Tier 1 (General) extension applications - PEO Experiences

Further to my previous post, I received my BRP card today.

The BRP card confirms that my Tier 1 General leave to remain is now valid till 04 June, 2017. I basically, received my card in less than 48 hours of applying.

General Information:
---------------------------

1. Current vignette: Tier 1 (General) Extension (2nd)
2. Date of PEO Appointment: 13-JUNE-2014 (11:00am)
3. Number of Applicants: 3
4. Employment: Salary+Dividend ( Limited Company )
5. Date of expiry of current leave (visa): August-2014
6. Date of expiry of the new visa: 13-Jun-2017
7. Payment mode: Credit Card, Paid it during appointment booking
8. Name of PEO Applied: Croydon
9. Decision : Approved (on the same day)
9: Approval letter: Received (on the same day)
10. BRP Received on: 15- Awaiting...

Timeline:
10:45 am : Arrived at Croydon PEO office
11:00 am : Security Check
11:15 am : Received the token number
11:25 am : token number called noted my current address and scanned all photographs
11:45am : token number called and Biometrics taken. The biometric lady took all the documents and said it will take around an hour.
I chose to seat in cafeteria watching the progress of my application through TV tracker
14:00 pm : I say on TV tracker that my token number was displayed with a message "documents ready for collection"
14:10 pm : Received an approval letter from case worker, no questions asked. There was no validity date mentioned so I asked the case worker about the validity then he said they approved it for 3 yrs.

Document submitted:

1. Application Form - 3 [Main Applicant + 2 Dependents]
2. PBS Calculator online printed
3. Passports + BRP + Photos for All Applicants( Copies Submitted for Passport & BRP )
4. Accountant letter confirming payslip and dividend amounts ( Copy submitted )
5. Payslips ( Copy Submitted )
6. Dividend vouchers ( Copy Submitted )
7. Personal bank statements for 12 months ( Copy Submitted )
8. Business bank statements for 12 months ( Copy Submitted )

Additional Documents
------------------------------

VAT Certificate
VAT Returns
Company In Corporation Certificate
Marriage Certificate

Any Questions pls let me know...!!!

Cheers,

My second tier-1 extension was approved this Saturday without any hassle. Below are my details.


Intital Visa - 12-Jul-2010 to 12-Jul-2012
First extension - 12-Jul-2012 to 12-Jul-2015
Second extension - 17-sep-2014 to 17-sep-2017 ( Awaiting BRP)

I entered UK more than 90 days late hence I needed second extension.


Category : Ltd company director withdrawing salary+Dividends(Although I claimed only dividends for my earnings)

Appointment was at 10AM



9.25 - Arrived at Croydon office and went through Airport security check
9.45 - Payment confirmation page verified and provided with token number
9.55 - Went through Bio-metric finger prints and photo,submitted the supporting documents
10.05 - Case under consideration
10.45 - Documents ready for collection
11.00 - Out of Lunar house and off to a pub

That was the fastest visa extension process I ever had in my entire life. Hassle free. I didn't get to see case worker. I guess booking on Saturday also helped as the crowd was very less.



Documents submitted

- Application form
- two photographs
- Passport & BRP
- Personal bank statements for last 12 months
- Business bank statements for last 12 months
- Business invoices for last 12 months
- Dividend vouchers ( only 4 of them as I withdraw quarterly dividends)
- Client contract
- Account letter confirming dividends
- P & L account and balance sheet from accountant
- Company registration certificate***
- VAT Certificate***
- SATR Form (2013-2014)***
- CT 600 form(2013-2014)***


***These documents were optional I think but I submitted anyway to avoid the hassle of IO asking me questions when I enter UK at airport in future about my tax affairs.


Few exception about my application
- Applied almost an year before the visa expiry date
- submitted only 4 dividend vouchers scattered around various dates which covered my visa extension
voucher dates :
02-jan-14
15-Feb-14
05-May-14
31-Jun-14


Happy to answer any questions as I have made use of this forum for both of my extensions.

Hi Bond.boy,

Congratulations on your successful application. I am going to apply for my Tier 1 extension next month and I am also self employed. I have few question regarding your application. I will be very thankful if you provide some guidance.

