Hi Everyone,
So here's my take on my ILR Application (SET-0) after being on Tier 2 General for 5 years.
A few things to note:
1. I had changes sponsors thrice.
2. I started a limited company while on Tier 2 and made myself a director with 10% shares. But quickly realised it was a bad idea and resigned myself. Also made the company dormant.
3. My current sponsor have moved offices recently and had sent the office address to be updated, which is still pending !
With all the above concerns, I played it safe by hiring solicitors to represent me if anything went south.
Here's the full story.
28-01-2019: Paid for my ILR application with SUPER PRIORITY SERVICE and signed up to Sopra Website.
28-01-2019: Booked the earliest/closest free appointment for 14-02-2019 at 12:00 at Croydon Branch
13-02-2019: Uploaded all my documents. Some of them duplicated in different sections
14-02-2019:
APPONTMENT DAY
Arrived at Croydon at 10 am. Tried to get in but was told to come back around 30 minutes before the appointment. The Queue was way outside the building, so
carry your brollies if you have to.
Came back at 11:30 and joined the queue. Initial security check/triage, where they ask for the printed appointment letter and passport. There's also a metal detector which kept beeping due to the spare change I had. The lady directed me to the room downstairs. (The non priority on I presume!)
11:50AM: I quickly found a seat and seated myself, only to find 5 minutes later that I should have nicked a token first!!!! So, the appointment priority was
paper token based.
Don't forget to take a token off the person standing next to the gate!
12:00PM: I had token 310 when 289 was called. A family was being issued one token, so it was a wait.
I was not called for the appointment until 12:45pm.
12:45pm: The person called token 310 and showed me how to do biometrics my self. All very straight-forward. Took me 5 minutes and then I was back to the bench!
01:00pm: My token was called again and I was directed to a lady who was going to verify my documents and submit them.
She did not look at any of my documents. I had not scanned the stamps from my previous passport and requested her to do it, and she obliged. But otherwise, apart from the passport and BRP, she did not see any originals at all. Which was surprising to me! Hey, what if I would not have uploaded my documents. So, guys "
UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENTS BEFORE HAND!"
After grazing trough my documents for another 5 minutes, she asked "Are you happy for me to submit the application?" and I said, "Well, YEAH?!".. and she obliged once again!
14-02-2019 01:05pm: My application was in.
The waiting game began.
I kept on checking the
https://right-to-work.service.gov.uk/prove/id-question website to see if I have got it.
15-02-2019 12:40pm: I updated the website again and there I had it.. "You can work in the UK" changed from "You can only work for your sponsor."
15:02-2019 12:52pm: I received an email from the actual case worker. My solicitors were copied into the email as well.:
Dear XXXXX
I’m pleased to confirm that your application for leave has now been granted. You will receive your decision letter and biometric residence permit (BRP) in due course and these will confirm your immigration status. Thank you for using our super priority service.
Kind Regards
I am yet to receive the letter and the BRP but hey.. I am partying already.
Can't thank this forum enough for all the information.
Feel free to ask anything about the appointment or my experience.
Good luck to everyone who is about to embark on this scary expensive trip.