background: arrived last January 2006 on Student Nurse Visa then granted Work Permit for 5 years (July 2006-2011) at PEO Croydon.
possible issues:
1. employer's letter for old work permit holders does not include code of practice or SOC code, but does include specific job title and annual salary.
2. personal absences in the UK = 201 days (including arrival and departure) = 157 days (excluding arrival and departure dates)
3. receiving child benefit into my account although named after my husband son who are both EU citizens
possible solutions in case they query:
1. will give initially the employer's letter without any mention of the code, but have another one with the code just in case they ask for it
2. if the caseworker calculates my absences including the arrival and departure dates, i will be showing the letter from our annual leave officer confirming that most absences in the UK were on paid annual leave. i also have a letter from our HR indicating the number of annual leaves i have.
3. brought my husband and son's EU passports and the letter from the government addressed to my husband that he's entitled to receive child benefit for our son.
details of the application and interview:
1205h - arrival at Sheffield, lost because our GPS nav was not updated and could not read new roads
1240h - arrival at PEO Sheffield (green and yellow bldg) and looked for the riverside entrance
1245h - security check like airport - given a stub for my scissors
queued at counter 7 (reception) - showed my appointment letter (with my reference number from their text reminder) - the man ticked my name in his list, gave me a stub and told to wait for my number to be called
1250h - was called in less than 5 minutes to counter 6. he asked for my application form, checked it page by page, asked if i have any dependants, asked when my pics were taken (told him i have a 2-day old pictures but are darker than the ones submitted bec. they were only taken from photo me booths; he said he prefers the latest one and that they can alter the brightness of the pic just in case). asked for my passport (he verified my name on the application form and the passport). asked for all supporting documents where i gave him my 3 payslips, 3 bank statements, LITUK notification letter and employer's letter. he then placed them all in a clear envelope topped with the payment page from the application form and was asked to sit in front of the payment counter.
1312h - made payment using debit card but had to recall memorable name asked by the bank to process my purchase. i had to wait for my husband to come back as i forgot my debit card with him! i realised that i don't have my debit card while waiting in front of the payment counter and i had to ask the security if i can use my phone. he said i can go out as much times i want but should stay only where they can see me. i have a creditcard (with filled out payments page) just in case but would prefer to use my debit card.
the lady at the payment counter then took my documents and was informed that i will be getting my receipt after the decision.
1337h - was called by a young man with black glasses and asked me the following:
> are you applying for ILR?
> details about my work permit
> details about my work
> (pointing at my passport stamps) - you've travelled a lot, are these only in europe? what is your longest stay outside the UK?
> it says here (pointing at my passport) that you're married. why is he not applying with you?
and then said that he will be doing a few checks if he can grant me ILR and the earliest he can arrive at a decision is 3pm, asking me if it's ok. of course i said yes.
1440h - suddenly called and told me before i can sit down that they are granting ILR and will be receiving my passport in 10 mins at the next counter then asked if i have questions where i inquired regarding their calculation of absences, if they have a guidance about it and what should my friend do with more than 220 days personal absences. his answer: depends on the discretion of the caseworker, no guidance about it (while shaking his head) and that my friend should consult a solicitor or the ias.org.uk (first consultation free). and in the middle of this conversation stood a man beside him holding my passport with the vignette on it. they apologised that my middle name wasnt included and that it doesnt show in their system which was fine with me.
PEO Sheffield - highly recommended! we stayed there overnight and brought our son and friends to Magna Science Adventure Centre. but i only enjoyed the trip because of the positive outcome. as for the PEO staff, everyone were so nice including the security and all the caseworkers i met. just a warning that the PEO is so small you can hear everyone's interviews. i heard 3 applications denied!
hope i could help anyone in return to all the help i received in this forum! tc
