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| Hello, I'm ibgrad
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My nationality is United States
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I last logged in on 06 Jan 2009
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I have been a member since 24 Jul 2008
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| I have added
12 posts in trackitt forums
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I added my last post on 04 Jan 2009
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ibgrad's Immigration Cases
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| HSMP Application:
Approved in 108 days (41 days more than average) (1 comment) |
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| User: |
ibgrad |
Applied From: |
United States |
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| Application Filed: |
24 Jun 2008 |
Application Received: |
27 Jun 2008 |
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| Points Claimed: |
75 |
Fee Debited: |
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| Reference No. Received: |
03 Jul 2008 |
Reference No.: |
264*** |
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| Application Status: |
approved |
Approval Date: |
13 Oct 2008 |
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| Papers Received: |
20 Oct 2008 |
Nationality: |
United States |
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| Last Updated: |
20 Oct 2008 |
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| Notes: |
Got my stuff back in the mail today. No email or call in advance it just showed up. Now I just have to wait 2 months till I can apply for EC. Jesus Christ is Lord. |
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Topic: HSMP Extension
You may be having trouble finding the form because the HSMP was replaced with Tier 1 General a few months ago.
A good place to learn about the new system is here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general/applying/extendingyourstay/
There have not been too many significant changes, other than the name ;). I hope your extension application is successful. |
Topic: EC from US ?
Hey all, received an email from the BHC in Chicago. So they are taking 5 working days to open new mail. The email warned that this is their, "peak season" but said they have the following service standards:
3 business days for straightforward applications.
12 business days if your application is deemed non-straightforward.
50 business days for settlement applications.
However, if your application is not processed in this timeframe we ask for your patience due our high volume of applications in this season.
Please note, due to the time taken for assessment, Points Based System applications are considered non-straightforward.
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So it looks like I should have my passport back by the 22nd including shipping time.
Happy new year! |
Topic: HSMP from USA
Sorry, I misspoke it turns out the working Holidaymaker visa was only for Canadians, Aussies, Kiwis, and Japanese. They replaced it with tier 5 (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/) but the rules are pretty much the same.
The Tier 1 general visa is pretty new so things are not so definite but the Home Office's stated goal is to process the Tier 1 apps in less than 45 days, and from what I have heard so far they seem to be doing pretty well with that, like around 30. Especially if you are able to file your app from the US, as applications from India seem to be taking longer.
Also, if you can find a British sponsor you should check out Tier 2, it is not as flexible as Tier 1 but not as hard to qualify for either.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/
good luck |
Topic: USA CITIZEN APPLYING TIER 1 IN JAN 09, XCHANGE RATE, MAINT FUND, EARN QUES, REJECTION RATE INCR?
The main thing is to make sure to completely explain the differences between your documentation. If your wage slips show a 30k bonus and 80k in salary but your tax return only shows 90k in taxable income you should include the documents to show that you dropped the other 20k into your 401k. Fortunately for me my wage slips had a spot on them that showed what money was being diverted to a pre-tax account, made it pretty easy to explain the differences.
As far as what to claim for points, I think the pre-tax portions still counts toward this year's earnings, because this is when you earned it, even if you have an arrangement with the US gov that you will not spend it and they will not tax it. If you do not need the points from the extra 20k then it is not so important. However, if you do need the points you should look around on the forums and see if anyone else had problems getting credit for tax deferred income. |
Topic: HSMP Extension
The visa is good for 3 years. Not sure why they would try to cut it off early. However, renewing after being gone for two years might be difficult since part of the application is a signed statement that says you intend to make the UK your home. Not sure how the renewal agent will look on your obviously residing so extensively elsewhere. Might want to read through the renewal guidance and see. |
Topic: USA CITIZEN APPLYING TIER 1 IN JAN 09, XCHANGE RATE, MAINT FUND, EARN QUES, REJECTION RATE INCR?
1. Income
I was not sure about 401k income myself. After reading through the guidance again and again I noted a point where it stated that money coming OUT of a retirement plan does not count as income. So if it does not count when it comes out, then it should count when it goes in, especially considering that is when you actually earned the money. In the cover letter for the income section of my application I explained that.