1) Me and my wife are each 50% shareholder of the company and I am the main applicant and sole earner. Will it cause any issue in my application?
2) Why you need to submit your business bank statement or business invoices? (Isn't my personal bank statement, payslips and dividend vouchers are enough?)
3) Is your accountant sign and stamp payslips ? (My accountant have gave me printed payslips on letter head but they are not sign n stamp).

Regards

PEO Birmingham Solihull
Application: SET (O)
Applicant: Man applicant along with dependent applied both for ILR
Status: Approved
Time frame: 3 hours in total
Experience: Pleasant
Recommended this center: Always

Application:

I have 2 x kids, both born in UK but I applied SET (O) form only for myself and Mrs.

Reaching to Center:

I had an appointment in morning at 9:40 am at Solihull -Driving from London was a little nightmare. As much as I tried to leave home at 6:00 am in the morning but could not leave as you may be aware of preparing for kids and other stuff always takes time, left home at 6:45 am from East London – Weather was not favorable as it was fully rainy day, road works kept me in stress and on top of this my kid had some travel sickness so had to stop at service centers to ensure they are OK before I drive. Over all journey from London to Birmingham was fairly stressful. Keeping in mind all of these kind of stuffs I was little regretting either I should have left even earlier or should have reached to Birmingham a night before. Due to all the above issues I could not reach on time and whilst driving and continuous stress I missed the closes parking (John Lewis parking) which is just 1 min walk to Home Office and I continue driving towards alternate parking found another one which is about 5-6 mins walk to Home Office. by the time I entered into the parking I was already 20 mins late and tried looking the change just £4 /day parking fee which was pay and display but you can feel the situation I did not have that much change – I found £2 in my wallet – and I rushed again to my Mrs. to find if she has some changes and luckily she had £2 also, immediately ran back to the display machine- got the parking pay and display ticket. Got the stuff and rushed towards the Home Office with 2 x kids – it took us more 15 mins, incl parking and walking with kids to the Home Office. Anyways in all we were about 30-35 mins late than the appointment.

Lesson: Well prepared for the time, keep some changes and better to leave earlier than the targeted time 

At Home Office:

As soon as reached to home office, security opened the door and let us in, 2 nice ladies on counter asked my name and verified our names in the list, I apologized for coming late they were so nice to say NO PROBLEMS. I was relieved there – after quick security clearance we settled ourselves, we got the ticket number, and waited for our number to be called off, in 20 mins our number was called to go to the counter – registration guy was very nice he all took all our documents, he asked for photo copies but only for Passports and BRP’s. He then checked the application form and asked me to produce any supporting documents I wish to submit the application which I produced him whatever I had. (I also told him if anything else you require please let me know I have lot more documents in different bag) he returned our original passports for Bio metric process. For him to register us, checking visa form and collecting documents took around 15 mins. Once he done with us, he then asked us to wait for Biometrics call. In about 5 mins or so we got call to go to the biometrics process which took us around 15 mins in total. (The lady for biometrics yet again was amazing person as others). She kept our original passports.

As soon we are done with Biometrics, security officer came to me and said your application is in process now – you can go outside and we will call you on your number, I asked how long it will take, he said usually 2 hours. It was 11:00 am when we went outside from home office.

Outside / Waiting time:

After submitting documents and bio metrics we went outside, went to John Lewis for window shopping, and its café had breakfast – stayed there for an hour or so. Whilst sitting in café around 12:00 I received the call from case worker asking that he checked from previous application that my kids applied with me, why not this time? I was not prepared for the answer but said honestly that I will apply for their registration, he confirmed so you will apply later, I said yes. He said this is OK just wanted to check where the kids are. Anyways I also mentioned him if you require any other documents please call me before you decide my application. He said I have gone through all documents and are fine but still your case is in progress. I said fine, thank you and hanged up the phone. After an hour we left John Lewis and were hanging around for no reason, about 12:45 we decided to go back to center to request them to sit inside as we had nowhere to go. Went there security confirmed with the supervisory and they let us in. as soon we cleared the security and the lady confirmed your application is just ready, in next min guy came down with our paper work and he handed over to us all our paper work confirming our applications are GRANTED .

