Current Processing Times - Help us to help you

Guys
Today morning I made call to HO and they said it is under consideration and yet allocated to Case worker.

After 1 hour my wife called me and said she received the post and Extension approved...

Means Ho Systems are not up to date...

Dont depend on them and dont waste time by calling them

its my experience

I received my documents today. Here are my details:

Applied : 25/06/2008
Category: WP-> Tier 1 (self and dependant)
Reference Number Received Letter Dated: 26/08/2008
Payment Deducted from Bank : 02/07/2008
Approval Letter Date : 08/08/2008
Visa Stamped on (Self): 20/08/2008
Visa Stamped on (Dependent): 28/08/2008
Documents Received On : 03/09/2008
Visa Valid Till: 08/08/2011

Some of the points about my supporting documents:

1. Never wrote a cover letter, I was immensely tensed when I came to this forum for the first time and saw people looking for cover letter template.

2. Like many, I had Indian Salary and UK allowance. I only showed last 9 months payslips because that period I worked in India and did not want to confuse case workers with the income band by showing earning from both the countries. Added 9 months gross slaary, convrted to Pound and multiplied by 5.3.


Some Key points about Follow-up:

1. 50% of the case workers do ask your reference number. If you have not sent an UTR still you can say that you have sent one and then they will atleast ask your reference number and search if they have received your UTR. I used this trick.

2. Once the aplication is with the case worker, UTR no longer helps, it only helps to speed-up the case reaching the case worker. From the time my status was with caseworker, all the CC guy said , no need to send UTR now.

3. All the cases reach case worker manager, if you manage to speak to a nice CC guys and listen to that, chances are that your case is through. The day I heard this, I was relaxed.

5. This Monday, I came across a CC guy who was very helpful , told me that my visa is approved and told me that he is writing an email to speed-up my processing (stamping/dispatch). I am quite sure that only because of his email, I received the document today (i.e. just after 2 days).

6. Best time to call homeoffice is 9AM. I never waited or got disconnected calling at that time. If you face a rough guy, hangup and call again. Someone more helpful might pick the phone next time. I had to hangup twice on a day since the same guy picked the phone twice.


All those, who are waiting , my best wishes for all of you, I am sure you are going to announce your good result soon.

Some hope for me.
Sent Urgent Treat ment last week thru royal mail as well faxed copy 28/08.

I spoke to HO , they confirmed that my urgent treatment application has been recieved and accepted for urgent treatment.
However he refused to suggest me when I can expect a decision, which seem logical.
Any way I will be calling HO on Froday again

Now mt timelines are
Wp to Tier 1
Applied on 08/08/08
Payment deducted: 14/08/08
Reference Number received on :18/08/08
Urgent Treatment confirmed on 04/09/08

Hi,

Called up HO today morning, last week i got a call from CW to fax a page in the applcn form, from then i was trying repeatedly to confirm the receipt of fax, and only today i got a confirmation that the fax has been received, and my case status is as expected STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION
Fingers crossed.

Tier1 to WP
Date applied: 27 Jun 2008
Ref no: 01 Jul 2008
Status: Awaiting

Have just managed to speak with one of the generous CW, who after looking into my details told that yesterday afternoon my documents have been dispatched to my home address via Royal Mail. And I should receive my documents in couple of days. Though I didnt ask the outcome but he said Visa has been granted.
So let;s see, I'll confirm other details when I receive my documents back.

hop4best

Applied : 23rd July
Ref No. Received : 24th July (Date as on Ref letter)
Fee Deducted : 29th July
Another letter containing same Ref no received on 31st July.
Made first call to CC today and was given above details.

Just received call from home, documents have been delivered.
Visa granted till Aug 2011.

Will post complete details this evening after I check the documents,

All the best to people who are waiting...

hop4best...

Applied : 23rd July
Ref No. Received : 24th July (Date as on Ref letter)
Fee Deducted : 29th July
Another letter containing same Ref no received on 31st July.
Status : Visa granted till Aug 2011
Docs Received - 04th Sep.

