Just wanted to let everybody know about my experience at Croydon:
The process as follows: arrive get ticket, wait, pay the fee, wait, go to the counter to submit your application. You do not get to see the CW!! they just ask you for the form and all the supporting documents you want to include..then you go to register for Biometrics and give them all your documents. The guy did say that if the CW needs some information, they will call me on the mobile that I left, after that I could leave the building or wait in the area...In my case along with 15 others there was an IT problem with getting biometric/fingerprints verified and after 2 hour wait we were called back to reregister for biometrics again, but at that point the lady told me that my application was approved, but they just need to get the biometric details verified. 40 more minutes later called back and given all the docs back (along with photocopy - why did they ask for it??) and the approval letter.
My details:
June 2008 HSMP / July 2010 Tier 1
270 days absence (business trips/annual leave), didn't have any evidence from first employer (3 years) only letter from second employer which only confirmed some absences - that's why I was worried, as well as because while on Tier 1, I had an employment gap for 5 months during which I was also absent from UK for like 25 days. But in line with other success stories, looks like CW are not bothered (yet?). I did attach a personal statement saying that my employer didn't hold records of my business trips/leave, that I was always paid in the UK and never taken unpaid leave
Now the docs that I submitted:
Application/photos/life in the uk
7 payslips/ 7 account statements enough to get the points - I had an employment gap for 5 months - but no issues
latest payslip/bank statement
reference letter from current employer
5 year HMRC history along with 5 P60s
Personal statement saying that from 2006 UK has been my home, briefly describing my position and why i had to travel for business, no records kept, never taken unpaid leave, and that during my gap in employment I was constantly looking for work but couldn't find it due to slow season.
Overall, just to cheer up those who are worried about not having evidence of absences from employers, looks like CW are not bothered (I had 270 absences). Also, had a fine issued by court for traffic light offence back in 2009, which also didn't cause an issue.
Good luck to everybody applying for ILR
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