Dear Friends,
This is the first time I am posting on this forum, but I was following it since last 10 days or so. Actually I should have checked this forum before applying, but I checked it much later after 3 weeks of sending my application. So I thought I will finally write only when I get my Passport back and inform you all whether the Visa was Accepted or Rejected.
So, I would now like to share the good news with you. I have finally got my Tier 1 (General) Visa.
I know you guys would be eager to know the timelines and all, and so here are they:
Applied on: 9th July 2008 at VFS Pune, India
Application: Tier 1 (General) Visa - 1st and fresh application (no HSMP approval)
Integra Verification: No idea. I didnt ask my employer whether they got any mails or calls. But it must have happened positively.
Wrote to BHC: I was very anxious after waiting for a month, and so wrote to BHC Mumbai on 11th Aug. Didnt get any reply to the email. So called them up on 12th Aug, and they advised that the application has been processed. They didnt disclose any other information like whether Visa was accepted or Rejected. So I thought to wait more.
16th Aug: Received Visa: I just received my Passport and docs back by courier with Tier 1 Visa valid for 3 years
So it took them about 5 weeks to process the application, which is decent enough.
So thats it!
I also want to share a few points. The bank documents I submitted were actually more than 7 days old. After applying, when i read the posts of this forum, i read that bank statements should be at max 7 days old. I got so tensed after reading that, thinking my application will surely be rejected. Also i didnt put it any cover letter! Now this was really bad on my part, and I was cursing myself why i didnt read the forum before. Also, i was scoring just 75 points on the Tier 1 Calculator, that is a border case
another worrying point!
But it wasn't rejected after all! So be positive folks and have faith. Visa was approved even though my banks statements were about 2-3 weeks old and i submitted no Cover letter or Employer letter/certificates. But please note that you should not take my example as a standard and you should arrange all your documents properly. I think I am really very lucky to get the Visa even after making these small mistakes.
The documents that I submitted are:
1. Bachelors Degree Certificate
2. Transcript of College
3. A UK Naric letter from UK verifying my Indian degree (because my college is not listed on the UK HSMP website).
4. A IELTS score sheet (because of the same above reason. College not listed, so I had to show proof of my English Language ability).
5. Salary Slips of last 12 months (Stamped and Signed by Employer)
6. UK Bank statements of last 12 months (which showed UK Salary credited and sufficient Maintenance funds)
7. Indian Bank statements of last 12 months (which showed Indian Salary credited).
Thats all! Not a single paper other than this
Anyways....all is well that ends well. I have to plan out what needs to be done now.
If anyone of you knows Job consultants (in India or UK) who could help me find a job in UK, please send me a Private Message.
Though I have explained everything here, I will be happy to answer any general queries that you might have. But please dont send me any PMs for queries. Post here, so that everyone else can see your posts.
Regards
UKSeeker123