Almost ready to go. Pls clear few queries

[push]

Pound rate is now further down by 15 Paisa. Can I apply now

I hope it will come under 80 in 2-3 days by the time I'll get my documents ready. Please suggest. Thanks.

Yes you should if the rate is favourable.

Thanks. I'll see if the rates will remain under 80.75, should I apply as my lowest balance is Rs. 226690 which is making 2800 GBP at the rate of 80.95.

Am I right in my calculation and apply if the rates are under 80.75?

In my opinion -Yes. It seems like pound has slid a bit further.

[AkashS]

Pound rate is now further down by 15 Paisa. Can I apply now

I hope it will come under 80 in 2-3 days by the time I'll get my documents ready. Please suggest. Thanks.

Yes you should if the rate is favourable.

Thanks. I'll see if the rates will remain under 80.75, should I apply as my lowest balance is Rs. 226690 which is making 2800 GBP at the rate of 80.95.

Am I right in my calculation and apply if the rates are under 80.75?

In my opinion -Yes. It seems like pound has slid a bit further.

Pound rate is again little high today. It is now 80.62 as on 25th June 2009. I'll keep watching it and if it under 80.90 (preferably 80.75), I'll apply on Monday or Tuesday. As you suggested that I can make it if the Pound rates are not crossing 80.92.

Few things I wanted to clear and I would appreciate if you can please help me in that:

1) I am providing 12 Months Bank Statement where my Salary is getting credited. We also need to provide 3 months bank statement, so do I need to take one 12 months bank statement and one 3 months bank stmnt from the same bank or only 12 months statement will be fine?

2) Also, I am not taking any letter from Bank that my lowest balance was xyz on xyz date. Is it fine? I don't think it is required. Please suggest me.

3) I am getting 12 months salary slips stamped by HR/ Finance. Do I also need a letter from HR about that I am working in this company and my salary is getting credit into HDFC Bank through my company. Also, the details about the salary like:

Date of Salary Credited Net Salary Gross Salary

Is it required or not?

4) Should I also provide the table of Average balance which I mentioned in my post earlier to Immigration officer. Or they will do the calculation according to them? If it is helpful to produce that letter or table, I'll provide this.

5) Also, which price they take for conversion. There are two prices. One is bid price which is normally lower and one is ask price which is higher. Here is today's rate:

80.30610 / 80.62056 (bid/ask)

Should we calculate using bid price or ask price. I think they use ask price for conversion.

Please suggest me so that I'll be ready to go now

Regards,
Akash...

[AkashS]

Pound rate is again down today. Push_HSMP, please try to reply to my queries. Thanks.

[AkashS]

Hi Push_HSMP,

Please try to reply to my query if you can please spend some time.

I also asked if we need 12 Months bank statement only or 3 months bank statement from the same bank will be required also.

Also, do we really need a letter from bank stating my min balance or any specific day or just 3months bank statement for maintenance fund is fine. Awaiting your reply. Thanks.

Regards,
Akash...

[push]

I also asked if we need 12 Months bank statement only or 3 months bank statement from the same bank will be required also.

You need bank statements to support points claimed for earnings. You also need 3 month's statement to prove availability of sufficient maintenance funds. If the statements used for points for earning show your balance for last three months and the last month statement date is not older more than 1 month as on date of application you dont need to provide separate statements - the ones provided for earings should suffice.

Also, do we really need a letter from bank stating my min balance or any specific day or just 3months bank statement for maintenance fund is fine. Awaiting your reply. Thanks.

If you are providing original bank statements or you are providing ones that meet requirements set in the guidance notes then you should not need anything else.

[AkashS]

I also asked if we need 12 Months bank statement only or 3 months bank statement from the same bank will be required also.

You need bank statements to support points claimed for earnings. You also need 3 month's statement to prove availability of sufficient maintenance funds. If the statements used for points for earning show your balance for last three months and the last month statement date is not older more than 1 month as on date of application you dont need to provide separate statements - the ones provided for earings should suffice.

Also, do we really need a letter from bank stating my min balance or any specific day or just 3months bank statement for maintenance fund is fine. Awaiting your reply. Thanks.

If you are providing original bank statements or you are providing ones that meet requirements set in the guidance notes then you should not need anything else.

Thanks for your reply. I also saw your reply in my PM and replied to that also. Just now I saw Pound rate crossed 81

I am no longer eligible to apply at this rate and now need to wait until it came under 80.75.

Do you think it will come down or I should put some money in my account and wait for 3 months?

In that case I'll need Salary slips etc again. As per my understanding, Salary slips should not be more than 1 week old from the date you apply.

Regards,
Akash...

[push]

I also asked if we need 12 Months bank statement only or 3 months bank statement from the same bank will be required also.

