Post
by hopefulme » Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:59 am
Hi Guys
Summary: I got my ILR! Thanks everybody all the help i got from this forum, so I am obliged to post my experience if it may help anyone.
Detail:
Applied for ILR (HSMP SET (O) ) on 31 July 2011, I had travel plans for end of August and was expecting to receive passport in two weeks as it happend three years ago when i applied for HSMP extension.
Payment was not taken for 4 days so I got concerned and checked on internet, came across this forum and found out that its taking 12 weeks on average. I got very very concerned because i had kind of emergency travel plan to travel by end of august.
I decided to withdraw application and apply at PEO. I phoned them and requested to return my application and passports. The call centre lady was very helpful and polite but she said application is not in the system yet, she is creating the note and it will be returned. She told that she can not guarantee that payment will not be taken but she expects it will not be taken now since i have decided to withdraw at very early stage.
Payment taken from card (4th of august 2011)
I called again on 09th august 2011 and asked if my application has been sent back yet? She checked in system and told that application is in system now but no action has been taken regarding withdrawl of application. I can send a fax to them asking for return of application.
Also booked first available PEO appointment online.
09 august - i sent a fax asking them to return the application.
11 august - received the application back.
18 august - Got appointment reminders by email and by sms.
19 august - went to PEO at birmingham - Passed through airport style security checks. Everyone was polite but very serious expressions on their faces. I tried to smile to couple of people from staff but no one returned smile. Went to waiting area and sat down there with 4 other people. My turn came in 2 min, went to the window inside a different room. A lady sitting there with same serious expressions on face, smiled at her but no reply. She asked my application form with a very polite tone with same serious expressions. She went inside for checks, returned in 5 minutes, went once again for 2 min, then came and started asking documents one by one. I promptly provided all required documents. Then she asked me to go to other window for payment. I had sigh of relief as I read on this forum they ask payment only if application is going to be processed. I went to payment window and paid by debit card, got receipt and returned back to the first window. She told me that i can go to have lunch and return back in 2 hours as it will take sometime to enter details in the system. I told her my office is at ten minutes drive, i can go back to work and will come again in about 4 hours time. She smiled for the first time and said i can leave my phone number, someone will call me when application is ready to collect.
After two hours i got a call from withheld id, received eagerly, as expected, gentleman told my passport is ready for collection. I could not wait to collect it, drove to their office straight away and collected much awaited ILR stamped passport.
I am so happy and wish everyone best of luck who are waiting. I had to pay processing fee twice but i am happy to have passport back well in time for my travel. I think it is worth paying extra if you can not wait for postal application timelines.
A quick note for who are going to PEO birmingham (solihulll), PEO is located in a row of offices opposite to shops on the other side of the road. There is no signboard on main station road so if you are following satnav, where your satnav shows the destination you can not turn toward the ofice from that place, you have turn to road just before the office block. There is another UKBA office which also 41 number but on the road parallel to station road. That UKBA office is not PEO, thats for something else. It took me about 20 minutes to find the office so i want to give as many details as possible for anyone going to solihull PEO.
All the best to everyone waiting for their ILR and thanks all of you once again for the help.
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