Switching to HSMP from Working Holiday Makers Scheme

kiwiLB57 · Post by **kiwiLB57** » Mon May 29, 2006 1:03 pm

Hi All,

My partner has been offered a long-term secondment to London with her firm. They have arranged for her work permit and I am to arrange my own.

The departure date and tickets (including mine!) have been set and arranged by her firm.

I have applied for HSMP, however I fear that it will not arrive in time for me to apply for EC before we fly to London (20 June).

I intend to apply for the Working Holiday Makers Scheme in case it does not arrive within the next week or two. The Working Holiday Makers Scheme will be a safety net / insurance policy to ensure that I can get on the plane to the UK with my partner.

My query is: can I switch to HSMP as soon as I arrive in the UK?

I am worried that getting the WHMS and HSMP at the same time may look a little odd. If I had a few extra weeks (and assuming I am successful) then I wouldnt need the WHMS at all!

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

kiwiLB57

Post by **geriatrix** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:18 pm

Yes, you can switch from WHM to HSMP visa while in UK (in-country switching allowed).

regards

cuberoot · Post by **cuberoot** » Mon May 29, 2006 7:39 pm

Hi kiwi

I am also in a similar situation. I will also be applying for a WHMS visa because of the long delays with HSMP visas.

Technically, it should not be a problem because you are allowed to switch from WHMS to HSMP in country.

I would appreciate it if you would keep me posted on your status. Im sure you won't have any problems.

Thanks.
cuberoot

kiwiLB57 · Post by **kiwiLB57** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:57 am

Hi All,

Well I have flown to Wellington to the British High Commission and applied for a visa under the Working Holiday Makers Scheme.

So now I am waiting on my HSMP from the UK AND my WHMS visa from Wellington. Hiliarious (kind of).

We are still booked to fly on 20 June, so things are starting to get a little tight. I should have my WHMS Visa back by the end of this week and from speaking to the Work Permits office on Thursday evening the HSMP application has been decided on and is on its way back to New Zealand. Hopefully that will be back by the end of this week, early next week.

Once I have both docs I need to decide whether to risk another flight to Wellington (approx GBP 150) and pay another entry clearance fee (approx GBP 70) and hope that the HSMP EC comes through from Wellington by June 20 (extreme longshot). Otherwise I can wait until I arrive in London and apply to switch to HSMP from WHMS.

Does anybody know what is involved in switching from WHMS to HSMP? Costs / process?

It may be easier to do get EC from Wellington although more stressful in terms of our impending departure date. Any advice?

Thanks,

kiwiLB57

kiwiLB57 · Post by **kiwiLB57** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:22 am

Anybody got a brief overview, or where I can get further info, on the switching in-country process?

Thanks,

kiwiLB57

anitha · Post by **anitha** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:43 am

hi ,

i was also on whmv and recently changed to hsmp visa.
i am incountry applicant.
we can change the status from whm to hsmp only after 1 year of stay as a whm.

the costs include 335 for approval
and 335 for stamping.

kiwiLB57 · Post by **kiwiLB57** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:55 am

Hi Anitha,

Can you confirm that you HAVE to stay for a year under WHM before you can switch to HSMP?

I thought you could switch at any time..

Is it the FLR (IED) form to switch?

Thanks,

kiwiLB57

WoodieG · Post by **WoodieG** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 6:53 pm

You can switch at any time, the 12 month ruling only applies when to switching to a work permit.
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Chinese Recipes

kiwiLB57 · Post by **kiwiLB57** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:27 pm

Thanks WoodieG,

I rang the WOrk Permits UK office last night and they told me that I had to wait a year on the WHM permit before I could switch to HSMP. Do you have a link to a site that states the waiting period before switching? I have spent hours on the internet trying to look it up and got nowhere yet.

Thanks all,

kiwiLB57

WoodieG · Post by **WoodieG** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:46 am

It is on the FLR(IED) form, page 16.
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MARRIAGE ADVICE DICUSSION

kiwiLB57 · Post by **kiwiLB57** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:41 am

Thanks Woodie,

Thats great. This has given me some hope that my situation is not totally screwed up!

I will call Work Permits UK again tonight and try to get them to clarify.

Cheers,

Raymond

WoodieG · Post by **WoodieG** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:07 pm

If they give the wrong answer again just demand to speak to a manager.
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kiwiLB57 · Post by **kiwiLB57** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:37 am

Hi Woodie,

I rang them again and spoke to a woman who sounded much more sure of herself. She was very clear that you could switch to an HSMP at any time after entering the UK on a WHM permit. It is only under a WP that you have to be in the UK a year on a WHM permit before you can switch.

In summary: you were dead correct!!

Great news for me.

Thanks again,

kiwiLB57

anitha · Post by **anitha** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:51 am

hi i am sorry for the wrong information because it was like that before.
anyway here is some information i found abt switching
Since 01st of October 2004, there have been some major changes in the switching rules. Under the new switching rules, a working holidaymaker can change his immigration status without leaving the UK and can apply for the following immigration categories:

Spouse Visa (Provided the applicant has been issued a working holidaymaker visa for more than 6 months initially and he has got more than 3 months of his current leave to remain).
Religious Minister (provided they have lived as a working holidaymaker for 12 months and fulfil all the requirements to apply as a Religious Minister.
WP (Business & Commercial) - Provided that he has remained in the UK for more than 12 months and applies for a work permit to work in a position enlisted in the shortage occupation list.
HSMP
Business Person (Provided the applicant has spent more than 12 months of time period in the UK in the capacity of working holidaymaker.
Innovator

cuberoot · Post by **cuberoot** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:44 pm

Wow! What a relief!

I am also planning to switch from Working Holiday Visa to HSMP visa once I arrive in the UK. I got such a shock when I read that I may need to wait 12 months before switching! My heart skipped a beat, since all the research I had read did not say anything about this.

Thanks for clearing everything up kiwiLB57 and WoodieG.

Halo · Post by **Halo** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 5:59 am

Have been reading messages with interest!! I am in a similar situation, my partner starts a rugby contract on November 1, I would like to apply for the HSMP, am about 3 weeks off being ready to but am concerned I may not have enough time! Does anyone know if you can start the process of getting HSMP approval, and use that approval to switch from the Working HOliday Visa once in the UK, or does the approval need to be gained and have entry clearance in one country?? Eagerly awaiting response/advice

v3 · Post by v3 » Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:18 pm

Hi Moderator/ALL,

It wud be gr8 help Smile) if you could answer some questions posted on
http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=10378

this wud help fellow WHM convertors to HSMP .
_________________
cheers
v3

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Switching to HSMP from Working Holiday Makers Scheme

Switching to HSMP from Working Holiday Makers Scheme

Yes