Early Extensions: Tightening the noose

I think its good

theroyale wrote:My Tier-1 expires Feb 2012. In the current uncertain climate would it make sense for me to apply for an extension before April 2011? Are there others who are thinking about doing this?

I would really appreciate some advice or thoughts on that as I am seriously considering doing that too.

Hi guys my leave expires August 2011...my case worker approved my extension to August 2013...I had PEO in Sheffield 16/3/11

Consider yourself lucky!

pjungfisio wrote:Hi guys my leave expires August 2011...my case worker approved my extension to August 2013...I had PEO in Sheffield 16/3/11

I applied 21 months earlier, My Tier 1 visa is till 3 jan 2013 but because of short of only 8 days for ILR i applied in this march because I just need 8 days. I dont trust HO because they say "Case worker may consider or may not" plus now I applied with my 3 dependant and paid 1600 and this gonna be 2500 after 6 april. I am sure its not possible for anybody to spend 2500 for extention and 3000 for ILR in the same year.

You would not be short as ILR can be applied after 4 years 11 months and not after the completion of full 5 years.

HSAG1D wrote:I think it is still very ambigous. It may mean both of the following:

1. even if application date - expiry date < 30 days, the new visa will start from the expiry date
2. even if application date - expiry date < 30 days, the new visa will start from the application date

so my question: if someone applies 29 days before their visa expires, as it is recommended, might there be a risk of becoming short for ILR?

I think the problem here is the ambiguity of the words used by the home office. Words like 'several' and 'significantly' earlier than a month is too vague. What is 'significant' here, is it 1,2,3 or 6 months before leave expires.

My own situation is as follows and I'd like anyone here to help me clarify

Initial VISA issued - 17 July 2008
Expiry Date - 16 July 2011

I'd like to apply between June 1st and 10th which will mean i would have applied for extension about 1 month and 10 - 15 days before expiration of current leave. The reason I'm doing this because i need to travel on 21/06/2011 and dont want to risk returning a few days before my current VISA expires or applying on 17th of June and not getting the Biometric Card back before 21st.

I dont suppose this should be a problem BUT its better to be safe than sorry.

I would be grateful if we can let me know what we think?

sharjeelpk wrote:I applied 21 months earlier, My Tier 1 visa is till 3 jan 2013 but because of short of only 8 days for ILR i applied in this march because I just need 8 days. I dont trust HO because they say "Case worker may consider or may not" plus now I applied with my 3 dependant and paid 1600 and this gonna be 2500 after 6 april. I am sure its not possible for anybody to spend 2500 for extention and 3000 for ILR in the same year.

You should not have applied. Infact you just wasted good money on your visa application


read this was announced on 3 Feb 11 by UKBA

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... evised-ilr#

http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewto ... ht=#478840

Hello sharjeelpk,

I am planning to apply about 18 months in advance, just wanted to know if u had any luck ort update on ur application..

Thanks,
Kavita

push wrote:See this

We encourage applications to be made at least a month before the applicant's
extant (still existing) leave expires. Applicants should note however that if the application is made significantly earlier than one month before the expiry of their leave, there is a risk of a shortfall in the required period of leave should they subsequently make an application for settlement. This is because any further leave to remain (for example Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settlement) is granted from the date that we make the decision, not the date the applicant's extant leave expires.

There are 2 problems with this..
if you apply within one month of expiry, you wont be sure you will get ur visa stamped in time in order to submit the visa to your employer.. as HO will not process your application untill you have submitted your biometrics..I heard its getting tough to get an appointment for the same..
secondly, if incase due to carelessness by case worker (which is happening a lot these days) if its rejected, then they will directly ask you to come n collect the passport from airport and then all appeal process from india..

its just too risky..

i have thought one option to apply earlier but mentioning a valid reason in the covering letter that is..
if like my case.. tier 1 visa expires in dec 2011, am intending to apply in august mentioning that I have an office trip to europe end of november and i need to apply for schengan visa. Schengan visa rules state that yoy must have a min of 3 months left on your UK visa...
i think it will work but want to know if someone have used this trick before...

tirfk wrote:secondly, if incase due to carelessness by case worker (which is happening a lot these days) if its rejected, then they will directly ask you to come n collect the passport from airport and then all appeal process from india..

Your assumptions are completely incorrect.

sushdmehta wrote:Your assumptions are completely incorrect.

I thought if the visa expired while it is with home office and of they reject it, do they still post it and give you time to leave the UK?

HSAG1D wrote:Is there anybody who applied 2-3 months before their visa expiry date and issued a visa from the date of their initial visa's expiry recently?

The use of the word "significantly" in the policy really needs to be clarified, as it just doesn't sound fair to leave it as a judgement call on a case by case basis. I know there is a solution to all this, i.e. apply exactly 28 days before current visa expiry, but surely they should allow and specify a little more of a window, e.g. apply between 1-2 months or 1-3 months before current visa expiry.

I'm extra annoyed as my current visa expiry date is in mid-Jan 2012, and I'm really desperate to spend Xmas and NY back home (where it's warm), which I can't do if my passport will be held up at the home office from mid-Dec 2011. Isn't there a forum out there that can influence some of these issues/decisions with UK immigration policy makers? After all, it's not an unreasonable expectation to seek clarity and consistency.

If we can apply a 2nd extension to make up the 5 years after the 1st extension, then we do not need to worry about short of years to get settlement anymore.
I am NOT considering the extra cost here.
Any thoughts?

If we can apply a 2nd extension to make up the 5 years after the 1st extension, then we do not need to worry about short of years to get settlement anymore.
I am NOT considering the extra cost here.
Any thoughts?

Yep. I'm going with the same idea - don't care that I have to extend for the 2nd time.

I now personally know 2 people who got approved for early extensions, one of them almost 11 months prior to visa expiry date.

If you Qualify and as long as you have a reason like: a long overseas trip, buying a house - getting mortgage, changing a jobs, your sickness, Marriage, Pregnancy, your parents illness etc etc they won't say no. The only issue is that the Visa will start from the date of approval and not from the date of current visa expiry.

Thinking about it, They actually make more money if people apply for additional extensions. However, a lot depend on the Case officer as well, but usually, as long as you have a cover letter explaining why you need an early extension, you will not have a problem.

theroyale wrote:

If we can apply a 2nd extension to make up the 5 years after the 1st extension, then we do not need to worry about short of years to get settlement anymore.
I am NOT considering the extra cost here.
Any thoughts?

Yep. I'm going with the same idea - don't care that I have to extend for the 2nd time.

sounds like people have got money to waste

mtuckersa wrote:sounds like people have got money to waste

Exactly. And we dont even know how much would an extension cost next year. And the year after.....

I don't know what's the fuss ! I've been scouring the forum for people who have applied within this '3 months' grace and got their ILR.

I intend to 'waste' my money and apply for 2nd extension for my piece of mind - this is unless enough people post their experience of getting it. The guidelines are just not clear enough, how soon can one apply? It's still very confusing to me and i've read the guidance, law changes and many posts in this forum.

Does anyone know if having spent time in the UK under the working holiday visa then switching to the tier 1 (general) when time comes for settlement can I claim the 6months i was residing in the UK under the working holiday visa to make up for the 5 year residence requirement for indefinite leave to remain?