Firstly I would like to thank this Forum which has been a very important source of information for all my UK visa applications starting from HSMP, then Tier1 extension to now ILR!
I got ILR granted on 23rd Jan at Croydon PEO.
Documents
1. Application form
2. Pictures
3. Passports
4. Life in UK test
5. Payslips for 12 months
6. Bank statement for 12 month
7. P60's -- year 1, year 3, year 4, lost year 2 and 5 still not complete.
8. Letter from employer confirming employment continuity
9. Letter from employer with salary breakup for last 1 year.
Documents which I took but did not submit - was not asked:
10. HSMP approval letter - To support application form Page 43 point 11L
Timings
8:05am arrived at PEO Croydon and went through security check
8:15am payment processing
8:25am with case registration
8:50am with Biometric
9:05am with Case officer
9:35am Case officer called me and told me the good news, asked me to verify my name and date of birth that are going to be printed on Biometric card and gave me all my documents back.
It was a very quick one than the usual 2/3 hrs that we hear about in the Forum, which kind of surprised me.
The case officer took my application and asked me whether I had copies of supporting documentation, which unfortunately I did not take as I thought it was unnecessary (as was told by many in this forum).
Then she looked at list of absences in the application form and asked me whether I was out of the country at all. I have only mentioned the initial delay in entry of 78days and did not mention annual leave related absences. I told her that as I was on Tier1 general and the document only requested the paid annual leave absences for Tier2 I did not mention them. But she said that those details are required.
Luckily I was carrying another copy of that page with all holidays mentioned which I handed over to her.
She asked me how many days in total which were 221 days (Looks like the case workers understanding is 180days in 5years rather than 180days per year.)
I actually took a copy of V6.0 directive on continous residence just in case, but luckily did not have to use it.
Para below absences in Application form:
Evidence of all work-related absences (including paid annual leave) is required from those applying under Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer);Tier 2 (General); Tier 2 (Minister of religion); Tier 2
(Sportsperson); Tier 5 International Agreement, and permitted employment categories - except Highly
Skilled Migrants.
Evidence of absence due to compelling or compassionate reasons is also required from all of the above
categories, and those applying under the Tier 1 (General); Business person; Self-employed person;
Investor; Innovator; Writer; Composer, and Artist categories.
Next along with my bank statements and payslips she asked whether I had a breakup of salary provided/confirmed by company HR. Again, by chance I took this as a back up from my company which I think she used to confirm with pay slip and bank statements.
Lastly she asked for last 5 year P60's. I told her that I had only 3 years and for the rest I had pay slips and corroborating bank statements for support economic activity. But she said 3 P60's should be fine.
After taking all these documents she asked me to sit in the waiting area and told that she would call if required.
After 30min she just called me and told the good news!!
There was one more complication in my case, where my first name(s) were ordered wrong in my new passport, and I was scared that it could be issue.
While taking life in the UK test, I registered the name on the website in old order but took my new passport as ID proof which they did not accept, so I had to change the name, re-register and had to take the test with name as mentioned in my new passport.
At the time of Biometrics I was asked whether my name changed from previous passport and I said yes. They asked me to write that on a sheet but was told that it was purely for criminality check purposes.
The case officer did not ask me a single question about my name, although I got all my bankstatements, payslips and other documents to have the name ordered as in the new passport.
from my exp today:
1. Probably best to take copies of all supporting documents
2. Make sure one has all 5 year P60's or call HMRC and get a letter from them.
3. Mention all vacation holidays as well even for Tier 1 (general) though the application says otherwise
Also, I left D1 and 7.11 blank (I had a copy of these pages with numbers filled as backup
) - case officer did not ask single question on that as well.Hope this information will help someone.
Once again appreciate all the help that I got from this forum.
Cheers,