Hi all,
I am happy to inform you all that I and my wife have got our ILR approved from croydon PEO last week. I would like to thank this forum for valuable information and help I got during my application.
For the benefit of other members, I would like to share my experience.
Below is my background -
I was a HSMP visa holder and was eligibile to apply after 18th July after completing 5 years of residency. I came to UK in aug 2006 ( based on HSMP Approver letter received in may 2006 ) and then got extention in aug 2008. When I came to UK in 2006 I had Highly Skilled migrant stamp on my visa and during extension I got Tier 1 ( General ) migrant stamp on my visa inspite of applying under HSMP Judicial policy form for extension.
My wife came to the UK in apr 2011 and had Tier 1 ( General ) Partner stamp on her visa.
Experience with Croydon PEO:
My appointment was at 11:15 AM. I arrived at 10:15 AM. Parked my car in Centrale Shopping center car park. I found it slightly cheaper than NCP car park. Its just opp to Whitgift shopping center. Both NCP whitgift car park and centrale car park are close the Croydon PEO so you can park anywhere. Its just 5 mins walking. Security allowed me in the building only at 10:45 am.
After entry, I went through airport style security check. Then was immediately sent to initial screening officer. I was anxious whether officer would accept my wife's ILR application. As expected, it wasnt straight forward review with initial screening. Officer kept pressuring me that currently I am Tier 1 and I Kept insisting that I am HSMP. After some failed attempts she stamped my app as valid. She didnt check any of my documents. She only asked me if I have bank statements. She just checked mine and my wife's passports and visas in her system. After initial screening I went to first floor for the payment. After payment I was asked to sit in the waiting area till my no. is called. It was almost 11:15 by then. In just 2-3 mins my no was called and I went to caseworker window.
She first only asked for app form and passports. she kept doing some checks in her system with our PPs and app form. She also went somewhere with our passports and cover letter ( probably to consultant someone ) and when she came back, she again started doing something in her system. After our PP checks she asked for the following documents. I think by this time she had only seen first few pages of my application form, probably upto section 3. Later on also she only checked pg of UK absences. She just ran through others pages quickly. It appeared that She wasnt much bothered about other pages.
Documents -
3 months bank statements
5 years P60s.
company Accounts for all the years ( I am a IT contractor )
Accountant letter
Marriage certificate
Initial HSMP Letter
She didnt ask me for any cohabitation documents.
She checked all documents and found everything in order. She then informed me that mine and my wife's ILR has been approved and asked me to wait for an hour for visa stamping. Whole process with case worker took around 45 mins.
I think there is no need to worry too much about mistakes in the current SET(O) form. Once caseworker has identified your category, they dont seem to follow the form, they seem to carry out their own checks and ask docs which they want. I think my case worker didnt even check what I had filled in section 10 and final page of document checklist.
Sorry, forgot to mention that I had selected "Highly skilled migrant under the terms of HSMP ILR judicial review policy document" under section 3B and had selected 10H.
Entire process was completed very quickly for me. Didnt have to wait long in any sort of queues. I entered PEO at 10:45 am and at 13:00 hrs I had passports in my hand with ILR stamp on it. Apart from some arguments with initial screening officer, everything was smooth.
Good luck to other members who are going to apply in future.
Regards
Sri
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