ILR success at Solihull 24-Dec Tier2(ICT) visa gap
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 5:37 pm
Hi All,
My ILR application was approved today at Solihull and since this forum has been so helpful in getting this done I am sharing the experience.
My current Visa is work permit from 2007 - 2009 and Tier2 thereafter with the latest one being Tier2 (ICT).
I used the 07/12 version of the SET(O) form as this is still valid until early January (28 days after the new form came out on 13-Dec).
Here is the day as it went:
Appointment at 10:30 AM. Reached the PEO at 9:50. Usual security checks (one interesting thing was that the security guys asked for my form instead of the appointment letter to ensure I had the right form). I was given a token number and asked to wait. I was called in at 10:45 and following is the discussion with Case Worker (I think the person was caseworker as they were in uniform)
1. Asked for form, passport and BRP (if already available) - Provided
2. Asked for Life in the UK Pass Certificate - Provided
3. Asked for employer letter - Provided (Note that I was quite sceptical about this as my employer had only provided details of the absences in UK due to official reasons, and given a single line about my leave eligibility for annual leaves - 20 paid leaves in a year).
The case worker looked at my form and specifically mentioned that rules regarding absences have changed and that now its Ok to have up to 180 days absence in each year. This was helpful as I had a work related absence of 92 days.
4. Asked for bank statements and payslips (last 3 months only). The case worker insisted that only last 3 months are required and not last 12 months - Provided (Duplicate copies of bank statement requested by the bank and copies of payslips attested by the employer)
5. Asked for photocopies of my passport (main page and visa pages only) - Provided
6. The case worker then said that it would make things a lot easier if I had a work permit document. Luckily I had the work permit with which I first entered UK in 2007 - Provided
That's it. The person at window said that all looks Ok and only the criminal checks are pending. I asked if it will be done to which the person replied that it should be if the criminal checks are Ok. I do not have any convictions or parking or speeding tickets so that was fine.
It seemed to me that the person was actually the case worker as they seemed very confident.
Next payment and biometric and asked to wait for half an hour as they were working to get the cases cleared quickly. Mine was the last application of the day.
I sat in the waiting room and watched everyone come and get their application result and go. I was asked twice by the security about what my token number was. Finally, my token number was called and a person asked me to come in front of the security office. I was told my application is approved and I will receive the BRP in 7 - 10 working days so all well.
I sincerely want to thank the members of this forum specially sushdmehta, Lucapooka, skumar45, cs95tdg for helping me out time and again.
Sorry for the long post however I wanted to put the details for other members.
All the Best and a very Merry Christmas
sy2012
edit: point 6 edited for clarity and subject for clarity
I missed in the post that there was a gap in my visa
in 2010 however my new visa was applied (while I was
still outside the UK) within 28 days of the expiry of the
previous one. The case worker did not bring it up so I missed
to mention.
My ILR application was approved today at Solihull and since this forum has been so helpful in getting this done I am sharing the experience.
My current Visa is work permit from 2007 - 2009 and Tier2 thereafter with the latest one being Tier2 (ICT).
I used the 07/12 version of the SET(O) form as this is still valid until early January (28 days after the new form came out on 13-Dec).
Here is the day as it went:
Appointment at 10:30 AM. Reached the PEO at 9:50. Usual security checks (one interesting thing was that the security guys asked for my form instead of the appointment letter to ensure I had the right form). I was given a token number and asked to wait. I was called in at 10:45 and following is the discussion with Case Worker (I think the person was caseworker as they were in uniform)
1. Asked for form, passport and BRP (if already available) - Provided
2. Asked for Life in the UK Pass Certificate - Provided
3. Asked for employer letter - Provided (Note that I was quite sceptical about this as my employer had only provided details of the absences in UK due to official reasons, and given a single line about my leave eligibility for annual leaves - 20 paid leaves in a year).
The case worker looked at my form and specifically mentioned that rules regarding absences have changed and that now its Ok to have up to 180 days absence in each year. This was helpful as I had a work related absence of 92 days.
4. Asked for bank statements and payslips (last 3 months only). The case worker insisted that only last 3 months are required and not last 12 months - Provided (Duplicate copies of bank statement requested by the bank and copies of payslips attested by the employer)
5. Asked for photocopies of my passport (main page and visa pages only) - Provided
6. The case worker then said that it would make things a lot easier if I had a work permit document. Luckily I had the work permit with which I first entered UK in 2007 - Provided
That's it. The person at window said that all looks Ok and only the criminal checks are pending. I asked if it will be done to which the person replied that it should be if the criminal checks are Ok. I do not have any convictions or parking or speeding tickets so that was fine.
It seemed to me that the person was actually the case worker as they seemed very confident.
Next payment and biometric and asked to wait for half an hour as they were working to get the cases cleared quickly. Mine was the last application of the day.
I sat in the waiting room and watched everyone come and get their application result and go. I was asked twice by the security about what my token number was. Finally, my token number was called and a person asked me to come in front of the security office. I was told my application is approved and I will receive the BRP in 7 - 10 working days so all well.
I sincerely want to thank the members of this forum specially sushdmehta, Lucapooka, skumar45, cs95tdg for helping me out time and again.
Sorry for the long post however I wanted to put the details for other members.
All the Best and a very Merry Christmas
sy2012
edit: point 6 edited for clarity and subject for clarity
I missed in the post that there was a gap in my visa
in 2010 however my new visa was applied (while I was
still outside the UK) within 28 days of the expiry of the
previous one. The case worker did not bring it up so I missed
to mention.