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As per the title.

So this person is NOT a national of the UK and doesn't live in the UK. We met years ago when I was in University. I'm wondering if I can nominate her as professional referee.

I looked at the guide and it says "officer of the armed forces", so I guess she's eligible? She's not a high ranked official though (sorry, I'm very bad with military roles), because she only graduated last year, but she still works for the military.

Thanks for your time!

salmintin wrote:As per the title.

So this person is NOT a national of the UK and doesn't live in the UK. We met years ago when I was in University. I'm wondering if I can nominate her as professional referee.

...
Thanks for your time!

If you are based in UK it would be better to have a referee who is based in UK (whether or not they are British).

If HO are not happy with your referee they will write and ask for you to nominate another candidate.

Does your referee comply with the following conditions? Substitute 3 years for 5 years if applicable to your application:

....furthermore a referee who is a professional person should have had dealings with the applicant otherwise than in a professional capacity. However we would expect there to have been regular face-to-face contact between the applicant and his or her referees over the three-year period, such that both referees could confidently assert that the photograph submitted with the form was a true likeness of the person making the application.

Thanks noajthan and Casa.

@Casa If by "regular" they mean once a month or once very 2-4 months, then yes. I can partially "prove" that contact through my frequent visits back home. However I think there is no place on the application form where she can confirm that we met 5 times in 2014, 10 times in 2015, 7 times in 2016 etc...

It may be simpler to find a referee nearer to home as noajthan has suggested. If the HO need to call the referee for verification it may be difficult to make contact if they are outside of the UK and on active service.

Casa wrote:It may be simpler to find a referee nearer to home as noajthan has suggested. If the HO need to call the referee for verification it may be difficult to make contact if they are outside of the UK and on active service.

+1

If you have been resident and integrating into UK for past 5 years or so you must have made some suitable contacts (&, as this is a well-known requirement, all applicants should be cultivating such contacts ready for when required).

Thanks again for your help! It sounds like it might not be a good idea to go down that path.

Casa wrote:Does your referee comply with the following conditions? Substitute 3 years for 5 years if applicable to your application:

....furthermore a referee who is a professional person should have had dealings with the applicant otherwise than in a professional capacity. However we would expect there to have been regular face-to-face contact between the applicant and his or her referees over the three-year period, such that both referees could confidently assert that the photograph submitted with the form was a true likeness of the person making the application.

By the way, where did you get that quote from? I fail to find it in any official document!

You can read chapter and verse about this vital topic in HO guidance, here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... n-v6_0.pdf
- see section 6.3.7

For example see para 6.3.7.7

noajthan wrote:You can read chapter and verse about this vital topic in HO guidance, here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... n-v6_0.pdf
- see section 6.3.7

For example see para 6.3.7.7

Thanks, noajthan! I was aware of that document, but I can't find anywhere that specific requirement that Casa mentioned, namely that your referee should've had regular contact with you in the past 3 years

salmintin wrote:Thanks, noajthan! I was aware of that document, but I can't find anywhere that specific requirement that Casa mentioned, namely that your referee should've had regular contact with you in the past 3 years

Its not there.

I believe moderator Casa was quoting an email communication received from a HO official that is quoted in a post somewhere within the forum.

If you search for a key phrase using the Board 'advanced search' feature you may find it.

noajthan wrote:

salmintin wrote:Thanks, noajthan! I was aware of that document, but I can't find anywhere that specific requirement that Casa mentioned, namely that your referee should've had regular contact with you in the past 3 years

Its not there.

I believe moderator Casa was quoting an email communication received from a HO official that is quoted in a post somewhere within the forum.

If you search for a key phrase using the Board 'advanced search' feature you may find it.

Correct. Thanks noajthan.

salmintin wrote:

Casa wrote:....furthermore a referee who is a professional person should have had dealings with the applicant otherwise than in a professional capacity. However we would expect there to have been regular face-to-face contact between the applicant and his or her referees over the three-year period, such that both referees could confidently assert that the photograph submitted with the form was a true likeness of the person making the application.

By the way, where did you get that quote from? I fail to find it in any official document!

See http://www.immigrationboards.com/britis ... 22565.html