Final status update: Passport for: Adult Application Type: New Method of application: Online (new process now available) Date of application: 01/04/2014 Date application received by IPS: 02/04/2014 Received request for more information: 24/04/2014 (dated 20/04/2014) Responded with requested informat...

For those interested, I used the brand-new online application process for a passport on 1-Apr-2014. It is a very smooth process, where you fill in all your details, make payment, then print out a declaration to sign and have countersigned. Unfortunately, the process has some bugs. Nowhere on the dec...

Passport for: Adult Application Type: New Method of application: Online (new process now available) Date of application: 01/04/2014 Date application received by IPS: 02/04/2014 Received request for more information: 24/04/2014 (dated 20/04/2014) Responded with requested information: 25/04/2014 Date ...

Hey ppl; Has any one called HO after they received there brown envlp/ approvals..? This is to check if there system update is totally not updated? Like i have seen many ppl contacting them, and getting response such as incomplete, no decision made yet etc.. And then getting there envlps... This wil...

Unable to edit my posts for some reason, so I'm updating thusly: Eligibility criteria: HSMP(2yrs) + Tier 1(3yrs) => ILR + 1yr Language criteria met: exempt Current nationality: USA Method of application: NCS Hackney Date of application: 17/12/2013 Payment method: CC Date of receipt by UKBA: ? Date o...

Unable to edit my posts for some reason, so I'm updating thusly: Eligibility criteria: HSMP(2yrs) + Tier 1(3yrs) => ILR + 1yr Language criteria met: exempt Current nationality: USA Method of application: NCS Hackney Date of application: 17/12/2013 Payment method: CC Date of receipt by UKBA: ? Date o...

Eligibility criteria: HSMP(2yrs) + Tier 1(3yrs) => ILR + 1yr Language criteria met: exempt Current nationality: USA Method of application: NCS Hackney Date of application: 17/12/2013 Payment method: CC Date of receipt by UKBA: ? Date of acknowledgment: 20/01/2014 Date of receipt of ack: sometime bef...

Eligibility criteria: HSMP(2yrs) + Tier 1(3yrs) => ILR + 1yr Language criteria met: exempt Current nationality: USA Method of application: NCS Hackney Date of application: 17/12/2013 Payment method: CC Date of receipt by UKBA: ? Date of acknowledgment: 20/01/2014 Date of receipt of ack: sometime bef...

Thanks for the heads-up. I've edited the post accordingly. I had originally included that tidbit, but it was lost among edits. Also please bear in mind that the pertinent paragraph was only meant to illustrate the differences between ILR and Naturalisation, which I've found to be confusing in the pa...

Just a couple of clarifications for you, and any observers. 1) Once you have ILR, all further applications (i.e. Naturalisation) are considered solely on the basis of having obtained ILR (by whatever means), *except* in the case that you are applying for Naturalisation as the spouse or civil partner...

Final Update: Went to my appointment at the PEO, and all went smoothly. The caseworker had no questions about my application. It took longer than other applications, due to the fact that I'm a Tier 1 candidate with a limited company, but in general, the whole process was very smooth. As an aside: I ...

Update: I received the results of my Subject Access Request (SAR) at the weekend. It would appear that they honoured the 40-day time limit for requests. Interestingly, they only had on file one boarding card, from my original arrival in the UK, and three electronic arrival/departure records. One of ...

My impression, from numerous conversations, is that UKBA are making things harder for Tier 1 (General) applicants due to the excessive fraud they've experienced, especially among self-employed applicants. This probably has something to do with the different restrictions. Also, an entrepreneur with e...

Update: I met with my lawyer this morning, and he confirmed that UKBA generally only goes by the stamps in your passport, to confirm any absences. Of course, this information is often woefully incomplete. You could, conceivably, submit whatever dates you can remember, based on what is in your passpo...

I agree that the phrase "If total of *all* absences..." is the concern. If you look at my quotes in the above post, you'll see that they used the term "6 months" instead of "180 days". Regardless, it appears that they rearranged the wording/paragraphs in such a way as to change the way things are in...

UPDATE: I spoke at length this morning with an immigration lawyer, who was highly recommended by a friend who also had issues with his ILR application. He made the following points, which I thought might be of use to readers of this thread: 1) UKBA generally, by default, goes by the information in t...

Thank you very much for the advice. I should have mentioned, in response to @p2kin, that I submitted a SAR request on 01-Oct to UKBA, in order to ascertain what data they have on file with regard to my absences. I should have that back by mid-November, at which time I'll post a follow-up here. That ...

@mcove: I'm using the latest SET(O) version 7/2012. At the bottom of page 24, under the part of section 9 relating to Tier 1 visa holders, there is the following question: D2: Please confirm whether you have been outside of the UK for any single absence over 3 months or one or more absences which am...

Ok, I've just discovered that I may be over the 180-day limit for absences in the 5-year qualifying period for my ILR. (I am applying in December in-person at the PEO.) The problem is, it's difficult to piece together the dates of all my travel during that period. My entry stamps are scattered acros...

From the old Annex F guidance: there have been longer absences abroad, provided the absences were for compelling grounds either of a compassionate nature or for reasons related to the applicant's employment or business in the United Kingdom. None of the absences abroad should be of more than 3 month...

Hi Guys, I am having the same issue with my application. I entered the UK on the HSMP on 13-Jan 2008. I was here for 2 years on that status, and was then granted a 3-year leave under Tier 1 (General). I have also been worried about what was being asked for in section 11L. I just called the Immigrati...