Entry clearance: sep 2007 - sep 2009 (HSMP non JR)
came to the uk at 2nd of october 2007
first extension: apr 2009 - sep 2012 - Tier 1 General
second (non essential, just for peace of mind) extension: oct 2011 - oct 2013
Had a 9am appointment, arrived the PEO at 8:15am and was first in the queue. Doors opened at about 8:30am. After security check I got a ticket.
Few minutes afterwards, my number was called and went to one of the caseworker counters. She was a middle aged lady, very nice and polite.
She asked the following documents one by one:
* Passport (conveniently I just had one passport throughout the last 7 years, so it contained all the necessary stamps & visas)
* Biometric Residence Permit & Police Registration certificate.
* Application form: she had a quick look through, stopping at the absences sheet. I had very low number of absences (34 days). She didn't ask anything about that.
* Life in the UK Test: she gave me a smile and told me that I got 100%
* Bank statements and payslips: I provided 12 bank statements from July 2011 to June 2012, 7 signed and stamped pay slips from my previous employer (July 2011 to January 2012), 5 signed and stamped pay slip from my current employer (February 2012 to June 2012) and a letter from him (according to the sticky format in this forum). She went through all the pay slips and bank statements matched the net salary with the appropriate transactions in the bank statements (I underlined the relevant transactions).
* She was happy to take photocopies of all the documents above.
Then, she went for few minutes 'to make some checks in the back office', came back, gave me another big smile and told me that my ILR is approved and I can go the payment counter.
She kept all the documents and returned me the passport.
I went to the payment counter and paid £1377 with my HSBC visa debit card, there were no problems with that. I did call the bank beforehand and they said that there shouldn't be any problems with this transaction. The time was 8:58am!
Then, I went back to the waiting area and waited about 20 minutes to the biometrics. The nice biometrics lady recognized me from the last time I was there (11 months ago) and wished me a happy birthday (my birthday was on the 10th of September). I told her that I haven't celebrated yet as I wanted to sort out my ILR first.
After the biometrics were done (it was 9:30am), she told me that I can go outside and come back at 11am and it's recommended that I keep my mobile switched on in case the caseworker wants to ask something.
I went out for a walk at Solihull town centre, came back after an hour and strangely they wanted my passport and instructed me to wait in the waiting area (it was just for a few minutes). At the time it seemed weird to me. Just after the whole thing was over I realized that it was because I photocopied just the first page of my passport and they also wanted a photocopy of other pages (with the visas & stamps), so if you're giving them photocopies, don't forget to photocopy all the pages of your passport.
After that they gave me back all the originals (except the employer's letter) along with the very important approval letter that 'does not convey the grant of ILR' but says that 'Your application for Indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom has been approved. You will be sent a Biometric Residence Permit as confirmation of your indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom'.
They also added an entry to my police registration certificate saying that I'm exempt from registration with the police.
I had loads of other documents which were not asked for: savings account statements, 4 years of bank statements + payslips, the most recent payslips & bank statements (july-august 2012), previous correspondence from the home office, council tax & water bills, 5 year p60s.
Also, my earnings were lower than my last extension (same band though). The caseworker did not ask/wonder about that (as it should be according to the rules).
This is a great forum, thank you for your help.
Any questions, please ask.