WP1 + Passport Issue

[TG]

Dear All,

I 'am in a bit of bother - any advice on how to sort this is very much appreciated.

Recently a prospective employer filed a workpermit application to employ me (IT - non shortage occupation) and submitted my passport along with WP1. They recieved the approval on 27th May without the passport. On contacting the Incountry Decision Team, I was told that passport would have been sent seperately to the new employer - which they have not recieved yet - and advised me / new employer to get in touch again if I don't recieve my passport by end of this week.

In such cases - is it advisable to wait for 2 weeks after submission of WP1 form + passport to recieve the passport ...considering that the work perimt approval was recieved withing 1 week of submission itself (or) should I initiate any action if I can at all to try and retrieve my passport (or) would be very grateful for any other advise in general.

Many thanks!!

[kawasaki1]

I am assuming you have sent the passport only once you received the WP confirmation letter form the Home Office. As of 1st April this had to be done separately, and you had to sign the FLR form yourself, not the employer. (if not, then your employer might have applied the 'old way' or used the wrong form).

In any case, the typical (recent) turnaround is 1 week for the WP letter and then once you get that and send the FLR(IED) form with the passport, a further 5 weeks to get the 'residence permit' sticker.

Check this HO link for update on FLR processing times.

[TG]

Thanks Kawasaki.

Going by the previous conventions the employer included the passport along with my WP1 application (eventhough there was no need as you pointed) - they did complete the latest WP1 form - and have recieved the approval sans my passport. Do you reckon I can do anything to get my passport back and get the FLR at the earliest.

Thanks

PS - Haven't applied for FLR - only made the application for Work Permit (WP1)

[kawasaki1]

I'm not an expert, but:

1. Either the HO has sent the passport to the In-country team even though you did not fill out the FLR yet. This could mean that either the in-country team will send the passport back and ask you to fill out the FLR yourself and re-send it, or they will process it as in the old days (however I cannot see why they would do this since their rules have clearly changed, so don't count on this).

2. The HO is simply taking its time in returning the passport, and given it did not include it together with the WP letter, wait one more week and then call them up.

Anyhow, you will almost certainly have to fill out the FLR and pay the appropriate fee (unless exempt or company sponsors). Also, in any case, once they get the passport and everything is ok, it will take 5 weeks for them to stamp it (unless they sort temselves out soon and reduce the time; it's getting a bit ridiculous given the amount that one pays for their service).

I am not sure about whether this can be sped up. Your employer could always try and contact the in-country team and ask for some sort of urgent treatment (like if you need to start asap or travel on company business, similar to what HSMP people try), but I doubt it will help much as everyone would do it then.

In any case, you should not worry: given that the WP is approved (this is the main thing), getting the LTR is more of a formality (assuming your immigration records are clean and you didn't use public funds).

The moderators appear to be away on holiday so check again in a while in case any of them has any ideas on the matter.

[TG]

Yep Kawasaki, it does appears that the forum authorities like Kayalami are on holiday.
Thanks very much your reply - it did soothe my nerves!!. My main conern is that my passport might be lost in the midst of all this - but it appears that I can do very little other than being patient.

[Sam123]

HI Team

Just curious , I understand FLR form is filled by the employer and HO send it back to the Employer after the decision. Has it changed? Could you confirm please.

Cheers
Sam

[kawasaki1]

Nope, these days the employer only applies for WP. Once they have that, the individual has to fill out and sign the FLR form and send it together with the passport to the HO (individuals also pay the relevant fee).

Many employers sponsor the FLR fee though, so they might fill out the form and just forward it to you to be signed etc. and then they deal with everything else. In any case, the answer to your question is no: you will have to at least check the detailes of the form and sign it (or even fill the whole thing out yourself).