Booking Visa Premium Service appointments SET(M)

[bbanerjee23]

Hi everyone,

I was hoping to book a PEO appointment in Croydon for February 2015. I get an error message when I try to do so, and I understand from reading these forums that it is because appointments are released only 42 days in advance. However, I cannot find any reference to this anywhere on the UKBVI website or in any guidance notes. Can someone point me in the right direction, or confirm if this is still the case? (Most of the threads I am referring to are dated 2012).
Also, has anybody used a solicitor for a PEO appointment? Apart from booking the slot, what do they do exactly? Do they accompany you to the appointment?

Apologies if this has been covered somewhere else, I have been trying to find a recent post with this information but somehow cannot find one! Thanks in advance!

[CR001]

Appointments are only available to book 42 days in advance, so February won't be available as yet.

Using a solicitor is a waste of money and won't make any difference, they don't get to 'argue your case' if that is what you were thinking and they will charge you some stupid amount just to do what you can do yourself. They HO have brought in the extra £400 fee to use the same day service over and above the application fee. This was mainly to do with people (solicitors included), making block bookings for appointments, leaving Mr Jo Public with no availability.

If your application is straightforward, either do it yourself in person or use the Settlement Checking Service at your council and you will still get to keep your originals documents and pay the postal application fee.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collectio ... ng-service

[Casa]

One correction to be fair, legal representatives have a separate allocation of appointments, so these don't affect the main booking slots. The requirement to pay the premium fee online when submitting the application was introduced to prevent unscrupulous crooks who were block-booking appointments and selling them on at a substantially higher price. I was asked to take part in a 5Live programme discussing the problem, prior to the up-front fee solution being implemented.
If you want to apply in person, for peace of mind a solicitor or an OISC registered Immigration Advisor will provide a full document check for a set fee.

[CR001]

Thanks for clarifying Casa

[bbanerjee23]

thanks very much for your help/!