You need bank statements to support points claimed for earnings. You also need 3 month's statement to prove availability of sufficient maintenance funds. If the statements used for points for earning show your balance for last three months and the last month statement date is not older more than 1 month as on date of application you dont need to provide separate statements - the ones provided for earings should suffice.

Also, do we really need a letter from bank stating my min balance or any specific day or just 3months bank statement for maintenance fund is fine. Awaiting your reply. Thanks.

If you are providing original bank statements or you are providing ones that meet requirements set in the guidance notes then you should not need anything else.

Thanks for your reply. I also saw your reply in my PM and replied to that also. Just now I saw Pound rate crossed 81

I am no longer eligible to apply at this rate and now need to wait until it came under 80.75.

Do you think it will come down or I should put some money in my account and wait for 3 months?

In that case I'll need Salary slips etc again. As per my understanding, Salary slips should not be more than 1 week old from the date you apply.

Regards,
Akash...

Its very difficult to predict what the Forex INR?GBP would be but at a macro level, given huge fiscal deficits in UK, quantitative easing and fear of hyperinflation in near future coupled with renewed FDI/FII interest in India there is a chance that Pound will soften a bit. So wait and watch - thats the only option you have got. And its not 3 months that you have to wait but till July end, I think, based on numbers we worked out. Isn't it?

[AkashS]

Hi Push_HSMP,

I am not sure if you are receiving my PMs or not because it is still showing in my Outbox. So I am replying to your PM in new mail:

Below is my old message which I am pasting again:



Thanks. I will arrange it now. Today Pound rate is Rs. 79.48 , which is very good. I hope it will come down further. I may apply tomorrow also.

I did not understand what do you mean exactly by "at 3 or 4 places"? Do I need to provide 3-4 copies of the average balance Table from those 3 accounts?

Also, yesterday I saw few posts where BHC, Chennai has rejected 2 applications because the Bank Statement did not have Bank logo on it. Banks do not provide statement with logo on it. I went to bank again today and they told me that I will get the new statement with logo on Monday. So I can apply on Tuesday. However, they have issued a letter that provided the statement on my request and it can be verified any time.


ICICI bank has already provided a statement where their Logo is also there so no need to ask for any other letter.

I'll check the same with IDBI bank and if everything is fine, I can go ahead.

However, those two cases were the only which I saw that the application is rejected because the statement was not having bank logo on it. Is it really common?

Also, my company provided me a letter that I am working in this company, my Emp ID is so and so and they credit my salary into HDFC Bank Account Number so and so. But they did not mention the Salary Date, Net Salary and Gross Salary. They simply mention that my gross yearly salary is Rs. xxxxxx.

Anyway, I have Salary slips so it should be fine and I'll provide this letter too.


Below is the cover letter I am going to provide along with my application. Please have a look at this and suggest me if there is any changes:

Dated: XXXXXX

To
The Immigration Officer,
British Deputy High Commission,
Chennai, India.


Sub: Application for Tier 1 (General) Highly Skilled Workers


Dear Sir/Madam,
Greetings,

I, Akash Shrivastava, wish to apply for entry clearance to work in the UK under ‘Tier 1 (General) - Highly Skilled Worker’ of the Points Based System (PBS). I have claimed 85 points in the attributes section, 10

points for English requirement and 10 points for maintenance funds on a self evaluation basis using the ‘Self Assessment Tool’.

Following is the list of documents provided along with my application.

Attributes Points Claimed Documents Provided
Age 10 Original Passport

Qualifications 30 Original Master Degree Certificate and Transcript from UK University

Earnings 45 1. Last 12 mts Pay slips stamped and signed by Finance (June 2008 to May 2009)
2. 12 mts Bank Statement with Net Salary (1st June 2008 to June 2009)

English Language 10 1. Original Master Degree Certificate and Transcript from UK University


Maintenance Funs 10 1. Last 3 mts Bank Statement from 3 different banks

The tax year in India starts from 01st April and ends in 31st March. am yet to file my income tax return for this year. Hence I am unable to submit the copy of my latest Income tax return. However, I am

attaching copy of my Form-16 provided by the employer. Hope this will be helpful.

I trust the information I have provided is satisfactory, however if you have any questions or queries or require additional information do not hesitate to contact me on [+91-xxxxxxxxxx] or alternatively via email

XXXXXX.

Thanking you,

Your's Sincerely,


[AKASH SHRIVASTAVA]


I did not prepare the cover letter for maintenance fund but I'll do it now and try to post also.

Thanks in advance for your help. Smile


Kind Regards,
Akash...

[geriatrix]

The tax year in India starts from 01st April and ends in 31st March. am yet to file my income tax return for this year. Hence I am unable to submit the copy of my latest Income tax return. However, I am attaching copy of my Form-16 provided by the employer.