Congrats to hop4best!!!

Did u make request for urgent treatment or this was without UTR??

Phew! Happy to say I just got my passport back AND stamped til Aug 2011. Soooo happy. Don't have all the dates in front of me but here ya go:

Type: HSMP Extension to Tier 1 General
Payment processed: 7 July 2008
Approval Letter Date: 20 Aug 2008
Approval Letter Received: 4 September 2008

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement.

Dear friends,

I just got an email from my company's immigration consultant that she has received my documents and I have been approved!

IGS to Tier 1 (UK application)

My timeline is as follows:

Application submitted to consultant on July 23
Ref letter from HO received with date July 31
Tier 1 granted with Expiry of 20 Aug 2011
Docs received by consultant today: Sept 4

I am very appreciate to all on this board for sharing their advice, timelines and help. I haven't posted before, but wanted to say that reading about all of you going through it all too has been very helpful.

Good luck to all!
Autumn

My timelines are as follows:

Applied for: Switch from WP to Tier1
Application Date: 1st July
App recd by Home Office: 2nd July
Payment Deducted: 9th July (Cheque Payment)
Visa granted till: 18th Aug 2011
Docs recd: 04th Sep.

No urgent treatment request sent and did no follow-ups with Home Office. This forum has been a great help during this time and used to check it quite often.

Cheers

Hi friends,

Below is the timeline of my request (applied within UK):

WP -> TIER1 (With dependants)

Applied : 23rd July
Ref No. Received : 24th July (Date as on Ref letter)
Fee Deducted : 29th July
* Another letter containing same Ref no received early August (dated 31st July)
Approval Date: 19th Aug
Visa Stamped: 29th Aug
Docs Received - 04th Sep.

I didn't make any urgent treatment request, as I was reading comments on this forum regulary I thought to give a call to CC yesterday evening. Today made a call at around 10:00 am and there was a kind CW who took my details and said my documents have been dispatched yesterday afternoon (what a co-incidence !!!) via Royal mail recorded delivery (I didn't send any special delivery envelope may be as I wasn't aware if we should do...and may be I only came to know about this forum after I applied)
Well that's all I have to tell...wish you guys all the best for your applications...

hop4best

It was quick for hop4best..... congrats..

I applied on 31st July.... so hopefully, i should expect some action soon....

This is frustrating. I applied on the 28th of June and I am still getting a "still under consideration"

aragorn99 wrote:This is frustrating. I applied on the 28th of June and I am still getting a "still under consideration"

Don't worry abut the replies you get from CCs... As per the time-lines I've been observing here, you ehould expect the documents soon. Regarding the 'under consideration' status, even if you check with HO after receiving passport you might get the same answer

WP -> tier 1
applied 14th July 08
money deducted 15th July

Current status: awaiting...

i think u shd hav get by this time...dont worry you will get this week..

Hi All,
I am exploring my options of applying for HSMP for UK.
I would appreciate if someone can help me clear my doubts.

1--How much fee is needed to apply
2--I have 3 years of exp. as a software engineer --is this enough
3--How much time does it takes to get the visa.
4-- I had done my graduation from IGNOU and i have no master degree--Is that enough.
5-- can some one suggest me some good agent who can assist me in getting this visa.


Your lil Help will be really appreciated

hi aragorn99,
did u applied with dependents.I applied on 23rd june with dependents.Called HO today and they told me that my application is still under consideration.Probably the application with dependents are taking time.

