Great news on the date though, i'm going to get started later today on my online application so i can get all of that sorted in advance of my HSMP letter arriving.
I've been thinking about doing that too.
But notice that when you are almost finished filling in the online form, you are asked to submit your fee and book a time for a biometrics appointment! Probably not something you want to do before you have your HSMP letter in your hand.
Also, for us Kiwis, i noticed last night that Air NZ has one way flights to London in October/November for approx NZ$1300! That is well below the usual $2300, so a few more bucks in the pocket for the pub!
Using
http://www.houseoftravel.co.nz to search fares over the past few months, it seemed that there are often one-way fares for $1300-$1500. Finding the flights with the fewest stopovers is the trick.
How can we make fast track ? is there a form to fill out ? or when you applied for HSMP it's automatically porcessed under fast track.
There is no separate process as such but there is a provisional system in place for tier 1 applicants with hsmp letters. You will see it on the standard tier 1 application form (last time I checked, it was close to the beginning and asked "do you currently hold an HSMP letter? If so, go straight to section X" or something similar). Basically, with an HSMP letter you are already half way there.
honestly i got 10 years older over the last 3 mths.
I know what you mean. My partner and I applied at the end of may, not realising we were facing a 3 or 4 month wait. All of our friends are in the UK already (they got in at the beginning of the year before the big delays hit). Since then, the exchange rate has shifted significantly so my partner no longer has enough in savings to meet the maintenance requirement for her own visa so she will have to accompany me as my dependent!