As for the discrepancies, my payslips broke down my hourly rate, my taxes, my 401k withdrawals, etc. My bank statements showed after tax deposits, and my tax returns showed my taxable wages. I included a detailed spreadsheet and cover letter to explain all the discrepancies in these numbers. If there unexplained discrepancies their guidelines are to assume the documents are invalid and not count them. Remember, the reason they ask for multiple sources of documentation is to prevent forgery. If you have authentic looking documents from several sources all affirming the same level of income that provides sufficient proof that you made that much money. A single source of documentation, and by extension, multiple sources which are not in agreement, do not satisfy the burden of proof. It sucks for us, but they are trying to make it sufficently risky to attempt a forgery that no one will try.
2& 3 Exchange rates: Whenever an exchange rate is used it should be the exchange rate on the final day of the period in question. IE. if your earnings were from May 1, 2005 till April 30, 2006. You would sum up your earnings and convert them based on the exchange rate on April 30th, 2006. If your maintenance funds were in the bank for all of Sept, Oct, and Nov, you would use the exchange rate on the 30th of Nov to convert your maintenance funds into pounds sterling. You can request exceptional consideration if your home currency suffered a dramatic devaluation (>50%) toward the end of the period and ask them to consider an earlier exchange rate, however, for most countries devaluation has worked in our favor against the pound lately so that should not be an issue.
4. The MBA provision was intended to attract highly skilled managers to the UK. Not just any MBA will do, it has to be one of the most prestigious MBAs, indicative of a skilled manager. Unfortunately for you the UK is not aggressively recruiting lawyers, so no special treatment for your degree. I guess the lesson here is, no matter how dim your kids are, send em to the best schools and get them jobs with the best companies and maybe they will be president somed... err will have an easier time migrating between nations. :)
5. I have not heard of any increase in rejections lately, although there has been an increase in applications, which is slowing processing times. |
Topic: HSMP Extension
I read an oil related course way back in the university, but since i arrived the Uk under the hsmp scheme i have not been able to find a job in my field. I am however working completely in a different enviroment. Can someone let me know if this might affect my application even though i'm meeting up with my earnings?
As long as you have enough points, ie. you are making enough money, they are not too particular about how you make it. Excepting that it should be legal, and for some reason doctors-in-training are frowned on. |
Topic: HSMP Extension
What is the maximum time allowed to stay outside UK in a 5 year period for an HSMP / Tier 1 holder so as to be able to re-enter UK and continue with Tier 1 visa to gain an ILR / permanent residency after the qualifying period?
I have not read the forms myself in detail but what I have heard is that ILR requires 4 years 11 months of time in the UK on a route to settlement type visa (Tier 1, etc). Of that time you cannot be outside of the country more than 90 days in any given year. So you need to make your first arrival in country within 28 days of receiving your visa, and you also have to keep track of your time abroad from then on. If you arrive too late or take too much time away you will have to file for a further extension of you work permit until you satisfy the requirements for ILR. |
Topic: HSMP Extension
I would like to find out what happens when my visa expires, do I need to resign from my work before it expires? How long after it expires can I still remain in the UK?
I am not an immigration lawyer but my guess is, if you do any for-pay work, or simply remain in the country past the expiry date of your visa, when they catch you they will deport you rather swiftly. Also, your chances of getting any other visa will be dramatically reduced. You do not have to resign from your job but if your employer pays you and reports it to the tax authorities the govt will catch on at some point. You would likely have to take a leave of absence and return to your home country while your sort your visa out. |
Topic: HSMP from USA
The bad news is HSMP is now closed. They are no longer issuing that kind of visa anymore. The good news is they replaced it with the Tier 1 General visa which is supposed to be simpler, but with all the hiccups in the new system I am not so sure just yet. Anyhow, most of the info you need is here
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf21pbsgeneralmigrant
Sorry there is a lot to read, read through it once, and if you get stuck come check the forums here and elsewhere.
Remember, you can only apply for a Tier 1 visa from a country you legally reside in, so if you expect your L1 visa to expire before they issue you a Tier 1 visa you will have to apply from india instead. Also, if you do not meet the requirements or are not ready to go through the trouble of a Tier 1 visa, you could try for a working holidaymaker visa instead. Be sure not to overwork or overstay your holidaymaker visa though, they will almost certainly reject any future applications you make if you do.
best of luck |
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