WP to Tier-1 applied from UK without dependents

Applied on 21st Aug'08
Refernce Number Date : 26th Aug'08
Payment Detected : 27th Aug'08
Result : Awaiting


It seems that those who have applied in the month of July are getting their applications processed faster

june20 wrote:hi aragorn99,
did u applied with dependents.I applied on 23rd june with dependents.Called HO today and they told me that my application is still under consideration.Probably the application with dependents are taking time.

yeah, thats probably why.I can not understand why though, all they have to do is to stamp it.

aragorn99 wrote:This is frustrating. I applied on the 28th of June and I am still getting a "still under consideration"

Hi aragorn99/june20,

I have also applied on 28th Jun and got the docs yesterday. See my post in "Any Tier-1 (General) new applicants??" forum where I have updated my timelines. I have written about cc when I called them . Don't frustrate. You will get docs. very soon.

Friends,

Can any one tell me the phone number where I can call and ask for my status. It become too late since I applied and I have never called CC. Now it worries me a bit and I should call and enquire at least once.

Applied : 23-June-2008
App Received@HO : 24-June-2008
Money Debited : 27-June-2008
Reference No Rcvd : 01-July-2008
Status : Still not received.

Thanks for your help in advance.

number is 01142074074.

i have the same timelines as you and still waiting.............. and waiting ...................................

still under consideration

lovetier1 wrote:Friends,

Can any one tell me the phone number where I can call and ask for my status. It become too late since I applied and I have never called CC. Now it worries me a bit and I should call and enquire at least once.

Applied : 23-June-2008
App Received@HO : 24-June-2008
Money Debited : 27-June-2008
Reference No Rcvd : 01-July-2008
Status : Still not received.

Thanks for your help in advance.

To reply,

First I don't think you should have used this thread for this question. This is mainly for discussing about current processing times.

Anyway I'll answer and the mod hopefully can move this to the appropiate thread in this forum.

First, HSMP is no more. Its termed as Tier-1 General. Mainly a points based system.

Fee depends on which country u apply from. If you apply from UK its £750. Look at the Teir-1 general web-page for other countries.

Work exp in terms of years do not now count for anything. Points are given for earnings that you have made in the past 12 months (or 12 out of the previous 15 months of employment). They have different coversion rates for different countries depending where you have earned that salary. Again look at the web page.

Education for a first degree level you get 20 points I think, For masters 30 for a phd 50. I am not familiar with what IGNOU, but you will know which one of those points you would qualify for.

You also get points for age. Look at the web site for how much you get based on how old you are.

Apart from this you need to show level of knowledge in English and have a certain minimum amount of money in the bank for over 3 months. In UK its £800 I think.

Lawyers are many. They provide an array of services. Mainly, they organise your documents and make sure you have the correct documents to apply. There is also a part for them to fill.

You should look at the home office web-page in relation to Tier-1 general and 10 min of reading you will get answers to most of these questions.



[quote="AmitSood"]Hi All,
I am exploring my options of applying for HSMP for UK.
I would appreciate if someone can help me clear my doubts.

1--How much fee is needed to apply
2--I have 3 years of exp. as a software engineer --is this enough
3--How much time does it takes to get the visa.
4-- I had done my graduation from IGNOU and i have no master degree--Is that enough.
5-- can some one suggest me some good agent who can assist me in getting this visa.


Your lil Help will be really appreciated[/quote]

Hi Vijay,

I have a similar situation as to yours,

My timelines:
Wp to Tier 1
Applied on 18/08/08
Payment deducted: 19/08/08
Reference Number (dated) 21/08/08.

Can u help me with whether is there any format for UTR to be sent to HO and also i wanted to know what did u mention in the UTR for it to be considered..

thanks Buddy.

vijayvvd wrote:Some hope for me.
Sent Urgent Treat ment last week thru royal mail as well faxed copy 28/08.

I spoke to HO , they confirmed that my urgent treatment application has been recieved and accepted for urgent treatment.
However he refused to suggest me when I can expect a decision, which seem logical.
Any way I will be calling HO on Froday again

Now mt timelines are
Wp to Tier 1
Applied on 08/08/08
Payment deducted: 14/08/08
Reference Number received on :18/08/08
Urgent Treatment confirmed on 04/09/08