Did not provide original diplomas in my application

[Katapi]

I applied for Tier 2 General Visa. I got a job to teach at the university at Senior Lecturer position, after an interview of course.

I studied in English at my Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral programme but in non-English speaking countries.
I provided a proof of this but only copies. I could not reach anyone during July at the university to get my original transcripts sent to me. At the UK Visa Service Office in Tallinn, Estonia, the guy dealing with our application acted like a true sociopath. He was just staring at us and if we asked something he would say it is all up to us and he cannot provide any advice. Fist he took our completed application forms and told us we will get back to you in 3 weeks. I asked: but do you not need any other documents? It appeared from his comment that applications alone were enough. He said it is up to us what we provide as additional documents. So we provided everything that was asked, except for original diplomas. The guy did not tell us that if I send the original diplomas I will actually get them back. So I sent copies. But I have books published in English, I presented at conferences in the UK in English, I teach at the university in English, and have been working in New York City lecturing in English.

That is one thing. Another thing is that my partner got a confirmation letter from my sponsor that he will be taken care of financially in the fist month if the need arises. It was just a letter I printed out, again not an original. I also provided by bank transcripts and original receipts from ATM, showing the balance on my account.

I called and they told me to write about the problem using the online email form. I did and now waiting for an answer.

Is there anything that anyone here can tell me in regard to my case?
I would like to talk to someone who is handling my case and send additional documents if possible.
Is this a lost case or can it still be decided positively?
If not, it really would ruin my life as I am selling my apartment and both me and my partner quit our jobs to be able to move.

Thanks for any info that can help.

[geriatrix]

The person accepting your application is not required to check if your application is complete or not. Or if you have any documents missing or not! Or whether you are submitting the right documents or not!
That onus is on you.... completely!!
His job responsibilities does not include "advising applicants on accuracy of their application".

You must:

- have the original and a photocopy of all the supporting documents you need for your visa
- translate any supporting documents and include them with the originals if they aren’t in English

1. Did you ever read the Tier 2 policy guidance before applying? Did you note the word "original" when referring to documentary evidences required?
2. Unless there're special provisions in Estonia, you will not be able to talk to the caseworker unless he calls you. But you may write to the entry clearance officer at local embassy.

[manci]

There is supposed to be a policy in operation called "evidential flexibility". I don't think your application will be refused just because you submitted copies, rather than the originals of your degree certificates. They may or may not ask for the originals. Read pages 5-6:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 7_0ext.pdf
Write them a letter, as was suggested, explaining the situation.

Re. your dependants, if your sponsor ticked the "maintenance" box on the CoS then maintenance is automatically extended to you dependents provided they apply at the same time as you.

[geriatrix]

Thanks manci, for correcting me! I have taken the inaccurate bits out of my response above to avoid any confusion to the OP.