Invalid application - unsuccessful biometric enrolment?!

[jagnar4o4]

Sorry for the long post but I was hoping to see if anyone has had a similar situation as me.

I am on a tier 4 student visa that expired on the 29th Oct 13. I submitted and paid an online application for a Tier 2 General visa on the 29th Oct 13 in time. I realise this was very risky but my sponsor did not receive their licence to sponsor until the 28th Oct

I received my biometric enrolment letter on the 21st Nov and went to a post office to enrol on the 26th of Nov and was told it was successful. However, on the 24th Dec I received another biometric enrolment letter stating the below:

“Thank you for providing your biometric information.

I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but unfortunately the biometric information process was not successful. Therefore you must return to a participating Post Office branch to have your biometric information taken so that we can proceed with your application.”

Since I was away on holiday I went to enrol on the 3rd Jan 14 (still within the 15 day limit). The person serving me at the post office reassured me that the information was sent through.

To my surprise and frustration, I received a letter on the 24th Jan 14, stating my application is invalid because I have not made an appointment or attended a participating post office to provide my biometric information. It instructed me to ring a local branch to discuss my possible departure from the UK! I have kept my receipts as proof of enrolment from both times and was planning to give them a call explaining the situation and ask to have my application reviewed again so I do not lose my Tier 4 status. But I have been calling all day and no one has answered the phone, it rings and cuts after a few minutes!

I was wondering if this has ever happened to anyone and what the outcome of it was, as this is making me extremely worried and I seriously wish to stay in the country to work and be with my partner. Or if anyone has any advice on what I should do or how I should approach UKBA about it, it would be greatly greatly appreciated.

[manci]

On the HO letter of 24 January (and on the previous letters from the HO) was the caseworker's name given? From what address did the letter come? Any phone or fax No on the letter?

After the sponsor received its licence in October, did they assign a CoS to you and did you vary your application to include the CoS number?

[jagnar4o4]

On the HO letter of 24 January (and on the previous letters from the HO) was the caseworker's name given? From what address did the letter come? Any phone or fax No on the letter?

Sorry, I forgot to mention that the last HO letter (24th Jan) included all the documents I applied with. I was never given a caseworker's name on any letters. However, the last HO letter (24th Jan) was signed by someone from the workflow team. If this is relevant, my company previously had a caseworker email them to amend the ending date of my CoS (they previously put the same date as the start date due to misunderstanding and changed it to end 3 years later and notified the caseworker).

All the letters are from Sheffield and only contain the PO box address, no phone or fax number or email. Only numbers I have available to me is the local branch no. and the croydon contact centre.

After the sponsor received its licence in October, did they assign a CoS to you and did you vary your application to include the CoS number?

They assigned a CoS to me once they got the licence on the 28th of Oct, I submitted my online application with the CoS number on the 29th.

[manci]

write a polite letter saying that the HO decision to reject your application on the basis of non-attendance for biometrics was incorrect and enclose copies of the two biometric attendance receipts you have as evidence. Send the letter and enclosures to:

1
by email to the caseworker who previously emailed your sponsor. Note that email addresses are usually in the format:
firstname.lastname@ukba.gsi.gov.uk
or
firstname.lastname@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

2
by post to:
UKBA, Tier 2, Home Office, PO Box 3468. Sheffield. S3 8WA

3
by fax to 0114 207 5865 or 0114 207 5869

[jagnar4o4]

Thanks so much, manci for the advice. I shall do all three, are those fax numbers of the Sheffield office?

Do you think they could still reject my application and make me leave to UK?

[manci]

read this and ask for reconsideration:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... econsider/

0114 is the dialling code for Sheffield