Works permission expired after Work Permit system ended.

[targetcsg]

Hi all, hoping you can help.

Does anyone know if you can apply for LTR after the six month period of you work permission has expired? Even on compassionate grounds.

I have been in the country for over 3 years under 3 different consecutive work permits the most recent being gained middle of last year. This permission expired after the BIA stopped using the Work Permit system.

The prolem is that due to marital problems and counselling etc I forgot to apply to extend my current Leave to Remain from my last employment that would have expired in 2011.

Once I realised what had happened I notified my boss and offered my resignation to protect them from being fined by BIA.

I now plan to approach the BIA and find out what they suggest I do.

My employer wants me to stay with the company if I can as they cant replace me.
My wife works teaching Autistic children and they don't want to lose her either as hard to find people that stick with the job.

So that my call to BIA is the most effective I was hoping someone might have comment on these questions before I call BIA.

1) Would a letter of resignation to my employer explaining the reasons I must resign and that it is to protect work from legal risk, also explaining my ‘reasons’ for forgetting to apply, my wife’s affair, waiting for counseling etc; look better from BIA’s perspective.

2) How should I structure my call to BIA and who should I ask to speak to?

3) What should I request of BIA? Appointment, particular department, permission to remain in employ temporarily.

4) What should I take to BIA appointment if granted?

a. Copy of resignation letter.

b. Evidence of marital issues and counseling.

c. Evidence of my value to the company and difficulty in replacing me.

d. Explanation of how my company and my role is benifiting the UK education system.

e. Explanation of my wifes employment in teaching autistic children for the local body council and the difficulty in replacing her.

f. Proof that 3 companies have all managed to get work permits for me on the grounds that they could not find an equivalent EU alternative.

g. Proof that all the money we have earnt has been re-invested in the UK market through spending, mortgage etc.

Any advise would be great. We all want to stay here and I don't want to pull my children out of school and turn their planet upside down.

[PaperPusher]

I have been in the country for over 3 years under 3 different consecutive work permits the most recent being gained middle of last year. This permission expired after the BIA stopped using the Work Permit system.

When did you get the last letter - what is the date on the letter? You have 6 months to use the letter. If it is earlier than June 16th I think you may have problems, as the letter should state, you should apply for FLR within 6 months or before your current leave expires, whichever is the sooner.