Changing from self sufficient to employed?

[knm812]

Hi all,

I'm American and arrived with a family permit (unmarried partner of a European citizen) in October and applied for the RC by mid October (and he applied for QP status at the same time). We applied as self-sufficient as he kept his job in France while working remotely from the UK. The new development is that he's been made an interesting offer from a UK employer and if he accepts would be starting the first week of February. We are wondering how this would effect our application if we have to update home office of our change in situation mid process. I think in general working in the UK with a good job is a stronger application than being self sufficient, but I absolutely cannot have them extend the 6 month processing time as I've been made a conditional offer of employment contingent upon my receiving a decision on my RC application by April.

Has anyone had experience with having to update HO with a change in situation? Will it prolong things?

Thank you very much for sharing your experience/insights.

[noajthan]

Hi all,

I'm American and arrived with a family permit (unmarried partner of a European citizen) in October and applied for the RC by mid October (and he applied for QP status at the same time). We applied as self-sufficient as he kept his job in France while working remotely from the UK. The new development is that he's been made an interesting offer from a UK employer and if he accepts would be starting the first week of February. We are wondering how this would effect our application if we have to update home office of our change in situation mid process. I think in general working in the UK with a good job is a stronger application than being self sufficient, but I absolutely cannot have them extend the 6 month processing time as I've been made a conditional offer of employment contingent upon my receiving a decision on my RC application by April.

Has anyone had experience with having to update HO with a change in situation? Will it prolong things?

Thank you very much for sharing your experience/insights.

There is no need to update HO just because your sponsor has switched category of qualified person.

The RC is not a 'visa' it merely reflects your status when it was issued (& serves to confirm your EU rights to reside, work, study - it does not 'grant' them).

Mixing and matching of qp activities is permitted.
Simply maintain continuity of (sponsor) exercising treaty rights & your sponsor's PR clock (which is also yours) will keep running.

Just go for it.

[knm812]

Thank you for your reply!

It's quite confusing because I've called the immigration helpline twice today and I've received two different responses. The first person I spoke with said that I should sent an update (cover letter, contract, new employer info) and when I asked if I was obligated to do so, she said yes. I also asked if it could prolong the 6 month consideration time and she replied no.

The other person I spoke to stated that it was not obligatory but that she would recommend it (in the case that the previous employer was called to verify and he was no longer working there, etc). When I asked about processing time she said that it was unlikely that it would be extended but that it could happen.

So confusing!

[noajthan]

Thank you for your reply!

It's quite confusing because I've called the immigration helpline twice today and I've received two different responses. The first person I spoke with said that I should sent an update (cover letter, contract, new employer info) and when I asked if I was obligated to do so, she said yes. I also asked if it could prolong the 6 month consideration time and she replied no.

The other person I spoke to stated that it was not obligatory but that she would recommend it (in the case that the previous employer was called to verify and he was no longer working there, etc). When I asked about processing time she said that it was unlikely that it would be extended but that it could happen.

So confusing!

If you call HO helpline a 3rd time you may get a 3rd answer.

Well your application reflected your situation at time of application.

I suppose you did sign the following declaration:

I confirm that if, before this application is decided, there is a material change in my
circumstances or new information relevant to this application becomes available, I will inform the Home Office

The change of category is not as drastic as, say, a change in marital status (which would lead to you being treated as a direct family member instead of as an extended family member).

By switching from s-s to worker you remain an extended family member & your sponsor is still exercising treaty rights.
There is nothing like WRS to worry about these days.
(I suppose you have dropped the need to demonstrate CSI).

If you feel it is material enough you could print off & send in the relevant additional sections of the form.

[knm812]

In the end I notified HO of the change in situation and sent in my partner's contract. I had no response but I did receive my RC within the 6 month timeframe.



My timeline:

Applied: October 15th
Payment deducted: October 22nd
Requested passport back for travel: October 29th
COA + biometric enrollment letter: without right to work October 26th
Biometric Enrollment: October 31st
**I appealed my COA decision via email in November as I arrived in the UK with a Family Permit which normally entitles one to work and had no response. I re-sent the same email in late March when my Family Permit was due to expire**
Updated COA with right to work: February 2nd 2016
RC issued: March 22nd
RC received: April 5th (first delivery attempt April 1st)