Ok so its my pay back time to this wonderful forum with so knowledgeable and helpful guys...
My special thanks to chetan,push and InUkOnHsmp
Summary:
Got through booking an appointment at Croydon 4 weeks ago after following the regular pattern of calling everyday at 8:59 a.m.Was asked to report at 9:30am as my alloted slot was at 10:00 am
Arrived at Croydon-PEO at 8:15 and was luckily allowed to get inside for security check.After the screening,the guard asked me to move to one of the counters at ground floor for initial check of my application.
Lady at the counter asked me the application forms and removed all the unwanted sections of 73 page form.She then asked me my bank statements for last 3 months.Upon checking my current account balance,she straight away told me that i do not qualify as maintainance funds are less than required.That was when i realised,i am at embassy
I then told her about my savings account and showed the letter from bank that i had taken with me as one of evidences.I was asked to show the photographs.
Finally she gave a print out which had the token number and asked to proceed for payment at first floor.On Completing the formalities of "premium service payment",i was asked to wait until my number was called.
Note:The sheet that had my token number also mentions the floor where we need to wait.
9:00 am : Caseworker called my number and i went to the appropriate counter to submit the application and docs.My caseworker was briefed about something by a senior embassy staff and i realised it was her debut today
I submitted my evidences explaining for the categories they belonged.
She had a glance of all the docs and asked me to come after 1 hour.It was 9:20 by then and the waiting time started.
10:45 am : Caseworker packed her bags and went for a break.It gave me some hope of the decision being made else she would have called me for clarifications.
11:15 am : I was called to report at the counter i submitted the docs and was told "your visa is granted for 3 years from today".I knew it was her mistake as she had granted the extension from today instead of the actual expiry date.I kept quiet as i did not want to disappoint her on her debut.Simply collected back all the evidences i had submitted,thanked her and came back at waiting zone.
12:15 pm : Was called at a different counter and handed over passport and new approval letters(these letters are just a print out mentioning the date of application,expiry dates and points granted.
I immediately told them the discrepancy of visa start date and was told to wait for 30mins more for the correction.
1:00 pm : Final call and fortunately there were no printing mistakes this time.Rechecked the passport and letters and was done with D-Day
Many thanks again for all the people on this forum who have been doing wonderful job of guiding the applicants.Please feel free to drop me a message if i could be of any help.