A silent consumer of the wisdom on this portal, felt it would be useful to someone if I share my recent successful PSC experience for ILR. Please see below.
Date of application: 23/08/2018
1. Category: Tier 2 General
2. Number of dependents: 0
3. Total cost: £2999
4. PSC: Croydon
5. Documents provided:
a) SET (O) - completed by hand, only discovered the online option a day before my appointment. Doesn't make an iota of difference as has been made out by a few. I also didn't submit Section 9 (didn't print off c. 30 pages as it would be pretty much useless) and wasn't challenged on this.
b) One Passport
c) BRP
d) Photographs: 2x latest not older than 6 months
e) Life in the UK pass notification letter - Note, I took this test in Nov 2017 as a friend was applying for ILR at around the same time, and he talked me into taking the test with him, just for laughs
and said that the results are valid for at least two years. Am mentioning this just in case anyone is in a similar situation - the test results are valid for life and do not carry an expiry date, but I do stand corrected. In any case, they seem to be valid for two years as a minimum.f) Proof of English Language proficiency - MSc Degree certificate.
g) Payslips: 3x most recent (had three more in my back pocket but as expected I wasn't asked for these). I also got my payslips stamped by my employer, not sure if that makes any difference.
h) Bank statements: 3x most recent (similar to payslips above, had three more but didn't submit them. I also got my bank statements stamped by the bank branch).
i) Letter from current employer (Salary certificate, No. of weekly hours, SOC confirmation and confirmation of requirement for the foreseeable future). No absences as yet in my current job as I've been working for my employer only for the past six months, so there was nothing to add here.
absences from work)
j) Letter from two previous employers - these are well known names in the market, including a high street bank. I had no trouble getting letters from them. My first employer, where I spent 2.5 out of 5 years on Tier 2G, very helpfully provided absences in a rolling format for the duration of my employment. That must have really saved the caseworker some time ! My total absences collectively across 5 years didn't even cross 80 so I wasn't at all worried about this.
One set of photocopies, in the same order as above.
Some additional myths busted:
1) Continuous economic residence: You can apply within 28 days of the 5th anniversary of your first Tier 2G visa 'valid from' date. The date of your actual entry to the UK has no difference, unless you have delayed entry to the UK by 180 days from your 'valid from' date. As an example, my first Tier 2G visa was valid from 16/09/2013, and I entered the UK with this leave on 25/09/2013. Therefore, I calculated the 5 year continuous economic residence qualifying period to be 16/09/2013 - 16/09/2018, and I counted 28 days back from 16/09/2018, which meant that I could apply on or after 19/08/2018. The gap of 9 days, from 16/09/2013 - 24/09/2013 is set off against your 180 days allowance, and goes without saying that you don't need to demonstrate the reason for delayed entry.
See this link to HO-issued guidance which should put your mind at rest: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... .0-EXT.pdf
2) Speeding Offence: I was caught speeding for the first time ever in my life with less than a month to go for ILR ! I was doing 36 mph on a 30 mph road, and have been invited to attend a speed awareness course in my area. I did not declare anything on Section 7. In any case, the application form itself is very clear in that you don't need to declare speeding tickets. I don't even have any points on my license following this experience so there is indeed nothing to worry about.
3) Road Traffic Accident: Again, I can confirm that this has no bearing whatsoever on most applications, but make sure that you evaluate your individual circumstances properly. Getting a legal opinion (like I did) won't hurt.
PSC Experience:
Super smooth, straightforward and simple. Could not have asked for a better experience. I arrived at 8.30 am for a 9.00 am appointment. Reported to registrations at 09.00, was given a ticket and asked to wait in the cafe. Was called to the desk at about 09.20. I wasn't asked anything other than confirmation of my name, DOB and marital status. Took quite a while here as the gentleman I was dealing with was also simultaneously helping a colleague. I submitted my paperwork and was almost immediately called in for biometrics enrolment. Finished this and re-entered the cafe area by 10.00 am. I was told that the system was playing up so there was a slight chance that I would have to re-enter my biometrics, but thankfully nothing of the sort happened. My ticket moved to 'Under Consideration' by 10.15 am, which is when the waiting game began.
I spent the entire time inside the building as the weather was bad. I didn't give my phone number to anyone at registration / biometrics but did give my number on the application form. I got a call at 11.00 (yes, just 45 minutes later) from a caseworker who was very friendly and polite. He asked me why my wife and child weren't on my application, and I responded to say that I wasn't married long enough (!) and planned to go for British Citizenship for my son following a successful ILR application. He was perfectly fine with that and simply said that this is a mandatory question that they have to ask of all applicants, and that he could see our previous immigration history.
11.15 am - My ticket was announced on the tannoy and I was pretty shocked as the application was under consideration for just an hour. I was pretty sure that the caseworker had more queries but when I walked over to the desk I was greeted by another pleasant member of staff who gave me back my documents, and confirmed that my application was successful. I spent another 15 minutes or so just collating my original paperwork and ILR Approval Letter before leaving the building. Funnily enough I wasn't given any checklist or similar to sign (as has been mentioned by other posters).
Thanks again for all the nuggets guys, it has been very helpful and is truly appreciated. If there are any queries I can answer, please feel free to ask away and I will do my best to help.
