Immigrationboards.com

adisays wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 02, 2019 11:58 pm

Hi all, for full transparency I am registering under a new username and email as my email address under my first username (mallysays) has been shut down and blocked by hotmail for password security breachs. I only had a handful of posts under that name (and if someone can direct me to delete that account, please let me know how) so hopefully the impact won't be too much of a nuisance.

I am an American citizen employed on a Tier 2 (general) visa, and this November I will be approaching my 5 years in the UK. In the last 5 years, I have been employed by the same employer doing the same role with the required income needed for ILR. Prior to this, I was on a Tier 4 student visa for 1 year and completed a MSc at a UK University. I then transitioned from the Tier 4 to the Tier 2 with my current employer in November 2014.

Unfortunately I don't have the dates of my first Tier 2, but this was approximately from November/December 2014 for 3 years. Another Tier 2 (my current one) was then granted with an issue date of November 09, 2017. The expiration date on this is November 30, 2019.

So a few questions:

1) When is the earliest I can apply for ILR? Is it 28 days before November 9th (issue date) or 28 days before the expiry date (November 30th)?
You have to complete (5 years minus 28 days) from the date of your initial Tier 2 visa grant or the date on your initial Tier 2 BRP

2) I have started filling out the online application and have come to the absences section. So far it has asked me to enter each individual absence one by one. I have no idea when the application form will stop asking me - I will have hundreds of absences over the last 5 years for work and holiday travel. I heard it maxes out at 30? If so, how are you documenting all of your absences? Are you attaching an Excel sheet with all of the absences at the end of the application, and if so, is there a template on this board someone can please share?
Max 30 yes. Mention the rest on a simple sheet or excel in the same format the online form asks for

Also, is it true that work-trips of 24 hours or less outside of the UK do not need to be counted towards absences?
The departure date and arrival date does not count as an absence. So if you left on 20th and back on 21st its not an absence and no need to mention. If you left on 20th and back on 22nd, absence is only 1 day

3) I plan to do the Super Priority service. Is there a way to see appointment availability before submitting my application? I heard priority appointments are limited so I'd like to know beforehand if I will get a spot in time, or if my company should do 1 more year of Tier 2 visa and let me apply for ILR over the next year? Also, in order to see the application time slots, do I need to pay for my application first? You will see appointments only after you pay. You can get quick appointments even for next day if you are flexible to pay and travel to a different location. Sometimes there is a delay in the nearest location and free appointments can take longer
The reason I ask is if I would rather avoid having to pay the whole ILR application fee if I can't get an appointment slot and need to instead pay for another Tier 2 extension.
No. Note the date of application is the date you pay and submit online. So make sure you do that when you are in the qualifying period i.e. up to 28 days before completing 5 years. Once you submit you will have to attend UKVCAS to provide your biometrics and verification of documents. You scan and upload documents. Originals are returned after appointment. Note once you submit your application, you will be covered by Section 3c and your right to work will continue until a decision is made so you need not worry about the expiry of your visa. You have to book a biometrics appointment within 45 working days and can even be done after visa expiry. You must apply before your current visa expires though. Only the application date matters not the biometrics date

4) Life in the UK test - I have not taken this yet (planning to book a slot for next week). Do I need to take this first in order to submit the online application/upload it somewhere in my online application, or do I bring the test result to my premium appointment?
You should take it before as you will have to mention in the online form. You will then scan it before your biometrics appointment

5) In general, how can I see what documents are needed for the online application? The application does not let me "move forward" onto the next section until I complete the section I'm in, and right now I'm in the endless pain of entering each absence one by one.
You can run a dummy application and skip that step to go to the checklist. You can always come back and edit or just run a new dummy application

6) Question about this forum! How can I see all of my own posts and replies? I found this blurb in the board FAQ:
Your own posts can be retrieved either by clicking the “Show your posts” link within the User Control Panel or by clicking the “Search user’s posts” link via your own profile page or by clicking the “Quick links” menu at the top of the board. To search for your topics, use the Advanced search page and fill in the various options appropriately.

However this link "show your posts" just does not exist anywhere in my user control panel, nor can I find a "quick links" menu or even the Advanced search page. Under my old account, I could only see 1 past notification for my latest post but not my other posts. My profile name wasn't even clickable either.

Thank you all very much for your help!

adisays wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2019 12:26 am

Thank you VERY much CULLINAN for the quick response and concise answers, very much appreciated as it's middle of the night too!

Sorry if I'm being daft - but does this mean that the initial Tier 2 visa grant date is the same as the issue date? If so, that would mean 5 years minus 28 days from November 9th is October 12, 2019 which is the earliest I can apply?

Also, I no longer have a copy of the first Tier 2 visa from 2014-2017 - I believe I had to surrender this when I got my new one. I know this would have been documented in my passport but I got a new passport the same time as I got my second Tier 2, and I no longer have my old passports. Will this be an issue? On the online application I don't want them to think I'm applying only after 2 years, when it has been 5.

Many thanks again

adisays wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2019 12:26 am

aman90 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:11 am

adisays wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2019 12:26 am

Grant date is issue date of initial visa (tier 2)
Decision letter? Or ask ur HR for copies of BRP/Passport.

adisays wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2019 11:48 am

Thank you. I did ask HR and the initial visa start date is November 14, 2014. Assuming the 28 days is from this date (as opposed to the expiration date on it, which is November 30, 2017).

adisays wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2019 12:50 pm

one said 28 days before the issue date, the other said before the expiration. Neither the guidance document nor the Home Office support line were clear to me, hence me asking here.

• Online application form

• Life in the UK Cert

• Cover letters from employer (salary, business travel)

• Supplementary excel sheet of absences

• Degree certificate & transcript from the UK university I got my Master's from for English language requirement

• Copy of 3 months bank statements and payslips

• Passport / visa copies

adisays wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 05, 2019 9:23 am

So from what I understand of the Home Office reply, the absence is acceptable as part of continuous leave, but they still count as countable absence days.

Yes

Just so I have it clear, my application date will be October 18, 2019.