Not required at all for the following reasons:-
1. You are providing twoo sets of documentary evidences to prove income (payslips and bank statements).
2. Form 16 is not a valid documentary evidence acceptable to Home Office
3. Form 16 covers income period from Apr-Mar. and you are claiming points for period from Jun-May.

Be advised that this completely non-essential and invalid (my view) document could confuse the caseworker all together. Is it worth taking a chance?? Your decision ...

regards

[geriatrix]

However, those two cases were the only which I saw that the application is rejected because the statement was not having bank logo on it. Is it really common?

It isn't a question of whether it is common or not? It is about whether it is acceptable or not .... and as per the policy guidance such statements aren't valid.

When you applied for HSMP the first time a couple of years ago, statements without logo weren't acceptable even then. Were they??

regards

[AkashS]

However, those two cases were the only which I saw that the application is rejected because the statement was not having bank logo on it. Is it really common?

It isn't a question of whether it is common or not? It is about whether it is acceptable or not .... and as per the policy guidance such statements aren't valid.

When you applied for HSMP the first time a couple of years ago, statements without logo weren't acceptable even then. Were they??

regards

Hi. Thanks for your reply. I'll remove the line about the Form 16. 2nd, I have got a letter from HDFC stating that they issued me the statement from 1st June 2008 to 28th June 2009 and it can be verified with them any time. However, HDFC can provide me statement with their logo on the pages but I'll get this on Monday.

ICICI Bank Statement is already having logo on it so no issue with this one.

IDBI Statement is not with logo but they have issued the same letter. So I can attach this letter with the statement.

I also have payslips from June 2008 till May 2009 (12 Months) and also a letter from the HR about my Gross Yearly Salary. This letter also have information that I am working for their company and my salary is being credited into HDFC Bank. They did not mention specifically Net and Gross Salary as they are telling that it can be seen on Payslips and they cannot provide.

Apart from this, I have prepared a table of my Average balance from 24th March 2009 to 28th June 2009. This table will be attached with a covering letter for maintenance fund mentioning that I am maintaining 3 bank accounts for maintenance fund for last 3 months (along with Bank name and A/c number) and I have attached table of average balance from 24/03/09 to 28/06/09 for their convenience.

I hope these documents should be enough to support my application.

Please suggest me if I am still missing something. I am also providing my Degree and Transcript.

Thanks.

Akash...

[geriatrix]

Please read the policy guidance carefully before you submite your application. In my opinion you're including some documents that are not requiredand some that are not acceptable.

A fat application pack won't add weight (to the decision) .... precise, valid and self-explanatory documentary evidence will.

All the best.


regards

[AkashS]

Please read the policy guidance carefully before you submite your application. In my opinion you're including some documents that are not requiredand some that are not acceptable.

A fat application pack won't add weight (to the decision) .... precise, valid and self-explanatory documentary evidence will.

All the best.


regards

Hi Can u pls tell me which documents are not acceptable and I am providing? I also have another query and would really appreciate if you can pls reply to that.

I am done with Cover Letters but now I have one more urgent query. Pls try to reply me ASAP as I am going to apply tomorrow morning:

I am now fixed in a question. There is a question in section 5.1: Is your partner accompanying you or joining you later? If they are traveling later please provide their date of travel in Part 7.

Now, the thing is that my wife and my son will join me for sure but not now as I do not meet maintenance fund requirement for them. Now what should I write in this section. Should I tick NO o YES for this as they are or joining now? And then provide my comment for section 7 Additional Information that as of now I am going alone to search for the job and once I find proper job and do some saving, then only they will join (should I mention after one year only).

Also, do we need to provide some information in Additional Information section or Cover Letter is enough. What exactly we should write in this section.

Please reply to me as earliest as possible regarding application form questions and also unacceptable documents as I have only 5-6 hours before I apply for Tier 1. Thanks in advance.

Kind Regards,
Akash...

[AkashS]

Below is the list of documents I am providing:

Section Age: Points Claimed 05
Original Passport (DoB November 1978)

Section Qualification: Points Claimed 35
Original Degree and Transcript from UK University

Section Earnings: Points Claimed 45
12 Months Salary Slips signed and Seal by Finance
A letter from HR about my yearly gross salary
12 Months bank Statement with Bank Logo and seal/sign

Section English Lang: Points Claimed 10
Original Degree and Transcript from UK University

Section Maintenance Fund: Points Claimed 10
3 Months Bank Statement from 3 banks including one 12 Months bank statement which I provided for Earning proof also.
Print out of a table of Combined Sum from those 3 banks

Other Documents:
Marriage Certificate
Cover Letter: General Application, Salary and Maintenance Fund


Please suggest me regarding it ASAP. Only few hours left to apply. Thanks.

Regards,
Akash...