Target country: United Kingdom
Passport country: India
Type of Visa: Employer sponsored Tier-2 General work visa
Experience:
UK Home Office is seriously trying to limit immigration into the country. This means they have tightened up a lot of processes that made it easier to get a Tier 2 or Tier 1 in the past. I did not have time to apply for my Tier 2 by post, because of essential travel plans. The postal application takes upto 3 months to process. So I had to go for a 'premium appointment'. I had a look through the UKBA website, and there were no premium appointments available for the whole year! Crazy! In the past it was possible to call the UKBA and get an appointment over the phone. Now that phone number has been withdrawn. Also, in the past, Lawyers were able to access the appointment system through a separate interface and get premium appointments for an extra fee. That has also been shut down. So, after much fretting, my lawyer (Fragomen Plc) was able to get me a premium appointment at the Sheffield public enquiry office. I went there on the day with all my paperwork, to find that there was a 'problem with the computers'. I had to wait all day (6 hours) at the office. Even then, my passport wasn't returned the same day (as it used to be in the past). The passport and biometric visa card came in the post almost a week later. All in all, very frustrating and stress inducing. To top it all off, when I tried to enter the UK at Heathrow for the first time on my new Tier 2 visa, I was 'detained' at the border for 15 mins. Apparently they recorded the wrong fingerprints on my biometric card. So now every time I travel to the UK, I will have to wait around for 15 mins while the officers perform additional checks before letting me in.
Passport country: India
Type of Visa: Employer sponsored Tier-2 General work visa
Experience:
UK Home Office is seriously trying to limit immigration into the country. This means they have tightened up a lot of processes that made it easier to get a Tier 2 or Tier 1 in the past. I did not have time to apply for my Tier 2 by post, because of essential travel plans. The postal application takes upto 3 months to process. So I had to go for a 'premium appointment'. I had a look through the UKBA website, and there were no premium appointments available for the whole year! Crazy! In the past it was possible to call the UKBA and get an appointment over the phone. Now that phone number has been withdrawn. Also, in the past, Lawyers were able to access the appointment system through a separate interface and get premium appointments for an extra fee. That has also been shut down. So, after much fretting, my lawyer (Fragomen Plc) was able to get me a premium appointment at the Sheffield public enquiry office. I went there on the day with all my paperwork, to find that there was a 'problem with the computers'. I had to wait all day (6 hours) at the office. Even then, my passport wasn't returned the same day (as it used to be in the past). The passport and biometric visa card came in the post almost a week later. All in all, very frustrating and stress inducing. To top it all off, when I tried to enter the UK at Heathrow for the first time on my new Tier 2 visa, I was 'detained' at the border for 15 mins. Apparently they recorded the wrong fingerprints on my biometric card. So now every time I travel to the UK, I will have to wait around for 15 mins while the officers perform additional checks before letting me in.
But here are some photos to inspire you to go live in the UK!
9 comments:
I have applied for TIer 2 intra company transfer Long term visa on 30th March. till now no update, the status shows Visa application under process at BHS.
Any thoughts on this please?
Hi Kumar,
Could you let me know which centre have you submitted your application?
If you applied by Post, I wouldn't be surprised if you don't hear anything before 2 or 3 months have passed!! The system is going crazy!
I have applied from Mumbai (in person)for Tier 2 General on 26/03/2012 and have not yet received any response from them. Not sure how long they would take to respond.
Is there a maximum time limit before which they HAVE to reply?
Hmm - I don't have personal experience of the Mumbai office. I'm not sure there would be any mandated maximum time for them to reply. I doubt they would entertain any questions before 3 months are over!
Hi
I had applied for a UK tier 2 work permit at the Kolkata center. My application was picked up by my relative who says that besides the documents I had supplied for the application,there is no other document enclosed. However, there is a VISA pasted on my passport that says Tier 2 general migrant with a validity of only a month. I am confused if I have been issued the VISA or not. Can you please help? What docs do you get with a successful and unsuccessful application? Any idea?
Thanks a lot!
Bob - I only got my passport and biometric card back from the UKBA. I'm not sure if they issue biometric cards outside of the UK though (I applied inside the UK).
But it is weird that your visa is only valid for 1 month! You should call the High Commission to check what's going on.
Hi all i m from chandigarh i want to apply UK tier2 work visa anybody can help me out to get job sponsor from UK employer
thanks,
harry
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