Travel Allowance

[aashan]

Hello,

I am going to apply for extension of Tier 1 General migrant visa in September.

My question is about travel allowance. I get travel allowance from my company. It is paid separately from the salary and it is directly transferred to my bank account. I need to include this allowance as part of my salary in the Tier 1 extension application in order to make up the required points. But I was advised by a friend that travel allowance cannot be included in your salary.

Please can the seniors clarify if travel allowance can be included in the salary.

Thanking you in advance.

Aashan

[mulderpf]

Why is it not paid as part of your salary? Is it the same amount every month? Do you pay tax on it or is it just a reimbursement?

If it's a reimbursement for money that you spent on travelling (which it sounds like) then you cannot include it.

[aashan]

its an amount paid in separately from my salary and its paid depending on the mileage done. (i.e. fixed amount per mile). I do not pay any tax on it as it is paid in full.

[mulderpf]

No, you definitely cannot claim that as part of your salary.

[aashan]

Thanks mulderpf. one more question.

The same friend suggested that previous earnings can only be for calender months e.g. 1st Feb to 31st Jan. And they cannot be for say 20th June 2012 to 19th June 2013. I remember in my last application I used dates of the latter kind. but he suggested that this a new rule. is this correct?

[LostInCountry]

Thanks mulderpf. one more question.

The same friend suggested that previous earnings can only be for calender months e.g. 1st Feb to 31st Jan. And they cannot be for say 20th June 2012 to 19th June 2013. I remember in my last application I used dates of the latter kind. but he suggested that this a new rule. is this correct?

This is not true. I claimed from
18-06-2012 to 07-12-2012 and
10-12-2012 to 31-05-2013 from 2 separate sources.

What you cannot do is claim 13 months of earnings,
e.g. salary for June 2012 credited on 20th June 2012 and
salary for June 2013 credited on 19th June 2013.
This way you are effectively claiming for 13 months (June 2012 till June 2013 both inclusive) of earnings instead of 12.