Experience:

All and all at Solihull was great experience and it is recommended to book an appointment there.

Case Documents:

SET (O) Form (one form for both, main applicant and dependent).
Limited company, payslips, Dividends, Accountant letters, company accounts, invoices, personal and business bank statements.
Cohabitation letters as much as I had, mostly were from separate names, from previous and current address (as we moved to current place a year ago). Made GP letter as well for my wife.

Hope this helps.

Thanks
Kam

General Information:
---------------------------

1. Current vignette: Tier 1 (General) Extension (2nd)
2. Date of PEO Appointment: 07-NOV-2014 (08:35am)
3. Number of Applicants: 2
4. Employment: Salary
5. Date of expiry of current leave (visa): October-2015
6. Date of expiry of the new visa: 07-Nov-2017
7. Payment mode: Credit Card, Paid it during appointment booking
8. Name of PEO Applied: Croydon
9. Decision : Approved (on the same day)
9: Approval letter: Received (on the same day)
10. BRP Received on: Awaiting...

Timeline:
08:15 am : Arrived at Croydon PEO office
08:20 am : Security Check
08:35 am : Received the token number
08:45:am : token number called, details taken and photographs scanned
09:00:am : token number called and Biometrics taken. The biometric person took all the documents and said it will take 60-90 mins.
09:40 am : Message on the tracker saying "documents ready for collection"
09:45 am : Received an approval letter from case worker, no questions asked. There was no validity date mentioned so I asked the case worker about the validity then he said they approved it for 3 yrs.

Document submitted:

1. Application Form - 2 [Main Applicant + 1 Dependents]
2. PBS Calculator online printed
3. Passports + BRP + Photos for All Applicants( Copies Submitted for Passport & BRP )
5. Payslips ( Original and copies )
6. Letter from Employer(Original and Copies)
7. Personal bank statements for 12 months ( Original and Copies )
8. Covering Letter

No more additional documents submitted.

Any Questions pls let me know...!!!

Hi,
Congrats for the ext.just to know what content did the employer letter carry ?
And was ur 1st ext and 2nd ext based on direct employment ?
Thanks

Go12 wrote:Hi,
Congrats for the ext.just to know what content did the employer letter carry ?
And was ur 1st ext and 2nd ext based on direct employment ?
Thanks

Hi Go12,

The employer letter stated my service length, current designation , gross annual salary and also i got a table printed with my gross and net salary for the last 12 month along with date of salary credit.

1st and 2nd extension were both based on Full time employment.

What would you say the average time it takes to receive a BRP?

My appointment is a Thursday but I have a flight the following Friday (8 days after). Wonder if it's too close?

1. Current vignette: Tier 1 (General) Extension (2nd)
2. Date of PEO Appointment: 02-Jan-2015 (08:35am)
3. Number of Applicants: 1
4. Employment: Salary
5. Date of expiry of current leave (visa): October-2015
6. Date of expiry of the new visa: 02-Jan-2018
7. Payment mode: Credit Card, Paid it during appointment booking
8. Name of PEO Applied: Croydon
9. Decision : Approved (on the same day)
9: Approval letter: Received (on the same day)
10. BRP Received on: Received on 06-Jan-2015

Timeline:
08:15 am : Arrived at Croydon PEO office
08:18 am : Security Check
08:25 am : Received the token number
08:40:am : token number called, details taken and photographs scanned
09:15:am : token number called and Biometrics taken. The biometric person took all the documents and said please wait in cafeteria.
10:00 am : Message on the tracker saying "documents ready for collection"
10:05 am : Received an approval letter from case worker, no questions asked. There was no validity date mentioned.

Document submitted:

1. Application Form - 1 Main Applicant
2. PBS Calculator online printed
3. Passports + BRP + Photos (Copies Submitted for Passport & BRP )
5. Payslips ( Original and copies )
6. Letter from Employer(Original and Copies)
7. Personal bank statements for 12 months ( Original and Copies )
8. Driving licence

No more additional documents submitted.

