Hi ILR1980, thanks for your message.
I will be applying through category B, and intend to start applying in February after I start my new job next month. I have been working in Japan until July of this year and have calculated I will just make enough in the 12 months before the application to meet the requirement of 18,600, (provided it can get calculated on the gross.)
I have payslips however they are printed out pdf copies and therefore I think I will need the payslip confirmation letter. For the employment letter, I already have my signed contract however, I was stupid and copied the signed contract, and posted the original back to the company. Therefore you can kind of tell it is not original. I could ask my company for the original back, but I though it might be better to ask for the employment letter instead, as it would need to be in English anyway. My contract does not have the length of employment written as I was a permanent employee, and doesn't mention "the period over which they have been paid the level of salary relied on in the application", would this affect the application if I chose to just hand in the contract.
Still got a lot of work to do to get the application ready for Feb, but hoping it all goes smoothly.
Greatly appreciate all your kind support!