Significant Achievement -- Ambiguous

[slear]

Hello there,

First of all, congratulations to all those who have successfully applied for the HSMP program as well as those who are on their way to.

As you can tell I'm on my way to apply for the HSMP program. But I do have so many questions that I would like to seek your advice, particularly in the Achievement section. The requirements and guidelines for what can be considered as a "Significant Achievement" seem to be ambiguous to me as there are no specific criterias or whatsoever for the candidates to refer to.

Please let me know if what I am doing can be considered as a Significant Achievement. Here is my case (I'm not boasting about my skills, I'm just trying to lay my case as detailed as possible so that you guys can help me better, please don't misjudge me or this post. I'm being honest!!)

I'm now 21 years old. I'm an IT Professional with no Bachelor degree. But I have 18 different IT certifications. I obtained CISSP (security cert) when I was 20, making me the youngest stud (and probably 1st at that time) in my country to have this cert.

When I was in US, I worked with members from major corps like IBM, Verisign, ETrust, Symantec, and et al for 3 days to help CompTIA develop and create the core/exam objectives for the Security+ program. The Security+ program is a very popular entry level information security cert. Most US companies and government agencies make this cert a minimum requirement. Here's a link to where my name can be seen from the official website of Comptia:

http://www.comptia.org/certification/Security/sme.aspx

Then, I co-operated with members from major OSS/Linux organizations such as SUSE, IBM, to help CompTIA revise and re-develop the Linux+ program. Linux+ is a popular entry level Linux cert. Again, my name is publicly cited here on the official web site:

http://www.comptia.org/certification/Linux/sme.aspx

Now, I'm participating as an Advisory Board Member for SANS/GIAC -- one of the biggest information security institution in the world -- to help vote, monitor, and assist certification related issues. My name and profile is listed here on the site:

http://www.giac.org/certified/boards/gsec.php

CompTIA publicly thank me and 24 other people who put great efforts in creating the Security+ program in a magazine named Computing Technology. My profile and "achievement" so far have also been mentioned in an article by my local newspaper. From time to time I also discover security bugs in software and my name has also been cited in several big electronics news portal, ie, theregister.co.uk.

I know my post has been very long, but I really need to know whether all that listed above will get me points under this "Significant Achievement" section. Without this I wouldn't be qualified and would be short of a total 15 points. Such a pity if I couldn't get points for this. I think the HSMP program is great, open up opportunities for young lads like me and everyone else to explore and work in UK.

I made a few searches and found several people have been successful to get points under this section. But would you please share me some insights? Like what did you have to do to prove or present your case to the case worker?

I'm extremely sorry about this long post. I'm greatly appreciate for all your help. And thank you for spending your time to read this long and tedious post.

--slear

[JhonnyECU]

hey slear,

you are lucky to have found this forum BEFORE you submit your application...if you follow STEP by STEP what the historical posts search says and the tips i edited on:

http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=3576

you will more than fine.

i think the NEW guidelines are MUCH more detailed, try to get as much evidence as possible, not just 3 but maybe 5 or 6 pieces of evidence, so the caseworker will be convinced...get creative!

let us know what other questions you have

under what sections are you claiming points?


jhonny

[slear]

JhonnyECU,

Thanks so much for your reply. I thought my post would go dusted thank you very much. I'm claiming points under the

* 2 years of work experience - 25 points
* Income band 1 - For country in category D - 25 points
* Significant Achievement -- 15 points
* Age - 5 points
Total: 70 points

I'm not so sure about the Significant Achievement. That's why I'm asking you guys if you see what I am doing can be considered a Significant Achievement?? Without the 15 points I dont know how else I can be eligible for the program.

I also have another question regarding of what I should do to prove my past earning incomes? For example, I also work *remotely* for a company in Russia as a security specialist and I receive their money through Western Union every month. Is it possible for me to use all the Western Union reciepts and present to the caseworker?

JhonnyECU thanks once again for helping me out. I hope some other folks can help me with the Significant Achievement thing. I really want to know if I'm qualified.

Also, may you please tell me where I can download the guideline?? I know it's on www.workingintheuk.gov.uk but it's not downloadable. I always get a 500 error message (Internal Server Error). I got the 2003 Guideline but I want to download the latest one April 2005 or something. Can anyone please show me where I can get it? Thanks a bunch.

Ciao,
-slear

[syedleo]

Hi,

As HSMP team do not declare the points you have earned, I am not sure if they have awarded me the exceptional achievement points or not.

There are two things :

1 - Significant Achievement - which means that you are achieving some rewards or recognitions constantly - no real big gaps.

2 - Exceptional Achievement - is something which is Internationally Recognized or an invention/creation that had a huge market success.

The above is as per the guide - try the workingintheuk website again to get the guide and the key to success is to stay close with guidance notes and focus the guide references on your application. I detailed in my application that how I am claiming points for different areas, what documents I am presenting for it and how I think they should qualify in that area.

I think (not sure as each case is looked at differently) the achievements you have listed here are good enough for you to qualify in the achievements area. BUT you will have to provide proof's as listed in the HSMP form like magzines, newspaper prints etc.

Also, what I have gathered from reading many posts is that at times points in others area may impact on score in other areas.