Stephen Kong deserves a great big thank-you, along with the lobbying team who are pursuing the political avenue. It's great to know that both angles are covered.

W.

Alien, Thanks for your entirely sensible and extremely valuable contributions to the forum. I'm one of those getting shafted by the new five-year rule. As you say, it's not an issue that will get any traction with the pollies, as there are no votes in being nice to migrants, but that game has to be ...

Yes, sorry, I think what I was referring to is they may or may not request extra information before deciding on your initial application. I still think it's worth sending any additional info with your appeal, particularly if what you send brings to their attention any failure to follow their own gui...

Sorry about your luck, Emma.

If you have any additional documents, send them with your appeal. They say they may or may not consider extra documents at that stage. It's worth a shot.

W.

If that's the best you can get, I would go with it. Maybe you can explain in your HSMP application that the letter was originally supplied when you were applying for a university course; and you feel that asking for another version for HSMP purposes might compromise your current employment.

W.

You need some sort of industry or peer recognition beyond just good feedback from your clients or employers.

W.

English is my native language. I have no idea what IELTS is, sorry!

W.

You should include the approval letter, plus send a notarised or JP-witnessed copy with any spouse/dependant application for EC/Leave to Remain. I suggest keeping a notarised copy for yourself, too.

W.

Come on guys, read the guidance notes and the website FAQ and write something that sells yourself to the criteria, backing it up with documentation. Surely you can pick up the keywords -- "senior", "specialist", "graduate level experience", the number of years' experien...

I'm a foreign national working in Canada - been here since last year and have a work permit valid until 2007. I have an address here, bank account, health care, pay my tax here, etc., but I'm not a Canadian citizen. Am I eligible to apply for EC through the UK embassy in Ottawa? Also, the entry date...

I just got my documents and the approval letter today. There were no details of the exact points scored or on which criteria they were scored; they simply said that you need at least 65 points and I qualified. Also, the letter makes no comment on whether my urgency request was granted or whether my ...

I'm a September applicant and got confirmation over the phone this week that I have been approved.

I have posted details in a separate thread, simply because many people won't read this one.

W.

I called the HSMP team on Monday, April 25, and was advised my application had been processed and approved the same day. I am awaiting the official documents. Here are some details: Reference number: 0256xx Application sent: September 1, 2004, out of country (FedEx) Received by HSMP: September 2, 20...

New standards for processing times were introduced on October 1, 2004. I think it's a strong bet that to meet these standards, they put aside the applications received BEFORE that date, and put most/all of their efforts into processing anything received AFTER that date. That way, they can tell their...

The page that gives current processing times recently changed to a much more helpful format with information about target processing times etc. But now it seems to have rolled back to an older format, complete with older processing dates! Here's the link I've been using. Do I have the right one? If ...

My application reached HSMP on September 2, 2004, by courier. I e-mailed for my reference number and got it promptly. No word yet of any decision. Sent additional documents a month ago by registered mail to the Sheffield PO box. Have not received the "advice of receipt" that should have be...

There should be a pro-forma, whether it be an online form or whatever, so people who've received approval can post full details helpful to others at this site. Quite a few people are posting that they've received approval but are not including important details like their profession, whether they ha...

I enquired to the HSMP e-mail address and was told there was no need to submit a budget / proof of assets as this was not requested on the application form. I was advised this sort of information would be required at the entry clearance stage, not for HSMP processing. To me, that makes sense, becaus...

It's great to see that approvals are coming through for some people. It would be really helpful to others if people who post the details of their approval would also post their profession/occupation. This may give some indication of whether they are preferring some professions over others. I know do...

Dmrao,

Could you please state what field you work in? This might help members of this message board determine whether they are hand-picking applicants from certain fields.

Thanks,
Wazman.

It looks like the web site has somehow been rolled back to an older cached version, because their Christmas operating hours are at the top of the page.

I asked this question by e-mail to HSMP and was told no, I don't need to send proof of finances etc. as it is not requested on the HSMP form. This information IS, however, required at the entry clearance stage. I think it's a good idea when sending your application to print out any e-mails of advice...

It would be useful to plot the approval time against the profession of the applicant. Just a thought to see if they are picking and choosing.

I just wish they would come out and say how their processing works!

My application is still awating processing and I need to send extra documents. But to what address? I have asked this question in several e-mails to HSMP but have not received a clear answer for some reason. I know it's a Sheffield address, but I have seen several different addresses in Sheffield th...

As I said, those documents can be reached by following links from the IND home page. For that reason I would have expected them to be current. It's very concerning if they're not. I still think they are useful in preparing applications.

Good luck to everybody!

wazman