A note on "Covering Letter"

[wpilr_nov12]

There are frequent posts where forum members want to submit ‘covering letter’ with their application. There is a danger that you might be opening up more holes in your application than you are trying to ‘cover’.

In your application packet, the evidence you supply should be able to stand on their own. It certainly helps to organize your evidence in a certain logical way so that the presentation is intuitive to the CW. In some instances, additional worksheets to summarize your data (finances, etc), may be helpful, but they should not be necessary, if your evidence document are clear, and carry the information they are meant to carry.

There are sections within the application form that ask you to give additional information, if and when necessary, and there are sufficient instructions on how to do just that (eg., Set O form, page 9 bottom). This removes the need for any additional covering letter.

If you absolutely need a covering letter, then you need to look at what evidence you could include to fill the gap you are trying to ‘cover’ with the covering letter.

If your case is exceptionally ‘not straightforward’, then probably you are already using a professional/solicitor. They are adequately skilled in preparing covering letters in such situations. This would be my only exception to exclusion of covering letter.

A CW is trained to read and extract information from the form, and from the evidence you have supplied.

Again, you are the judge of your own circumstances, and I can only share with you what I know.

[NOG]

A CW is trained to read and extract information from the form, and from the evidence you have supplied.

Agree with your post, however, disagree with the above statement. The number of incompetent rookie Grade A clowns who work at UKBA cannot be quantified. I am certain that many others voice the same opinion.

[wpilr_nov12]

Bumping up for benefit of all applicants.