Time to do my bit for the forum I have been following and using.
ILR route: WP + Tier 1(G) + TIer 1 G(Ext) 6 months ago.
Appointment: 9th May , 9 am @ Croydon PEO
For: Myself + 2 Dependants
Booked the appointment and got a date 42 days in advance at 12.00 midnight (I guess UKBA definitely know the answer to life, universe and everything )
Since it was early morning appointment, I booked a hotel nearby – Travelodge @ Wellesley Road and stayed there overnight. Just a 5 min walk and I would recommend this as it saves a lot of early morning hassle. If you book early you get a 25£ room. 3-24 hour parking @Whitgift is 8£, so it makes no difference.Had breakfast and arrived at about 8.35 for the appointment.
Was highly apprehensive because of the IT issues prevailing.
Security checked and cleared within 5 mins and was asked to wait for the initial token counter. Lady there asked for passport & SET(O). Made a few checks and then asked if I had any proof for the WP employment. I had this and mentioned the same. Was a bit surprised at this being asked at the first counter itself considering she was not a caseworker.
She promptly mentioned that there are still IT issues so there is no guarantee that your application would be decided today. She gave a ticket and asked me to go upto the 2nd floor
Went there promptly and was asked to pay for the service 2755£ via debit card. The lady asked for just the payment details page and the passports. Payment done, I was asked to wait for my number to be called. Time now – 9.00 am
After about a 15 minute wait, I was called by a caseworker. Quite professional young lady and soft spoken. Was asked to give my form and passports. Clearly mentioned to me that it would take upto 15 mins for her to feed in the application on the system. So just sat in front of her. Approximately 15 mins later she gave me all my documents back and asked me to be called for biometrics. Time now - 9.30 am
Roughly 10-15 mins later was called for biometrics. A pretty senior person was at the counter. My kid was quite excited seeing the camera and stuff, so he asked him to go first. Took some time for him to close his mouth and look straight at the camera. Mine and the wife’s followed with the typical declaration signing etc. The guys printer was really pathetic and kept getting stuck. So it took a while to get the prints for us to sign. Procedure done, I asked him if the IT issues were resolved. He gave a hrmmpp and a smile which I decoded as “Good luck”. Time now 10.00 am
The agony and the wait started. After about 20 mins or so my number was called. I was not sure what to expect as it was a bit too early. At the counter was told to go downstairs to the 1st floor at a specific counter. I had no idea what was going on – my first reaction was that there is something wrong on the IT front.
Went on the 1st floor to the counter. An Asian origin caseworker was there and waiting. She was very cordial and greeted me with a smile. Asked for my passport and forms. The first thing she checked was absences from the UK. I had about 120 days absence and had it well documented on a sheet.
Next she asked me for my documents. I had prepared the following in separate plastic folders and aptly marked with post-its to make it easier.
- Letters on headed paper from all my employers (3 in total). The recent two also mentioning my absences from the UK.
- 12 months payslips (across 2 employers)
- Last 5 years P60s (plus any P45s I had)
- 12 months bank statements (with salary payments highlighted)
- Original WP + all letters from the Home office.
- Cohabitation Proofs - Council Tax Bills (4 years), Joint name Utility bills (last 2 years), Rental Agreements (2 years), Polling cards
- Marriage certificate, Birth certificate
- Degree + NARIC letter
She had a look at them quickly and then asked me if I had photocopies of the same. I handed them over.
She very nicely said that she had all that she needed and I could go out if I wanted for a couple of hours and even mentioned going to the whitgift with the kid. Was asked to come back to the same counter at around 1.15 or so.
I was anxious and asked if the biometric had gone through and she said yes hopefully we should be done in about a couple of hours. Time now – 10.45 am
I was out of the office and just whiled a couple of hours shopping and having lunch at Whitgift.
Went back at around 1.30. She promptly gave back all the documents and passports and said that she had granted the ILR and asked me to check all the originals. The letter that we get is a bit confusing as it just mentions that “your documents are being returned ….”. So I went back to her and asked that it does not mention about approval. She just said, they keep changing the format of the letters. She smiled and said, don’t worry I myself have approved it for you.
Job Done! Time now – 1.45 pm.
Key takes:
1. Keep your documents in order. Mark them clearly to make it easy for the caseworker.
2. The forum helps a lot ! But take my word, everyone’s case is different and so is luck on that day. I saw few people who had come in earlier than me waiting for their biometric approvals even when I was ready to leave.
3. Just relax. If you have a straightforward case, there is usually no reason to be refused.
Good Luck!
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