1. Application: Tier 1 (General) Extension (2nd)
2. Date of PEO Appointment: 14-Jan-2015 (Time: 1230)
3. Number of Applicants: 1
4. Employment: Salary
5. Date of expiry of current leave (visa): October-2015
6. Date of expiry of the new visa: 14-Jan-2018
7. Payment mode: Credit Card, Paid during appointment booking
8. Name of PEO Applied: Croydon
9. Decision : Approved (on the same day)
9: Approval letter: Received (on the same day)
10. BRP Received on: Received on 19-Jan-2015

Timeline:
1155 : Arrived at Croydon PEO office
1200: Security Check Done, quick and easy. Asked if you have any problems in climbing stairs and then directed to 3rd floor via stairs. So stairs not for all only those who have trouble climbing stairs. At 3rd floor you queue up at reception for payment sheet verification and to get token number
1209: Received the token number. Asked to wait in Waiting Area near Cafeteria
1210: Status on Screen: Case Registration (10th in Queue)
1233: Token Number Called; Case Registered; photograph scanned; asked to put all documents and photographs in a folder which was provided and wrapped around by a big elastic band. They ask if you need additional folder if in case you have lot of supporting documents. I needed only 1. Then asked to wait in RED waiting area within main hall till the token is called and then you will go for biometric and submit these documents (all this took around 5 mins)
1239: Status on Screen: Awaiting Biometric (10th in Queue)
1300: Token Number Called; Documents Submitted, biometrics done, signature scanned. All this took 5 minutes after which I was asked to wait in main cafeteria.
1306: Status on Screen : Awaiting Biometric Verification (10th in Queue)
1348: Status on Screen: Awaiting Consideration (All) - This listing is not in the order of processing.
1450: Status on Screen: Ready for Collection (7th in Queue)
1502: Token Number Called for Collection. Approval letter given; asked to verify if all the originals submitted with application are returned back.
1510: Exit from PEO.

Document submitted:

1. Application Form - 1 Main Applicant
2. PBS Calculator online printed
3. Passports + BRP + Photos (Copies Submitted for Passport & BRP )
4. Payslips ( Original and copies )
5. Personal bank statements for 12 months ( Original and Copies )

Hi friends,

Can someone please advise for the Profit and Loss account, did you cover the whole period for income or just the last financial period. In my case Financial period ended 31st Aug 2014 however I am applying now on 21st Feb 2015 where I am showing the income from Feb 2014 to Jan 2015.

Please could you advise?

Viks

@Vikrant

You p/l statement should be between Aug-2014 & Jan-2015.

If you provide year end balance sheet upto Aug-2014 thats fine.

In summary
-Provide balance sheet for year ending Aug-2014
-Provide p/l statement and mgt accounts between Sep-2014 to Jan-2015

PEO Birmingham Solihull
Application: SET (O)
Applicant: Man applicant along with dependant applied both for Second Extension
Status: Approved
Time frame: 2.5 hours in total
Experience: Pleasant
Recommended this center: Yes

1. Application: Tier 1 (General) Extension (2nd)
2. Date of PEO Appointment: 4-Mar-2015 (Time: 11:00)
3. Number of Applicants: 2
4. Employment: Self Employment six months and Salary six months
5. Date of expiry of current leave (visa): March-2016
6. Date of expiry of the new visa: March-2018 (granted for 3 years)
7. Payment mode: Credit Card, Paid during appointment booking
8. Name of PEO Applied: Solihull
9. Decision : Approved (on the same day)
9: Approval letter: Received (on the same day)
10. BRP Received on: <<waiting>> they said 10 days max.

1. Was first asked to show the payment receipt. Given a token and asked to wait (10 mins).
2. One person asked for passports and BRP cards, then the application forms and then evidences in this order.
3. She took copies of passports, retained BRP cards asked us to wait till being called for new Biometrics (15 mins.)
4. Was asked to leave and case worker would call back to the number we gave. (Waited outside for 1.5 hrs)
5. Got a call. Once we went, the documents and passports were returned, approval letter given.

Evidence provided.
1. Marriage Certificate
2. Certification of Income letter (given by accountant)
3. Payslips summary (given by accountant) and all payslips (from both self employment and salaried duration)
4. Dividend Summary and Dividend vouchers (given by accountant)
5. Invoices raised during Self employment and Offer letter for permanent job
6. 12 months Business Bank statements and 12 Months Personal Bank statements highlighting the transaction details (earnings) and last 90 days period balance.

