I would like to consider applying for a UK work permit under tier 1. I am currently working full time as an Engineer in Australia, and with the exchange rate falling against the Australian dollar I might be in with a chance in the not to distant future of having enough points from salary along with my Bachelors degree. However I do have a couple of issues that need resolving:
(1) With respect to using payslips and/or using a letter from your employer, you have to submit your employer’s contact details for salary verification. I would not feel comfortable about this at all – this is a bit like asking your current employer to act as a referee to another employer whilst I am still engaged in active employment. I would not be comfortable divulging my emigration plans to my existing employer for the same reasons you don’t tell your employer you are searching for alternative work. How does one approach this issue or work around this – it would appear to be a mandatory requirement? Why isn’t this an issue for others applying under this category – how are others dealing with this? Do you have to use payslips and/or a letter from your employer? If someone could please provide advice to this effect that would be very helpful to me!!!
My intention would be to keep my existing job in case the application failed, and even after the work permit is granted so I could try and find a job before coming to the UK. I am aware there is a 6 month deadline after approval, but I would like to try and land a job first during this window with the advantage of having the work permit in hand. The last resort would be to simply resign and enter prior to the permit expiring.
For the evidence, the payslips are electronic but I can simply print them out on company letterhead which is laying around the office. As for the verification letter, I can print this out and have my boss sign it telling him its for a loan or something. But if UK immigration calls my existing employer that wouldn’t be so invisible.
(2) Is superannuation counted as part of your earnings? This is shown on payslips but isn’t shown on my bank account statements as this is paid into a super fund. Do we have to provide two pieces of evidence for every component of our earnings?
(3) Providing bank account statements. Bank account statements will only show after tax earnings and will not show superannuation as well. If you can provide a tax return or payslips (alternative evidence) which show the before tax earnings and what other components were taken out before it was paid to the account, will the officer take the trouble (or be bright enough) to come to the understanding that the bank account payments don’t reflect total past earnings?
Any advice anyone could provide in respect to the above would be really helpful! Thanks…
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