Thanks
@tier11417 and
@secret.simon .
So, to clarify:
1)
when did you first enter the UK? = start date of ILR period, i.e., my 1st T2 Gen BRP issue date (so Oct. 2013,
excluding my previous PSW and student visas from 2010-13)
2) provide
current address (moved recently so can provide details of older addresses)
3)
salary/SOC/ PhD exemption:
I originally entered the UK on a
student visa in late 2010 for my Masters degree (in Computing), then worked on my
PSW visa and on my
1st T2 Gen. visa (Oct. 2013-2014) for my
previous employer, as a "Software Developer (
Chemoinformatics)".
Then, I relocated and started a
new job as a "
Bioinformatics Software Developer" on a
new T2 visa (for
current employer) in Nov. 2014. Later, I applied for a
T2 Gen. visa extension (April 2016- July 2019) under a revised job title: "
Bioinformatics Scientist" (SOC code:
2119, PhD level job, employer back then submitted proof of
RLMT as well) and was paid £31k salary. The pay increased over the last 2 years to £33k and in April 2018 I applied for a
promotion at work.
The formal
promotion application
review process took quite some time, and eventually completed successfully in late Nov. 2018 and I was
promoted to "Senior Scientific Specialist" (so,
new job title now) and now paid
£38k. However, as the promotion process took longer than expected, the employer
backdated the promotion to Oct. 2018 (instead of Nov.).
The increased salary is reflected in my Dec. payslip (but salary paid is higher as it includes the backdated amount/difference for Oct., Nov.). My actual
new salary
will be reflected in
Jan. 2019 payslip.
Note: I became
eligible for ILR in late Oct. 2018 but couldn't apply as I was away on holiday then and later busy moving house.
Note: My employer issued me a successful
promotion letter detailing the new salary, backdating in Dec. payroll, and increased job responsibilities and notice period, but they
didn't inform UKBA, as it is just increased pay and revised job title with same SOC code, same work department, and same employer.
I am looking to apply in
Jan. 2019 (have had T2 Gen. BRP for 5 years, 2+ months now [1 year for old employer and the rest for my current employer]) but want to know:
- If I still have salary exemption, as I am in SOC 2119, PhD level role? What other evidence do I need to give for it, other than the current CoS that I'm on?
- Also, should be new job title include the term "Bioinformatics" as it did before, and as it's on SOC 2119 (am worried as I have read quite a few posts on T2 SOC 2119 to UK ILR application rejections on this forum lately). Should I request my employer to maybe alter the new job title?
- Regarding salary, if I submit last 3 months payslips and 3 months bank statements, it would include 2 months on my old salary (£33k) and then Dec. shows £38k (plus backdated difference, so is even higher than my real, current pay). There's no actual payslip showing my exact £38k salary until I get end of Jan. 2019 payslip. Will this somehow be a problem or "look suspicious"? (salary hike shown in just 1 payslip before applying for ILR? even though that's only because the promotion process takes some time in my current company). Should I request another letter from the employer to explain this in detail, or will just the promotion letter be sufficient?
- Or should I wait further until April 2019, when I will have 3 payslips and bank statements showing current, actual salary? my current T2 BRP is valid until end of July 2019, but then again, wwaiting so long despite being eligible for ILR may also "look suspicious"?
- I have made a list of all my holiday and work/conference travels over the last 5 years and this matches the immigration stamps on my passport.
- I will be asking my employer in the coming days for a letter verifying my current job title, pay, CoS (shows SOC code) and that I am still required by them for the future. Does that letter also need to include any work-related or personal (holiday) absences also listed, covering the last 4 years?
- Do I also need a similar letter from my previous employer confirming my absences/ holidays for the 1 year I worked for them on T2 Gen. visa? as that might take quite some time.
- Do I also need current and old P60 forms?
The more I read, the more confusing it is, as to whether I should apply
now in Jan. (or should've applied before the
promotion in Nov., or apply later in April 2019). Do I need same/similar job title to
justify same CoS/ PhD salary
exemption? Do I need
all travel absences detailed by current and
old employer in their letter(s)? I don't want to rush and apply and get
rejected due to incorrect info. or suspicious-seeming circumstances, and have it cost me the huge £3k+
fee.
Any feedback would be very helpful, thanks.