All above were originals and no copies were given.

Ensure you reach the centre 30 mins. before the appt. time. There are chances the process might start earlier.

Congrats. this is good centre. I went there in 2013 and got extention. Planning to go Solihull in 2016 for ILR. They used to check docs before getting fee. then you will sit in window in front of caseworker and he will go through your application in front of you. If they raise any questions you have the opportunity to answer them there unlike other centres who would just keep docs and will ask you to return in two hours. Is it not the same procedure in Solihull now?

"Congrats. this is good centre. I went there in 2013 and got extention. Planning to go Solihull in 2016 for ILR. They used to check docs before getting fee. then you will sit in window in front of caseworker and he will go through your application in front of you. If they raise any questions you have the opportunity to answer them there unlike other centres who would just keep docs and will ask you to return in two hours. Is it not the same procedure in Solihull now?" -

Now, we do not directly hand over the papers to the caseworker. There is another person who collects all the documents and asks us to go through BRP. They then hand it over to the caseworker while we can finish our BRP process and leave. They will call and inform once processed.

I had paid upfront using credit card. Before giving me the token, they had asked me to show the payment receipt. I do not have idea on how it works if one has to pay at the centre.

General Information:
---------------------------

1. Current vignette: Tier 1 (General) Extension (3rd)
2. Date of PEO Appointment: 07-MARCH-2015 (11:00am)
3. Number of Applicants: 2
4. Employment: Salary+Dividend ( Limited Company )
5. Date of expiry of current leave (visa): OCT-2016
6. Date of expiry of the new visa: 07-MARCH-2018
7. Payment mode: Credit Card, Paid it during appointment booking
8. Name of PEO Applied: Croydon
9. Decision : Approved (on the same day)
9: Approval letter: Received (on the same day)
10. BRP Received on: 11/03/2015

Timeline:
10:45 am : Arrived at Croydon PEO office
11:00 am : Security Check
11:15 am : Received the token number
11:25 am : token number called noted my current address and scanned all photographs
14:10 pm : Received an approval letter from case worker, no questions asked.

Nothing much to add really.

Document submitted:

1. Application Form - 2 [Main Applicant + 1 Dependents]
2. PBS Calculator online printed
3. Passports + BRP + Photos for All Applicants( Copies Submitted for Passport & BRP )
4. Accountant letter confirming payslip and dividend amounts ( Copy submitted )
5. Payslips ( Copy Submitted )
6. Dividend vouchers ( Copy Submitted )
7. Personal bank statements for 12 months ( Copy Submitted )
8. Business bank statements for 12 months ( Copy Submitted )
9. Invoice summary letter from Job agency & existing contract offer letter
10. Company accounts report for last 12 months generated by the accountant.


Additional Documents
------------------------------

VAT Certificate
VAT Returns
Company In Corporation Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Council Tax letter , Electricity Bill

Happy to help in case any one needs more info

Dear Experts
I have a query regarding the Tier1 General Visa extension. Currently I am holding 2 years valid visa but I am short of time to complete 5 years. As now the Tier 1 General is going to close on 6th April 2015, So Can I apply for extension although I am having current valid visa until Feb 2017.
Please need your experts advice.

Yes you should.
tell us dates of your initial visa/entry clearance and UK entry date and any period out of UK since then

shahmir » Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:15 pm

Yes you should.
tell us dates of your initial visa/entry clearance and UK entry date and any period out of UK since then

Hi Shahmir
I got my initial visa in 2009, but first entry done feb 2010, then stay for 3 months but due to recession no job so go back as I was still having job in middle east.
then I come back 2012 for extension and got visa till 2014 April. Again came in 2014 Feb and got visa upto Feb 2017. I got my job transfer here in July 2014, so since then I am living here.
As Tier 1 is now closing, so want to extend the visa again so that I can get upto april 2018 so it means I will can get upto 4 years stay here.
that time then we have to decide what to do next but we can stay max upto 4 years upto 2018.

Waiting for further feedback.