Extension Approval - Can we post here please!!

[timi]

Hi folks,
I sent my papers for extension with
1) FLR form plus 2 passport size photographs.
2)5 salary slips
3)5 bank statements
4)Employer's letter of appointment etc.

I sent my application on 11 July and the money was deducted on the very next day. BUT after that I have not heard anything from the deptt.
As I see from the posts the H.O guys are really quick in processing extension, so shud i assume that there's s'thing wrong in my case ?

what is the average time taken to grant FLR these days ?
I have an acknowledgment number with me, would it be suitable to ask the H.O about the status of my case ?

I'm getting anxious, so any help would be welcome.

Thanx...

[John]

shud i assume that there's s'thing wrong in my case ?

No, instead you should assume that a lot of IND staff are on their annual holiday.

Seriously, at this time of year, expect times to deal with applications to drift a bit.

[ND]

Thanks Still.

I thought we should be applying just 1 month before.
So say u'r visa expires on Oct 10 , and we apply 2 months before do they give the visa from Oct 10'th or from the day of stamping ?

[Vayu]

Congrats Still & Vayu.

How many months before did u apply ?

um, first line of my second last post (before this one). Look there and all will be revealed.

[ND]

Thanks Vayu .

[timi]

HI ALL,
Got my passport stamped with hsmp extension given.
BUT my visa was only extended till one more year instead of 3 yrs !!!!!

Can anyone suggest the reason and also what future course should I take . Can I appeal against this ??

I cannot continue on my present job if i tell them that I have just 1 more year on my passport.

Urgent advise required from all the experienced members.

Thanx...

[Smit]

It seems like a mistake has been made in your case. I have heard about some forum members getting a 1 year extension because they arrived much later after obtaining EC or where they were not economically active or were out of the country for a long time during the initial EC.

Judging from your reaction, you don't seem to fall into the above categories and therefore you should contact WP(UK) and ask them why you have only been given 1 year's extension. It could be an oversight on their part and they may well ask you to return your passport along with a covering letter and give you 3 years' extension.

[timi]

Thanks Sumit,
I have been trying to call their number since morning but all their agents are busy and they just disconnect your call without giving you a chance to wait.
Anyway I will again try to ring them up and see where lies the problem.

Any other course that I can take ?? If suppose calling them does not succeed ??

[still]

Thanks Still.

I thought we should be applying just 1 month before.
So say u'r visa expires on Oct 10 , and we apply 2 months before do they give the visa from Oct 10'th or from the day of stamping ?

In that case, they issue the visa on 10th Aug which expires on 10th Oct 3 years later.
Hope this will give you a clear picture.

[still]

It seems like a mistake has been made in your case.

Not sure whether that was a mistake as they say an extension will be given up to 3 years. they may just give 1 year at their discretion. but you'd better check with HO.

[timi]

Yes I did call up the H.O guys ( remember not to call the 0870... numbers. you'll never get through) always call at the 011... numbers given in the FLR form. They checked my case and commented that my visa shud've been extended till 2008. So they gave me another number which was a direct no. to the LTR team at moorfoot,sheffield.
SO wen i rang them up they too stated that i shud resend my passport & the original letter recieved and ask for a review.
Hence I drafted a carefully written letter asking for a review. I've just come after posting it.
Whatever comes out I'll post it here.
Hope all comes out well.

cheers...

[Smit]

Timi,

Glad to hear, I am sure it was a mistake on their part. I hope you receive your passport back with the 3 years extension. Let us know what happens. As I mentioned earlier, they only give 1 year extension in certain cases and not as a matter of practice.

I am sure you must be feeling a bit relieved after speaking to the LTR Team and posting your precious passport back to them for correction.

Regards,

Smit

[pantaiema]

HSMP Extension granted:

Application sent by Special delivery: 24 July 2005 (this is weekend)
Received acknowledgement : 27 July
Got passport and all documents back: 03 August 2005

I forgot to tick "Whether I have criminal conviction or Not (page 9 on application form. They rang me in my office on 29 July and asked me to tick the form singe and fax it to them which I manage to do it straight away.

Sent Items:
FLR Application
12 month Bank Statements
12 Months Pay Slip
Passport (old and New)
Job Contract
P60 End of Year certificate (tax certificate)
2 passport photos

Kind Regards
Pantaiema

[erkle]

hi,

does anyone have an idea of the current hsmp extension processing times?

If you've jsut got your extension back would you be able to state how long it took.

