John,
The costs apparently are worse in Manchester. I have been quoted a horrifying figure of £5200 for the initial home study report which is the first step of the process. But that is just 1 problem.
Even if I am ready to cough up the cost I apparently cannot go ahead till i am close to 6 months away from my ILR as the dfes will not give final approval of my adoption status before my ILR is approved. Of course if I do not get an ILR all the money goes down the drain. And what with retrospective changes being the norm of the day I have no way of knowing what will be expected from me when my ILR comes up...the HO could come up with something like '
Immigrants to have 2 children each to qualify for ILR'
Stedman: I am really surprised by the case cited by you. If they managed to adopt during permit free training then there maybe hope for me too. Is it possible for you to me give more details on your friends. Which part of UK were they at the time they adopted. Would it be possible to get in touch with them via email ? We are currently in a quandry and although I don't forsee a problem in getting extension with the new rules, we may have to decide to go back after all if staying here means we have to put our plans on hold till 2010.
I have been promised by a voluntary agency worker that she will confirm the ILR rule from an expert and get back to me. Will update as soon as I get any info.
Also, now that you have mentioned £3500 in b'gham, I shall shop around for cheaper VAAs...
Thanks all for your comments.