It is now my time to tell the ILR success story. First of all, I would like to thank Gurus and every member on the forum for posting their stories and details and advices as it helped greatly in preparing my self and also clearing many doubts.
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Below are my details
Type: Tier 1 (G) - from begining
First entry clearance: 20 Aug 2008 (valid until 20 Aug 2011)
First arrival in UK: 12 Oct 2008 (within 90 days)
Tier 1 Extension: 1 Sept 2011 (Postal application on 6 Aug 2011), hence extension started slightly later
Tier 1 extn valid until: 1 Sept 2013
Total absences over 5 Years: 244 days
Longest single absence: 35 days
Longest absences in any of the corresponding 5 years: 110 (there was a year when I did not had any absences).
All absences are either business trips (160 days) or personal holidays. No unpaid absences.
Worked for total two companies (still with the second company) since arrived in UK.
No traffic offences or FPN or any other fines or penalties so far for me or my family - knocking on wood
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PEO appointment details
Date: 29 July 2013 (9:10 am)
Place: Croydon
No. of Applicants: Myself + Spouse + Two sons (elder: 17 years, younger 15 years).
Went through company solicitor as postal application would have resulted me grounded for over 6 months, which was not acceptable to my company as I need to travel regularly on business outside UK (work as a Research Scientist with a global R&D centre).
After the security checks (were quick and efficient), went to the reception to show the appointment letter and took the token number. Then waited at the coffee lounge to be called for payment (took about 5 min). Then after waiting for another 10 minutes called by a case worker who verified the our physical presence and checked the passports and the biometric cards. Then the caseworker has put all our papers in two folders and numbered them and handed over them back to us and asked to wait.
After another 10 min or so, we have been called for biometrics and they were quick and efficient too (finished in about 10 minutues time). Then we have been asked to wait in the lounge.
From the TV monitors we could see that our case is waiting for biometric verification for about 40 minutes (I guess this is where CRB checks etc are being carried out). Then it moved to under consideration for about 30 minutues and then it showed that the documents are ready for collection. We have been called in about 10 min and been handed over the documents and the approval letter at 11.50am and have been told the BRP will arrive in within 7 working days. BRP cards have already arrived at our solicitor on 31st itself, meaning they have been posted on 30th itself. They are now on their way to me.
In total, it took less than 3 hours to complete the process and very efficient and smooth.
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Documents submitted
1. Current and previous passports for all applicants (Original + Copies)
2. Biometric cards (Original + Copies)
3. Salary Statements (for past 12 months) signed and stamped by employer as they were online prints - Original + Copies
4. Bank statements showing the salary remittance for past 12 months (
5. One additional bank statement (within last 30 days) + photocopy
6. P60's for last 5 years
7. Reference letter from current and previous employer. It is a simple letter saying that I was employed from xx date to xx date and stating my job requires me to travel on business and all my absences are either for business or for holiday and none of the holidays are unpaid.
8. Absence sheet giving details of absences in 5 corresponding year format. For the absence reasons, I just put Business or Personal
9. I also have one or two missing stamps on the passport while travelling to Europe and also some of the entry stamps by UKBA are hardly legible. But this was not an issue as they would have records for everything.
10. Previous extension approval letter (not required, but to confirm the points for education).
11. Life in UK Certificate for self and spouse
12. Co-Habitation documents (Council tax bills, rent agreement, bank statements, NHS Prescriptions, Hospital letters, Water Bill, Letters from School, Electricity and Gas Bills, TV Licence copy, Letter from Sky, etc. - about 90 letters covering last two years). However, the Solicitor has only submitted under 12 to show 3 - 4 documents spread across the 2 year period).
13. Two photographs of each applicant taken in July 2013
I have kept all the tickets and boarding cards for business and personal trips outside UK since my first trip to UK (but did not took them to the appointment) as I was never sure, what documents would become necessary by ever changing rules. I probably need to arrange a Tip now to clear all these documents, or may be I will wait till next year
I think one of the best thing happened in my case is the solicitor went through their own check-list (I guess it may be something similar to what UKBA might be using) and ensure that all the documents are properly tagged and put a sequence the way case worker would like to go through. Hence, it was a smooth and easy process. Wish I had that list so I could post it for benefit of all, but it should be easy to create one for your self based on your case.
My personal advice is that if you prepare well in advance and keep only required documents (don't submit too many documents - As in my case, my solicitor submitted only half of the documents I gave to them), but keep them separately to show it to caseworker if required. Please tag them clearly and also highlight the salary remittances in the bank statement for quick reference, you will be fine.
I would be happy to answer any questions.
Once again thanks for all the members for their advice and experiences.