Thanks

[pantaiema]

Dear Erkle

Having browse of this forum I come to the conclusion that, it depends on the case per case. In case we have all the documents they need and we are working in the field that we describe in our HSMP application, it is just a matter of aproximately a week.

My case take around 10 days becuase I forgot to tick "Whether or not I have criminal conviction" they calll me to fax this page (p9) to them and this take time.

Hope this will answer the question.

Cheers
Pantaiema

[simmitys]

hi
I put my application in Tues 2nd August recorded delivery. They took payment and gave me application confirmation Wed 3rd August. My current HSMP visa expires 3rd Sept.

I have now found this forum and am concerned i did not give enough information. The info I gave was:

-3 mths bank statements per the FLR form
-tax return and statement of acct from Inland Revenue
-letter of employment/contract from Mar 05-present
-all payslips from Mar-05 to present and P60 for 2004/5
-photos, application form and passport etc
-index to all attachments and notes to indicate which attachments are for which requirements

I am worried I needed to give more information on the economic activity from Sept04-Mar05 when I was self employed & limited company (moved to PAYE in March). All that has been given is the earnings on the tax return. Do you know if this will be enough or should I have given 12 mths bank statements etc?

Sorry this is so long, wanted to give all info.

[simmitys]

After all the worry my passport was received back on Friday!

So sent in application 2nd Aug, registered mail
Application received, payment taken 3rd August
Application and extension approved 8th August
Passport received back 12th August

Very quick and no questions asked!

[newhsmp]

Received FLR approval back today.

Timelines:

sent: 3rd august
acknowledgement recd: 6th aug
approval letter dated:10th aug
passports,etc back:16th aug

thanks and all the best!

Regds,
new

[KV]

Is it necessary to send 12 months bank statements? Most of the people take around 1-2 months to get their first uk pay slip (and as it goes, to open a bank account without that is v.tough) and they have to apply atleast 1 month in advance. So at the most, i think they can have 9 months bank statements...

Are people submitting the statements of banks from their homecountry as well?

Regards,

KV

[Round about]

HSMP 1 yr expiry on 18 09 05

Application sent on 11 08 05 (5 weeks before expiry)
Fee deducted on 12 08 05
Ack. Lt. received on 15 o8 05
Approved 16 08 05
Back on 18 08 05 (with 3 yrs extension)

Submitted;

Application with photo
Last 3 months pay slip, old P45 for other economic activities
letter confirming in chosen feild (fr. employer)
3 months back statement

Thanks for members who posted their out come which was very helpful.

Still there

[newhsmp]

Hi KV,

You do not need 12 months bank statements to get an HSMP FLR approval.

As long as you can prove that you have not relied on public funds and are actively looking for work, you should be fine. You need to be able to produce documentary evidence such as invitations to job interviews or emails sent for job hunts.

If you are employed, then I believe that even 1- 2 months salary statements should be good enough to get you the renewal.

Regds,
New

[sagarjv]

All,
After waiting for almost 3 weeks I rcvd my originals with 3yrs visa endorsed yesterday.

Here are the datelines:
Application sent on: 29-Jul-05
Amount deducted from card: 01-Aug-05
Acknoledgement dated: 01-Aug-05
Ack rcvd: 06-Aug-05
Approval letter dated: 15-Aug-2005 (Independance day of my country, INDIA )
Approval & Originals rcvd: 19-Aug-2005

I was little worried as other members of forum rcvd their documents within 10 days.
Once again thanks for all the advices given by dear members.

Rgds,
Sagar

[Smit]

Sagar,

Good to hear about your extension. I can understand why you got worried, your EC was valid from Sept. 2004 to Sept 2005 buy you arrived in the UK in late Jan 2005 didn't you, i.e 4 months after your EC was issued?

I hope you know about the ILR conditions of length of stay in the UK though. You will need to be careful to stay within the prescribed time limits.

Smit

[sagarjv]

Yeah, the issue about my late arrival was always in the back of my mind.
Rgds,
Sagar

[Novice]

I tried to send a fax with the urgent consideration form to the general number, but the number on the form 0114 259 3357 was busy all the time (tried over more than an hour). I then gave a call to the in-country team which is supposed to handled my application (I didn't know they changed the structure like that; now they have teams which handle applications according to applicant's last name's first letter, http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/workin ... dvice.html). They answered the call immediately and confirmed it was OK to send the form to their fax number, which I did.

Hoping to get my passports back soon and will then post the dates of submission and result.