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Wrong IGS scheme advice from the Home Office: Advice needed

Archived UK Tier 1 (General) points system forum. This route no longer exists.

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flames
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Wrong IGS scheme advice from the Home Office: Advice needed

Post by flames » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:58 pm

I 'm an international student who completed my masters degree from a reputable london university in December last year.My student visa was also expiring in December last year. I called up the home office back then to enquire about the way forward as i could not return to my country without my reults which were issued in February this year.

On 3 separate occasions ,by different people, i was told if i switch into a visitor visa category (since i will be waiting for my results) i wll be able to switch into the IGS later on if i passed.I called the Home Office today only to be told that you can not switch into the IGS scheme as you are not in the eligible switching categories which are;student,student nurse,to resit examinations and to write up a thesis. :roll: .I told the lady that based on advice i was given by the home office(i had been told that as long as you do not travel outside UK with your visitor visa you should be able to switch to IGS) i applied for the visitor visa on the basis that i was going to be able to switch in country to the IGS.She was adamant that i could not do that and i risk a visa denial if i applied in country :(

Why does the home office issue conflicting advice on such matters???.its sad to learn that i can't switch at the last minute like this.I think this should be a lesson to people not to rely on home office telephone advice as anyone can tell you anything yet when it comes implementation they are now found wanting.Is there another way i can switch to the IGS in country?????.pliz help me as i had got conditional job offers and the process of going back home will be costly and will take 2 months for me to get entry clearance!!!

garik
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Post by garik » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:44 pm

Flames,

Sorry to hear that and especially that you were given an advice like this from the home office, but it's not possible to switch from tourist/visitor visa to any other. I'm afraid you're likely going to have to reply from your home country.

flames
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Post by flames » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:48 am

It gets even more confusing.I called home office today and talked to a different person who said i can switch into the IGS scheme because i did not leave the country with the tourist visa.I then asked about the seemingly conflicting advice i'm getting from the home office and she insisted that i could switch into the IGS in country as she had consulted here superiors whilst i was on hold.Now i don't know who to believe.Are there any immigration lawyers here? who can clarify or people who have been in such circumstances?

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