Thread to track HSMP applications from U.S.A

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:11 am

Still ulcerating about HSMP...haven't even gotten to the EC stage yet!

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:04 am

Hey USA applicants--

I was wondering, how did you send your mail to and from the Home Office?

I'd like to send it securely just because there are so many documents in it, but it also seems pretty expensive. I have a FedEx account and it costs $90 each way. What methods did you guys use?

Also, if you don't mind, could you give me a quick explanation of how you arranged courier service back to you? The sticky about it is a little confusing. I just have to include an envelope and a waybill that's already filled out?

Thank you!

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:22 pm

Any courier tips? Please?

krage · Post by **krage** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:56 pm

I got approval letter today!

So, over all it took only 8 days from the day my docs were received until I got the email that my docs are ready for collection.

Country of residence: USA
Received: 23 August
CC charged: 23 August
Ref number emailed: 31 August
Docs ready for collection: 31 August (3 hours later!)

Courier collected: September 4
Received via UPS: September 5

I have to admit that I provided all documents and my case was supposed to be very clear.

Some info for you, guys.
When DHL refused to pick up my docs from HSMP Team, I started looking for courier service. After 3 hours talking over the phone to various services I found the one below. It is a child company of UPS. They charged only 15 for courier then packed signed and sent my docs via UPS. Very professional service. They take instructions over email, the manager’s name is Frank. I recommend their services, just tell them to send your package with signature required options.

http://www.mbe.uk.com/101/

See the email on the right

Hope it is helpful!

Krage

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:20 pm

Congrats, krage!

Have the rest of you had problems with DHL? Lanwarrior, you used them successfully recently, didn't you?

pateketu · Post by **pateketu** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:10 pm

krage wrote:I got approval letter today!

So, over all it took Some info for you, guys.
When DHL refused to pick up my docs from HSMP Team, I started looking for courier service. After 3 hours talking over the phone to various services I found the one below. It is a child company of UPS. They charged only 15 for courier then packed signed and sent my docs via UPS. Very professional service. They take instructions over email, the manager’s name is Frank. I recommend their services, just tell them to send your package with signature required options.

http://www.mbe.uk.com/101/

See the email on the right

Hope it is helpful!

Krage

wow that was very quick, even I have applied from US. My documents were received on 9th Aug and CC charged same day, I called them few days back and no case worker is assigned yet. I wonder how they are working, Randomly

Thanks for sharing the tip abour Mail BOxes Etc. Do you have an UPS account? Did they do everything including picking up the documents and packing it?

krage · Post by **krage** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:47 pm

Thanks for sharing the tip abour Mail BOxes Etc. Do you have an UPS account? Did they do everything including picking up the documents and packing it?

No, I don't have UPS account. Yes, they provided all the services, pick up, packaging, etc. They also signed the shipping form and emailed me UPS tracking number. It was much cheaper than DHL anyway. I paid with my Credit Card.

More info, as some of your left me private messages.
I prepared everything by myself using forms found here:

http://www.theskillsite.com/uk-immigrat ... ration.htm

Krage

lanwarrior · Post by **lanwarrior** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:37 am

Giblet,

DHL just a pain in the b**t for UK pick up. In my case, the local DHL office in Sheffield REFUSED to do the pick-up, on the ground that the pick-up is from a "government" office.

So I opted to have the document sent via Royal Mail. Thank God I received everything as of today.

I'd recommend use UPS (call them first!) or use the service above.

pateketu · Post by **pateketu** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:09 pm

Got good news today, my application is approved took less than 30 days

Application Send 7th Aug via DHL
Package received on 9th Aug
CC charged on 10th Aug
Got the ref. number (a 6 digit number) by calling +44-1142074074

Called last week and no case worker was assigned.

I was going to fax them urgent treatment form but I called yesterday night and found that my documents are ready to be picked up, at first they did not tell me the result and they asked to arrange the courier pick up.

When I called them again after talking to Frank from Mail Boxes Etc they transferred me to my case worked and he told me my application is approved.

Frank from Mail Boxes Etc was very helpful he picked up my application and packed and send it to my US address, it did cost around 45 Pounds as my application package is heavy and he charges around 15 Pound for pick up, but still worth it

Now waiting for the UPS package to arrive

I applied from US but I am not a US Citizen or Green card holder.

Case worked was very helpful

Now on to EC, I called BritainUSA and they told me I don’t need to come for an interview. I can apply online and send all the original documents (HSMP approval letter, Passport, Job offer etc) and they will take around 10 days for EC approval if everything is in place.

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:36 pm

So I did it...posted my application today. It should arrive on the 8th. I'm off for vacation tomorrow, but I'm sure I'll be checking online obsessively to see if it's arrived.

...fingers crossed!

lanwarrior · Post by **lanwarrior** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:42 am

Congratz, Pateku!

Did the British Embassy officer tell you what documents are needed besides the HSMP approval, passport, and photos?

pateketu · Post by **pateketu** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:04 am

lanwarrior wrote: Did the British Embassy officer tell you what documents are needed besides the HSMP approval, passport, and photos?

No he was just reading the list of documents from the web-site. I told him I have a job offer and he told me to send the original offer letter also.

I thought we also need to send things such as bank statements, accommodation arrangements etc.

lanwarrior · Post by **lanwarrior** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:11 am

pateketu wrote:
I thought we also need to send things such as bank statements, accommodation arrangements etc.

