dineshchander wrote:Hello everyone,
My passport got stolen last weekend in india, which had Tier one visa stamping on it. My visa is valid till march 2012. I had visited UK twice on this visa and the last time i visited was on march 2010 for a job interview. I now have an offer from a semiconductor company in the UK and I've resigned my current job here in India. I had also booked my air tickets and at this juncture my passport is lost !!!
I've filed a complaint with the police and got an FIR receipt. I've applied for a passport under tatkal scheme. I've scanned copies of my visa page and the personal details page of my lost passport. I went to VFS Bangalore, and as mentioned in this thread i get a ready made answer from VFS to make a fresh application. Since I didn't anticipate that this would happen, I haven't maintained 2800 GBP in my account for the last 3 months.
I've sent a mail to Chennai visa enquiry office, but no reply yet.
I've managed to talk at the visa section at the british high commission in chennai and there the lady clearly said that i need to reapply
. I infact quoted her what was there in the ECB guidance article 17.1. But no use !!!
please suggest what should i do ??
Hi Dinesh,
I am sorry to hear that, may god will sort out your problem soon.
did you see sushdmehta's reponse earlier to Prashant, i am copying and pasting her reponse here hope it could shed some light:
"
1. Get a new passport (assuming this has already been arranged).
2. Draft a covering letter addressed to Entry Clearance Manager / Operations Manager explaining the background in detail and requesting for a replacement vignette for currently valid "leave to remain" issued in the UK on your new passport that you now have in your possession.
3. Include copy of police FIR of loss of passport.
4. Include copy of Home Office letter confirming approval of Tier1.
5. If you have it, include copies of personal detail pages of lost passport AND copy of the Tier1 leave to remain vignette stamped in that (lost) passport (label them appropriately - LOST or something).
6. Include a copy of personal detail pages of new passport (label appropriately).
7. Include printout of ECB17.1 and ECB17.2
8. State in the letter that all supporting documents included are copies but originals will be be made available in original as and when BHC advises you on the correct course of action in your case (e.g.- advising you to make an application at VFS or advising you to appear at BHC for a face-to-face appointment).
Note:
1. You might want to stress on the point in your letter that on basis of ECB17.1 and ECB17.2 (publicly available caseworker guidelines published by UKVisas - a govt. department), you are entlitled to a replacement "leave to remain" vignette and duly understand that you'll have to pay full fee for the vignette.
2. Make sure that you highlight in your letter that till date both BHC and VFS have misguided you by claiming that you will have to apply for Tier 1 scheme afresh and that you are not eligible for a replacement "leave to remain" vignette which is contrary to caseworkers guidelines published by UKVisas on their official website.
3. Alternatively, you could draft your letter as a *formal complaint* rather than as a request for appointment / visa. IMHO, this will probably get you a quicker response (personal opinion)! But do not miss out on the details and do not forget to include the documents as listed above (if not more).
Finally:
1. Send the letter (and documents) by COURIER to UK Border Agency Mumbai, British Deputy High Commission, Naman Chambers, C32 G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East Mumbai-51.
2. Send a CC of letter (and documents) to UK Border Agency New Delhi, British High Commission, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021.
3. Send a formal complaint to VFS Mumbai for their inability to provide you with accurate information regarding and course of action inspite of being the only authourized Visa Application Partner in India. Address this letter to the Service Manager or Application Center Manager (call them up and get their names if need be). You can leave out the documents here - just the letter / complaint and printout of ECB17.1 and ECB17.2 should suffice for now.
"
All the best. I hope things work out for you .... soon. Terrible situation to be in ....
regards