Post
by dglynn05 » Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:12 am
Hello,
I submitted my second HSMP application in early March. (My first application was refused because of insufficient evidence submitted for earnings and work experience and my apparent inability to follow the guidance notes!)
My approval letter did not state how many points I was awarded, just that my application had been approved.
Here's the timeline:
7 March 2005 - Application received by HSMP Team
15 March 2005 - Decision made to approve my application (I found this out because I called the HSMP Team called the 16th)
16 March 2005 - Date on approval letter
24 March 2005 - Received approval letter in Canada with all original documents
Points claimed: 70
What I submitted:
AGE
- birth certificate (under 28 years old)
UNIVERSITY DEGREE
- original academic transcript from University showing degree obtained
WORK EXPERIENCE
- detailed employer reference letter on company letterhead outlining positions held, dates on which they were held and a description of job responsibilities for each role with specific emphasis that a university degree or equivalent experience is normally required for each role (I wrote the letter, my employer signed them)
- my original job offer letter from my current employer showing that the offer was conditional on having a university degree (this piece of evidence was unnecesary in my opinion given the detailed reference letter, but since I submitted it with my failed first application, I left it in)
EARNINGS
- Actual tax return for 2004
- Employer-issued supporting documents for 2004 tax return showing gross earnings
- all pay statements for 2004 and up to the end of February 2005
- all bank statements for 2004 and up to the end of February 2005 with payroll deposits highlighted
- a letter from my employer detailing gross earnings for 2004 and year-to-date earnings for 2005
I did not claim points in any of the other categories.
I packaged the application in a binder with a covering letter, table of contents and tabs to separate the different forms of evidence.
THINGS I LEARNED:
- to follow the guidance notes
- to make NO assumptions and to do your homework in preparing the application
- that you likely do not need the help of a consultant if you have a straightforward application (i.e. have all forms of evidence mentioned in the guidance notes)
- that courier service to the UK is quite expensive from this side of the globe
- that you CAN get through to the HSMP team over the phone if you dial enough times (it took me 40 to 50 attemps in the mid-morning hours, UK time) and that they WILL answer your questions about the status of your application
- that this forum was very, very helpful in the preparation of my application(s)
Thanks to all for your helpful posts.