WP chances

[MLA]

Hi All,

I was hoping someone on here might be able to provide a little insight into WPs...

I currently have a 2 year working holiday which started Aug 06. I started working at thee\ beginning of September for a medical agency as just a Lab assistant in a bacteriology lab. After 9months of working there they really wanted to employ and sponsor me but I sadly had to turn them down due the pay cut it would have entail. I have since been working for the last month and a half in a new lab and they are now very insistent upon sponsoring me (yay for me). I know they had a great deal of trouble finding someone for the position before taking on me (they took on me even though I was going on holidays for 3weeks after being there only for 3weeks) but I'm not sure they have advertised other than through agencies.

Does anyone know my chances of getting a permit, and if I did get one do I have to apply again for permission to stay or is that covered by the remaining 12months on my VISA? I was also talking very quickly to a friend the other day and she mentioned that she had a friend apply for a WP and not only did they not approve it but they have now told her to get out of the country by January even though her VISA is until the end of next year. Does anyone know if this is common?!?!

Many thanks for any and all help and advice.

MLA

[jimquk]

Hi

Your WHM visa will definitely NOT cover you to work under a work permit. The WHM visa only allows you to work for twelve months, and working over this period can lead to the visa being cancelled.

The work permit visa you would require must be applied for from abroad: "You should apply for a work permit visa in the country of which you are a national or where you legally live" - from the following link:

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front ... 8721068127

Basically, you need to think about going back home and getting the employer to apply for the permit. If you browse through the board here, there is plenty of information about how long this might take, etc.

If you are thinking of a long term future here, it's important to do everything correctly; don't work over the twelve months on your WHM visa!

If WP doesn't work out, might you be eligible for HSMP or ancestry visa?

Good luck

[VictoriaS]

Your employers can apply for the work permit while you are int he UK, but once it is approved then you will have to go home for the visa.

Your employers need to look at www.workingintheuk.gov.uk to see if you fit the criteria. If you want a profesisonal assessment of your case, please PM or e-mail me.

Victoria