plus some) to 2000.

gregshukla wrote:Incidentally, in anticipation of the transitional arrangements being made clear, might be prudent for current T1G holders to maintain a "suitable" minimum balance in their bank accounts for the next few months.

Previously when HSMP was closed in 2008 they made transitional arrangements for them and they could apply for ILR after 4 years and they kept everything same for those guys. I think out here also it should remain same.

gregshukla wrote:Also, in anticipation of the transitional arrangements being made clear, might be prudent for current T1G holders to maintain a "suitable" minimum balance in their bank accounts for the next few months. Obviously not sure what suitable is, but I am going by the minimum of 800 and doubling it (plus some) to 2000.

Given the track record of UKBA, keep all documents ready for anytime submission. I always keep everything ready except filled application form so that if they announce anything today, I can post application tomorrow.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... e-overseas

"Tier 1 (General) overseas will not reopen for applications. Tier 1 (General) in the UK will remain open until 5 April 2011. There will be transitional arrangements beyond 6 April 2011 for some applicants who are already in the UK, and we will announce details of these in due course"


It is a good news for people already here. Guys don't worry everything should be fine.

Cheers

rajaram20 wrote:http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... e-overseas

"Tier 1 (General) overseas will not reopen for applications. Tier 1 (General) in the UK will remain open until 5 April 2011. There will be transitional arrangements beyond 6 April 2011 for some applicants who are already in the UK, and we will announce details of these in due course"


It is a good news for people already here. Guys don't worry everything should be fine.

Cheers

Hope so, but we will know for sure only once the "transitional arrangements" are set in stone by UKBA.