you're too kind, Obie.

but seriously, this is getting to be a joke... now The Telegraph is out-Daily Mail-ing the Daily Mail:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... nship.html

anything for a sensationalist headline eh?

Standards of journalism are indeed abysmal... this from the Graun.. tsk, tsk http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/aug/02/immigration-passport-points "Crucially, the move to a points-based system - rather than the current near-automatic right to citizenship for anyone who has lived in Britain for five y...

13th Oct.

Rupak, it is poor manners to hijack a forum thread. it is even worse if you are multiple posting the same message in other places. and on top of that, it is annoying that you cannot even google some basic things, such as UKBA guidelines on translated documents, or where to find solicitors in London....

no! you need to put in Sept 2004.

it clearly says: This refers to the date of your first entry into the UK at the beginning of the period of stay on which this application is based.

your application is based on a work permit stay. so put the date that marks the beginning of that period.

HMRB, I don't think you need to worry. I visited Malta in April, and when I went for my appointment in March, I was worried about the same thing since my UK residence visa is in my old passport too... but in the end it was not an issue at all - the lady at the consulate did not even mention it. enjo...

Unfair, yes, frustrating yes.. but against basic human rights?! why? these are the UK's basic human rights.. which of these are being violated? Right to life Freedom of expression and conscience Right to free assembly Right to personal privacy No arbitrary searches or seizures Right to respect for p...

Ocean77, you can't do that. it's very simple and straight - if you spend 3,4 or 5 years in the UK (depending on category), you get your ILR. they say you can apply 4 weeks early as it takes about that long to process. but 4 months early?? absolutely no reason why they should do that for you, or 6 mo...

hello, until late last year there were no exit checks, and only the entry stamp at your next destination would provide any clue as to your uk leaving date. recently the UK has started (or should i say restarted) exit checks at airports. as far as i know there is no major penalty for overstaying - af...

i suggest you don't take their estimates as the gospel truth because sometimes the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. there are many cases on this thread to prove it. booked travel is a fair case for an Urgent Treatment request. fax them the form and see what happens. don't lose heart. ...

i repeat: ALL documents EXCEPT the passport are required in ORIGINAL.

use charm, perserverance or a friendly senior to get your exp letters, but faking any docs would be a very bad idea.

as for your other docs - they seem fine - but also show your latest income tax returns, and your passport copy (ID page) must be notarised.

and yes of course you have to send your docs (all originals except for passport copy as above) to the UK...

unlike a student or tourist visa, where showing wealth and fixed assets tying you to your home country is a bonus (indicating that you will return after studies/visit), for HSMP this does not matter. an HSMP applicant is, by the very act of appying to a skilled MIGRANT program, indicating that he/sh...

i completely agree. i's go so far as to suggest that the moderators block Vorionsanty, who is without doubt the most annoying and inconsiderate member on this site. more like him and this forum loses its utility.

0114 207 4074 - i got through within half a minute

drwasim: great news!

drwasim, i feel you might have been a little hasty to withdraw your application. if you see my timelines above, you'll see that you might have got it in time. it usually takes a few days to assign a caseworker, but then the decision and stamping is pretty fast. if your visa is due to expire just 2 d...

Mrs Khan & Sajid:
If that is your practical experience, then by all means I accept your information.
Cheers!

darn: they send back the passport plus all the documents you have sent in the return envelope

got my extension today!!

please see the Extension Approval thread (sticky) for my timelines.

good luck everyone and thanks to those who replied with advice

s

Got my HSMP 4-year extension this morning!! Pleased as punch! Here's my timeline: Visa due to expire 02-11-2006 19 Aug - Application sent in by my agent. 23 Aug - Case reference number generated. 26 Aug - Acknowledgment letter with ref number received. 01 Sep - Urgent Treatment form faxed; Reason: S...

who says a british undergraduate degree is 4 years?? that's in USA.
the UK has 3 year bachelor's and 1 year master's degrees.
Sajid and Mrs Khan - i don't know where you got your info from, but I doubt it's accurate.

the royal mail website says: "If you have important documents to send and want to check on delivery, Recorded Signed For™ fits the bill. With proof of posting, signature on arrival and online confirmation of delivery, your delivery is easy to trace. It's great value too, at just 68p plus First or Se...

Angel:
I sent it in a couple of days before you did.
I suggest you wait another 2-3 days. If you don't get your docus back from them by friday/saturday, chase it up on monday.
Good luck
S

I applied for extension 10 weeks before the expiry of my visa because I have a trip to Germany next month and need to apply for a Schengen visa. I'm told my case has been decided (grant or refusal, I don't know) today [processing time 22 days], and hope to get my documents back tomorrow or day-after...