Ged wrote:I am a 3rd of September 2012 applicant and my ILR has arrived today after 7 months of wait (thanks to the grace and mercy of Jedi Masters, goes without saying).
What arrived is a piece of plastic card decorated with my badly taken passport picture in the front. I am happy as it is now over. Please keep up the hope and remain calm, as there is little else you can do. I do support those of you intend to protest and complain, as every one in this country knows the UKBA is a screwed up organization, and you are likely to be able to make a difference if you act.
Here is my story if you care to read;
I came to the UK in October 2002 with a student visa issued for my MSc studies. After completing the MSc, I started my PhD, applied for further student visa some time in August 2003, but my application was returned back to me due to incorrect fee payment issues. The application form was very misleading regarding to fees of the process. Both myself and the international students advisers within my university were misled by the obviously wrong information on the form. In addition to that, they returned my documents to an incorrect address, therefore I did not hear from the BA for three months about this unsuccessful application. This created a gap of 3 months on my immigration history right at the beginning of my 10 years stay in the UK. Thankfully my SAR file contained information about our letters to the BA in 2003, so I could successfully argue that this gap was not my fault using a 4 page covering letter.
3 years later, at the end of my PhD, I applied for an extension to stay as a student. On that occasion, once again they were very quiet for a very long time. But after an unreasonable amount of delay, they contacted with me asking for my police registration certificate. Obviously they lost my police certificate and stressed me unnecessarily. They accepted their error later and paid for my new police registration certificate.
1 Year later they messed up my post study work application. I went to appeal. The immigration judge was not impressed with their decision, so I won the appeal. This created further gaps of 4 months, but again it was all acceptable, since I won the appeal.
1 year later they successfully issued me my Tier 1 work permit without me going to court rooms or making complaints. In the process, they never returned my bank statements and payroll slips. I was grateful, as it is a minor error compared to the previous occasions.
3 Years later I applied for the ILR based on 10 years long stay category. If you ignore the 7 months wait, you can argue there is a happy ending to this painful saga after all.
During the long wait my wife's tier 1 dependent visa has expired, therefore we had to make a FLR(M) application for her with a cover letter but without my ILR. Now I am unsure if I should return this biometric residence permit back to the UKBA to support my wife's application. I appreciate the help if any of you know the answer to that.
Thank you all very much, particularly Domanisshallo, because you have been so very helpful. I wish you all well and best of luck.
Hi please give me thought on my scenario .
I completed 11 years in this country applied six month ago ILR still waiting.
Back in 2005 immigration matter arise against me working allegation, and they set moving direction without right of appeal, It was challenged in JR after two year they took case back, in 2007 and granted me leave.
My leave expired in march 2006 I applied five day late because my case of in court and refused me to extend my visa due to late apply. by law I was not illegal in this country because my case of in court and stayed nearly 1 and half year without visa due to appeal process.
My family with me here 8 and half year, own house, qualified teacher , 3 years spend on tier 1 which expired last month.
my solicitor applied for my family visa extension on FLR O DL , still waiting for their acknowledgement letter too.
please give your thought in term of law will be great.
congratulation for ILR to you
Regards
amjad leeds