Possible Glitch in EC System for HSMP ---- NEED ADVICE

[irfannazir]

I just received refusal for my entry clearance for UK as Highly Skilled Migrant. Unfortunately, I am very disappointed and unsatisfied about the grounds (Maintenance Funds) upon which my application is refused by entry clearance officer. Here is my situation as happened.

I applied for HSMP approval letter on February 2, 2008, my application was successful and I got approval letter in April which was dated March 13, 2008. Letter states that I have six months to apply for entry clearance. I called Visa Application Center Lahore, Pakistan in May 2008 and asked for the requirements to apply for Entry Clearance. Information officer told me to fill out VAF2 Application form. I obtained the application form and guide and started preparing my application (there was no requirement of maintenance funds in the VAF2 application form and guide). On July 2, 2008 I went to visa application center to submit my application. I get my documents checked, paid application fee and obtained token number for submission queue. When I was about to submit my application, an officer told me that they just received an email from Islamabad office that they no longer would accept HSMP application on VAF2 form. Instead, they asked me to submit VAF9a and VAF9b forms. Visa officer managed a copy of new forms for me. When I started filling my new application form, I was surprised to see a new requirement of maintenance funds (which require that I should have certain amount in my possession for last 3 months). As I already had paid the fee for visa application, I had no choice but to fill out the new form and submit my application as visa officers absolutely refused to accept the VAF2 form. And on July 25, 2008 I got refusal based exactly on this point (no maintenance fund for 3 months).

Now I am stuck in an impossible situation. As this requirement is suddenly imposed and there was no prior information about it, I cannot wait for three months to fulfill this requirement as my HSMP approval letter is going to expire on 13 September 2008 and certainly I cannot go back in time to start maintaining funds to meet this requirement.

According to the maintenance requirement, I should have the maintenance amount, 3 months prior to my application, which would have been since 1st April, 2008 but at that time THIS WAS NOT THE REQUIREMENT according to the VAF2 application form and according to visa center website and Home Officer website at that time(i.e. in may April, May 2008). I could have arranged the amount in my bank account if I have been aware of this requirement in April 2008.


I think this is a glitch in new system and existing HSMP letter holders were not properly accommodated and not all scenarios are properly sought out before applying this change. Clearly the applicant who applied before June 30, 2008 has a clear advantage over the applicant who applied after June 30, 2008 although they had same HSMP approval letter with same time frame.

Funny thing is according to this three month maintenance requirement, I should have maintained amount since 1st April 2008 in order to apply in July 2008, but I received my HSMP Approval letter in mid April 2008.

Now readers please advise me what I should do now? they refusal letter says I can apply for an administrative review but I think that would end up in same result as this one.

If there is anyone else facing this situation, please share your experience/thoughts on how to tackle this situation.

[irfannazir]

Please anyone, I am desperate for this. Can anyone please tell me what I should do now?

[chakku71]

Was there not an exemption till 28th of June where you only needed the funds required not for the entire three months. SO on applying, you needed to show an up to date bank statement and that should have the required funds. Even if you did not have them in the previous months, it was okay. But this no longer applies for applications after this date.