The registered agencies can be found on www.oisc.gov.uk I run one, the hosts of this board run one, there are a lot of us about. We don't have 'influence', but we know the best way to present a case and we know the case law. We'll know the pitfalls and the strong points in an application, and often ...
That's just about me leaving this forum at the end of the month, nothing else. Though it does seem that this week has really been a turning point for immigration in the UK, in many ways.
I would be reluctant to withdraw anything at this stage. Why not apply for IGS and just see if they accept it or not? I can't see that there is anything to lose other than the application fee.
I believe that you can apply for both at the same time, as the IGS is an application for further leave, the HSMP is only an immigration employment document which has no effect on your visa status.
I assume that you went home to apply for the WHM, as they cannot be applied for from within the UK. So you definitely have a gap in 2003, and would not be eligible for ILR until 2013 at the earliest.
Sorry to jump in this thread. I am on a work permit. I wanted to know what if my employer wants to change my job title as I am doing all that was in my job spec for my original post but additional responsibilities inc. management as well and give a pay rise. Can they do that or will they have to go...
The solicitor is right. Look at the the rules carefully and you will see that, in order to switch, you must have graduated from a UK university in your current period of leave. So, if you graduated and then got a new student visa for a new course, and haven't completed that course, then you can't sw...