Is there still enough time for me to apply HSMP?

[jellyrim]

Dear friends. I am holding a student visa which will be expired on 31 Oct 2004. Is there still enought time for me to apply for HSMP now? Or must I go back and apply as out-country applicant? Thank you!

[afzalasm]

Helo jellyrim

Well I recommend you to apply for HSMP as an In-Country applicant with a job offer in hand. If you have done your graduate studies then I read in announcements at workingintheuk.gov.uk site that they offer a year HSMP for those. Check this site.

Also, if you have the job offer then perhaps you can make your case as urgent mentioning that your employer is looking to have you on board asap etc.

[jellyrim]

The problem is I have not got any job offers and the application processing is going so slow...I am afraid I cannot receive any result before my visa expires.

[Chess]

Dear friends. I am holding a student visa which will be expired on 31 Oct 2004. Is there still enought time for me to apply for HSMP now? Or must I go back and apply as out-country applicant? Thank you!

As long as HSMP team recieve your application before your current Visa expires you will have a right to stay in the country - you *Wont* be illegal..


..so if you qualify and meet the elegibility criteria then just go ahead with it

[rella]

Dear friends. I am holding a student visa which will be expired on 31 Oct 2004. Is there still enought time for me to apply for HSMP now? Or must I go back and apply as out-country applicant? Thank you!

Will you have graduated with the UK degree that you are holding the student visa for? Up until Oct 1, you can switch any valid visa in-country, other than a visitor's visa. After Oct 1, the rules are tightening up and to switch as a student, you will have had to have graduated. This is for the FLR portion of the application process. So, unless you have graduated, you will have to apply for the HSMP as out-of-country.

My husband applied for HSMP in April and still hasn't received a decision. If he doesn't receive a decision before Oct 1, I'm not sure how to deal with the FLR. They changed the rules AFTER he applied for the HSMP, so we had no idea that we'd be in this position. My fear is that at this point in the process, it will be past the end of Sept before he gets a decision letter.... He didn't graduate, so he will not be in a category to do an in-country visa switch in a few weeks. ARGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[jellyrim]

Thank you all for your advice. Luckily I have already graduated and got the certificate. Wish you all good luck!

[Mini]

If one is graduating from a UK university, one can request for extended stay after completion. My husband is finishing in sept but when he had applied for the visa, he had requested for additional 6 months to explore the UK.
He was granted the same and currently holds a visa till jan 2005.

[MWazir]

Chess,

As long as HSMP team recieve your application before your current Visa expires you will have a right to stay in the country - you *Wont* be illegal..

I am in a similiar situation although I am not a student.

I am a work permit holder and the company I work for is in the process of liquidating. This still gives me 2-3 months time and I have submitted HSMP application and payment has been deducted today.

1. It will take more than 2-3 months (probably 6-7 months) for the application to be processed.
2. If the company shuts down before HSMP gets processed (as looks likely) will that reset my ILR counter? I have spent 2 and a half years in this country on a work permit and it would be a pity if it gets reset.

It looks like the best option I have is to get another job offer and request the HO to consider my case with urgency.

Your comments will be very useful.

Many thanks.