UK Work Permit Approval Chances?

I was wondering if any of you could give me your opinion on my work permit being approved.

The main thing I'm worried about is that the company applying for the permit didn't advertise the job. They did submit extremely valid reasons for not doing so before applying for the permit. Namely: I have worked for them before (when I was in the UK on my Working Holiday Permit), they are a small company offering very specific IT marketing services, they haven't been able to replace me since I left 2 years ago and I hold a unique set of skills that is perfect for their company and the job.

The other facts that about me and the job they have offered me:
* I have an IT degree
* I've got seven years experience in IT marketing
* The salary is 28000 pounds

The permit was applied for nearly a month now, and more information has already been requested by Work Permits UK and submitted very promptly.

The last feedback we had from our contact at Work Permits UK was "the application has had to go onto another stage before a decision will be made."

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Any thoughts or feedback would be much appreciated.

BJC wrote:I was wondering if any of you could give me your opinion on my work permit being approved.

The main thing I'm worried about is that the company applying for the permit didn't advertise the job. ...................., they haven't been able to replace me since I left 2 years ago and I hold a unique set of skills that is perfect for their company and the job.
Any thoughts or feedback would be much appreciated.

just a question there BJC, how is it possible that they have 'tried' to replace you without advertising for the post.

what 'further information' did they ask for?

i would say that the fact that they havent responded can be taken to be a not so bad thing, mainly cause they have not rejected the application. i suppose maybe there still looking into the the details of the company, maybe thats the only thing that is holding up your application. All the best to you

how is it possible that they have 'tried' to replace you without advertising for the post.

What I meant by that is in the two years since I haven't worked for them, they have hired more staff, but no-one really capable of filling my old role, or the new role they have created. I'm not sure how they recruited those staff.

what 'further information' did they ask for?

A lot of company information - like invoices, insurance certificates and alike, and also copies of my qualifications and a further detailed description of the job in question.

It doesn't really matter now anyway, the work permit application was rejected on the basis that the job hadn't been advertised.

The company is now considering advertising the job and re-applying.

sorry to hear about the WP rejection, hopefully if they keep trying you will be able to get it this time

The company is sending in a new WP application this week/next week. They advertised the job on jobserve.com and via a recruitment agency and only received 4 applications and none of the applicants had the necessary software experience. Which I of course do have!

Fingers crossed for a better result this time!

Any thoughts on whether we have a better chance this time?

What excactly is this 'unique' software that only you possess knowledge of in a saturated market vis a vis the UK IT labour pool? Further how has the company survived for the two years you were away unless such software is of no discernible business requirement? I'm just asking 2 of the many questions Work Permits UK will ask

Its not exactly "unique" software, is Pivotal, which is a CRM tool. The company has developed its own product which sits over the top of Pivotal to manage email campaigns and alike.

The company has survived okay, employing 5 new database administrators over the past two years, but no new people at the management level. They have an urgent business need for that now, and that is where I come in. They need someone with Pivotal experience, plus broad range CRM experience, plus IT experience, plus Sales & Marketing experience = all of which I'm lucky enough to have.

I wondered if you have consifered HSMP, as you have a degree and your salary you mentioned plus work experience should be enought to get you the points ?

I have inputted all my details into the HSMP calculator and came up about 25 points short!

If I don't get the WP on the second application, I may look into the HSMP in a bit more detail.

WP approved on second application!