Didn't apply for LTR in time and other questions

[jhudsy]

Hi All,

5 years and a few days ago, I came to the UK on a 3 work permit. Time passed, and I obtained another work permit, from the same company. Thanks to these two work permits, I have leave to remain in the UK until 2009. Around a year ago, I moved jobs early, did the relevant applications, and had a letter saying ``you may start employment'' from Work Permits UK.

I was about to apply for indefinite leave to remain, when I finally got around to reading the second page of this letter (which I had assumed was a work permit). The letter said that I was suppose to reapply for leave to remain in the UK within 6 months of starting my new job. I have not done this, as I thought that my old LTR covered my new job too. To further complicate matters, I can't locate my old work permits (though I have a reference number on that letter).

So, the short form of the question is, what can I do?
The long form is
1) Am I in the UK illegally at the moment?
2) Should I bother to apply for indefinite leave to remain, or will this end up causing me to get kicked out of the country?
3) Should I panic?
4) What should I do?

Many thanks,
Jhudsy

[jhudsy]

Hi,

I forgot to mention in my previous e-mail; my leave to remain lasts until late 2009. However, it is my work permit that has expired, and I am no longer legally employed. What are the penalties if caught working illegally? If I quit my job, will my leave to remain automatically expire?

Thanks for any help

[republique]

Hi,

I forgot to mention in my previous e-mail; my leave to remain lasts until late 2009. However, it is my work permit that has expired, and I am no longer legally employed. What are the penalties if caught working illegally? If I quit my job, will my leave to remain automatically expire?

Thanks for any help

you have contradicted yourself so are you sure that you are talking about each permit correctly