That's what I thought too! So he didn't say that we need to send ANY other documents, like bank statements? That's weird..

pateketu · Post by **pateketu** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:57 pm

lanwarrior wrote: That's what I thought too! So he didn't say that we need to send ANY other documents, like bank statements? That's weird..

I am still going to submit original bank statement and document showing my initial accomodation arrangments

oneway · Post by **oneway** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:04 pm

Ok guys!

For those interested in the EC process from the US...

I booked an appointment at the consulate in NYC. I finished my application and paid using a credit card.. all online. On the appointed day, I showed up with all the documents requested including a hotel reservation for a week in edinburgh.

My appointment was at 10 and I showed up at 5 minutes to 10. They are strict on security at the british consulates so i suggest you only show up solo or with all family members that need a visa and no one else as they don't even allow others in the building. I went up to the office after passing security and went to a window. I was greeted immediately and the lady behind the counter only asked for my photos, passport, HSMP approval and current status in the USA. I asked if she wanted to see my bank statements and hotel reservations but she smiled and said no. She asked me to come back at 11:00 for my passport. That was it.

It was really painless. Like I correctly guessed, the EC was just a formality after the HSMP.

I was thus able to fly out of the USA on the date I had planned inspite of the tight time line.

Thanks everyone and all the best!!

windmill · Post by **windmill** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:11 pm

Finally, I applied!!

- Under 28 Application

Mailed: Sept 11th
Reached: Sept 13th
CC charged : Sept 13th

<fingers crossed>

vorionsanty · Post by **vorionsanty** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:15 am

CAN ANY ONE(MODERATORS/MEMBERS/STATUS GURUS/SPECIALISTS)PLZ HELP ME IN THIS REGARD

I HAVE ONE DOUBT REGARDING MY EXPERIENCE
1) WHEN I WAS DOING MY MS IN TELECOMM ENGG IN AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE AS A STUDENT I WORKED AS A TECHNICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE WHICH CLEARLY SPECIFIES THAT IT REQUIRES GRADUATE LEVEL AND DURING THAT PERIOD I WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONLY 20Hrs WHICH ALL U KNOW AND IT IS PARTIME JOB. WILL THIS EXPERIENCE WHICH I HAVE DONE FOR ONE YEAR WILL BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXPERIENCE BY HSMP TEAM.

PLZ KINDLY HELP ME IN THIS REGARD

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:13 pm

So I finally sent my application in. It was received on the 8th, but my CC has not been charged yet.

In reading all of these posts, it appears that lately, applications that have been sent from the US have had their CCs charged the same or next day after the application is received.

For example, Windmill's application was received 5 days after mine, and he has already been charged.

Does anyone have any idea how they process these? It doesn't appear to be in order of receipt, and since I submitted an urgent treatment form, I don't think it's related to that either.

Should I be worried?

windmill · Post by **windmill** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:26 pm

hmmm thats interesting giblet

if i were you, i'd call and confirm. i'm sure you might have checked online that they received your application already. so i'd reckon at least you should have been charged by now.

i've seen many people not getting reference number and all but credit usually gets charged in couple of days.

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:37 pm

My application was sent back because my credit card was declined. I called my bank and asked why. They said because it was a foreign fee, they thought it might be fraud. Of course I had called them ahead of time and asked them to be expecting foreign transactions, and was travelling in Europe all last week so that all of my transactions were not US based.

My application has been returned to me. Not through the courier envelope I gave them, but through Royal Mail. I haven't yet received it, although it was sent 11 days ago.

I can't stop crying.

windmill · Post by **windmill** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:46 pm

Giblet - Thats very sad to hear. It might one of those weirdest for application denial.

But all is not lost here, other than of course your time and courier money. Since you didn't even a reference number so its not a rejection and you can send it back as it is after correction.

Although, it'll be nice if Home Office or Agency contacts you re the same before sending things back.

Hope you get it soon and mail it back sooner.

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:50 pm

Thanks, Windmill. I'm just so sad because I had requested urgent treatment, because I am moving to Ireland on Oct 3rd, and can't apply from there because I am only going to be on a business visa, not a work visa.

I'm worried if I send it in again (and spend another $90 on a courier) this will just happen again. Should I try a different payment method? I almost want to give up altogether.

windmill · Post by **windmill** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:54 pm

why not use a different credit card?

pretty much all (if not all) of us over here have paid using card so it should work.

you can try the other methods which they have (money order and all) of which I don't know how will you make one in GBP?!

pateketu · Post by **pateketu** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:34 pm

Got my EC today. Applied by mail (Los Angeles Consulate).

I called them before applying to see if I need to go for an interview and what I was told that it is optional, you can apply by mail or come for an interview.

Documents provided:

1) HSMP Approval letter
2) Job offer letter
3) Passports
4) Couple of bank statements
5) Faxed letter from a relative about my initial accomodation in UK with them
6) Original H1B approval ( Yes you have to provide a proof of your resident status in US)

Got the EC in 4 days.

They use FedEx overnight to return your documents.

This was my third visa application to LA consultate (applied for visitors visa couple of time) and they have been very quick in processing

windmill · Post by **windmill** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:30 pm

Congrats pateketu!

I have two questions. Feel free not to answer them if you dont wanna tell.

1) Whats the amount you showed in your bank account (considering you had a job offer and acco)?

2) Accomodation letter - does it have to be on a particular form or something? Otherwise, how would they verify it?

Thanks!

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