MrsWillo wrote:I'm slightly over waiting now tho...it's making me worry and very nervous. K
Hi Kylie,
While I intended to drop off the forum, my wife keeps following it. I guess she has become something of a forum-info-junkie. She wanted me to say something to you in hope of encouragement.
We applied back in April as a conversion from a fiance visa to a FLR(M). On that visa, I am not allowed to work or volunteer. I've now been unable to work in the UK since November 2011. She is an exceptional businesswoman with fantastic entrepreneurial skills. To pacify the UKBA she accepted a position in the corporate world.
For a pair of mature newlyweds, this has been the hardest year of our life. We raised families, enjoyed successes, suffered extreme losses, and found the love of our life. We celebrated one-year of marriage this week. Because we are stuck earning one salary and visas held in waiting, our dreams of international travel have been placed on hold. So we gave ourselves a little break and went away to a little hotel near Rye. Best thing we have done all year.
Let me say, I've done everything imaginable to nudge an action from UKBA. To date, they have not even opened our application. They have no idea how easy it is to process, because they haven't even looked at it. On the anniversary of our seventh month of waiting I began to get very proactive. I have:
1. Written our MP four times. (Just received a letter today that he will contact the UKBA Chief Exec again)
2. Written two letters of complaint to UKBA. (Oct 21 / Nov 19 with no reply)
3. Made three requests for information from the Freedom of Information website at
www.whatdotheyknow.com. (Oct 25 / Nov 19 / Dec 1 without reply on a single request. Internal review submitted Nov 23)
4. Wrote to Home Secretary Theresa May MP. (No reply)
5. Written three letters to Home Affairs Select Committee Chair re the Work of UKBA Keith Vaz MP. (One reply for acknowledgement)
6. Wrote to the UKBA Chief Exec Rob Whiteman. (Letter signed for on 11 Dec.)
7. Followed this forum and others since June.
8. Conducted significant research on the procedures guidelines and requirements of UKBA.
There is no need to go into the emotional stress and damage this does as we all are going through it. What I can say is this, every single effort I've taken to get answers has not done a thing to get our case noticed. All of us that applied for visas in 2012 happened into a vortex of political positioning, immigration complexities, reduced UKBA staffing, and an above-average number of applications. UKBA is neither equipped or resourced to deal with the mess, bu they are trying.
Try to find ways to hunkerdown for a long wait. Here are some tips that I've discovered:
1. Take a break from this forum and other immigration info sources on a regular basis. When you start feeling down about the UKBA wait, do something nice for yourself instead of looking here. Looking here will not speed up your process any more than a petition or letter campaign to the PM.
2. Look for the good in this country and the people that call it home. For many the move to the UK is quite the culture shock. Even Brits are challenged by the changes over the past ten years as evidenced by the 2011 census. What we do is to take time to get out of our area now and then if even for a day or weekend. This place is amazing and the people are great. You, I, and all of us on this forum will bring our own cultures to add to this tapestry of the UK. Savour all you can.
3. Personal improvement. You are going to be waiting...and it could be a long time. Do something that gives you value. I've just discovered Free University. There are several. Here is one
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/
There are some folks that get lucky with the lottery. Some get lucky in love (that would be me). Some get lucky with their visa. Don't rely on luck for your happiness. Make it!
