Post
by Suzzw » Wed Jun 02, 2021 9:16 pm
Hi all,
I was on a 3-year Tier 2 (General) visa with my job started in mid-2019, and I forgot to register with the police by then. I vaguely remember myself organising to do it, but in the end, I did not, possibly due to the late delivery of my BRP (I have emails on this matter).
Now I need to change my employer. And I am distraught that I did not register with the police will affect their decision. I accepted the offer in mid-April with the start date on 1st Jun and resigned from my previous role with the last employment date on 28th May. However, I did not get the CoS from my new employer until 21st May despite non-stop asking. Here is the timeline of events:
21st May: Submitted application, with the application fee and IHS for a 3-year visa, and super priority service paid (decision within 24 hours after biometrics appointment)
25th May: UKVCAS Biometrics appointment (I managed to get a Next day appointment)
26th May: UKVI asked to top-up the fees as the CoS was indeed for a 5-year one
28th May: All top-up fees transacted
28th May: UKVI asked for a valid copy of the Police Registration Certificate. I could not find it, and based on the very vague memory of myself having done it, I replied, telling them my PRC may have been misplaced as I have moved accommodation and asked for suggestions. I also immediately registered with the MET police (I live in London) using their new online portal. Still, their Overseas Visitors Records Office (OVRO) is closed due to COVID-19, and the earliest available appointment in the system is in mid-Nov.
31st May: UKVI replied asking if I have evidence to demonstrate that I have previously registered for Police Registration and/or proof of correspondence with the OVRO. I started to look for all the records in my mailbox and concluded that it is possible that I did not register. I tried asking the MET police, and they said OVRO's email is the only point of contact in this matter. I sent an email to ask OVRO if they can arrange an earlier appointment or provide any documentation to prove that I am in the process of acquiring the PRC.
As I will not be able to start on 1st Jun anyway, I have notified my employer about that, and I will start the next day I receive the approval from UKVI.
1st June: No reply from OVRO. Although knowing that there is no guarantee that they will process enquiries any sooner, I decided to reply to UKVI and be honest about forgetting to register with the police, but I have already made the appointment for doing so and attached the appointment confirmation.
My new employer had called the UKVI and said they are confident that the visa should come through okay. But the warning on UKVI's website saying, "If you do not register, ....You can also be stopped from getting or extending a UK visa in future." really stresses me out.
Anyone has any insight on whether not having the PRC will affect the visa decision? Or is it just because the UKVI being strange and slow these days, as mentioned in another thread by other applicants?
(I tried referring to other threads on the police registration matter, but they usually have the problem solved by going to the local police station. I am afraid that is not the same for MET police from the info I gathered online, or does anyone else have the PRC issue solved by going to the police station in London?)