Deborah, Congrats! A question though. Why did you have to pay HSMP fee of $ 150 while doing EC? I am bit confused because, I have already paid HSMP fees of GBP 150 while applying. Do we need to pay $150 once again while doing EC? Or simply is it EC clearance fee??? Please clarify. Exactly that - HS...

Thank you! Started packing - moving mid-June (soonest the pets can travel under DEFRA rules). I hope that the tips I've posted will help others, too!

Just to post a quick update - received EC from LA consultate last week. They did honor the post-dating request and put the entry date as 01/06/05. No questions asked. Docs returned included only my former & current passport, original HSMP approval letter and my original letter to the LA consulat...

I agree - I wouldn't black out any information on your application. It looks too suspicious. Also, I can tell you (from my work experience) that I can get just about anyone's SS number with very little effort for about $6 per search on the web. I don't think including your number on your HSMP is any...

do I need to give acedamic reference? You need to either provide your original degree or a notarized copy and a second form of evidence for your academic reference. I sent a certified letter from my school giving my dates of enrollment and degrees awarded along with a notarized copy of my degree (d...

I'll second Lynn's comments. I, too, included council tax in my estimation of income for the first year. Good luck!

2 to 3 weeks weeks may be a bit optimistic given some of the time members have been waiting. I know mine took about 7 weeks. Others have taken as little as a few days; some have been waiting more than 7 months. I think there really is no way to know for sure until you have it back in hand. They do s...

Ali - I've seen in other posts that people have checked yes and no for work permit. I don't know that it makes a difference if you're submitting under HSMP. I sent mine last week and I've got the FedEx notice that its being delivered back to me today. FYI, I checked yes under work permit, and wrote ...

Sorry...don't know how to answer that for you. My best guess is that as you're living there now, HO would expect your financial situation to be a bit more fluid - money coming in & out - rather than have a large pile of savings, but then that's just a guess. All the best.

Zeke: I was in the same boat as you - 2 page reference letter with 2nd page stationery different than the first. I think so long as the 2nd (or 3rd or whatever page) has the original signature of the sender and clearly relates, you'll be fine. I got HSMP approval and they never said a word about that.

Did you submit your bank statements with your FLR? If so, I'd guess you're probably safe withdrawing some money.

True, but in my case the r/t was cheaper than a o/w so I had it anyway. I'm sure some of the points probably aren't required, but I thought I'd pass along the info that was given to me. I see repeated questions concerning EC documentation on these boards, and figured I'd try to help out in sharing t...

Jhonny: I would ask the BBC recruiter if she could supply you with a written job description which includes the reference to a graduate degree being preferred if possible. It sounds like they are willing to work with you as you're obviously quite talented. Please keep us posted on your progress! Deb...

She knew it was an HSMP EC, but she just plugged me into a standard recording after answering my question about the post-dating. I went ahead and sent all the information requested after completing the online application. FedEx'd everything yesterday for overnight delivery. I'll post on the progress...

It sounds like you're getting together a well-developed plan for your reapplication. I agree with Zeke - his suggestions were excellent. Re: your academic skills applied to real life - try looking at the school's current curriculum for the coursework required for your degree. It wil often describe i...

I think the problem lies with the jobs you undertake not normally requiring a graduate degree to be hired, even though you do have the degree. From what you've quoted, it clearly appears that a degree is NOT required for the positions, and that experience rather than education is the emphasis. Is th...

That seems like an awful lot of items when I've read elsewhere that a 2 weeks (or more) hotel reservation would also suffice. My friend won't be supporting me, just giving me a couch to crash on for 2 weeks or so while I'm looking for a place to live. Do they really require/need proof of his employm...

Just spoke with a consular officer at the consulate in Los Angeles. She said - YES, it is possible to ask for a post-dated EC . She said to put your request in a covering letter and HIGHLIGHT the date you want the EC to begin, but no more than 3 months from the date of application . The recording gi...

I just wrote an email to my friend and asked him to verify & send his residence address in the return email. Are you saying you don't think that'll suffice?

I'd just submit them. I think they count the 12 months immediately preceding the application, but in my case I also sent them financial for the year prior. It never hurts to have too much, rather than too little, information. Err on the side of overabudance of info.

Sounds like that would be the equivalent to a notary.

Ethan: I wish you all the best with your application, but as you have so many, many questions posted on the boards you might want to hire a solicitor to help you. They could answer all your questions, help you prepare your application and give you the peace of mind you seek. No one on these boards c...

did they tell you why she was refused?

ex-gratia = free (without payment)

as for qualification comparison, there is no good "chart" available. Check with NARIC. It's worth the L30 they charge for you to get their advice on your case.

This seems like a simple correction, but I would write, rather than call. If you fax them the letter of explanation, they'll have something in writing to add with your file increasing the likelihood they'll issue you a corrected approval letter. Also, you'll have something to show that you notified ...