US citizen applying for HSMP - Had some ???

[kellyson]

Hi all,

I'm an american citizen that wants to apply for HSMP. I finally qualify and had some questions.

I just got a new job this past May and my new salary helps me qualify. So do i have to wait for my tax return next April to apply?

Any advice will help.
Thanks,
K

[nionlight]

why you want to come to UK when you are US citizen . dont you think usa is the best place to be? i was there for several years and couldn't manage to get green card so had to leave. but if i could manage it i would never think of any other country. but at the end its every one's own dicision. i have a thread named " JUST CURIOUS". look on that thread. few americans replied there, so u can get their nick from that thread.

[gordon]

The 'tax return' that you submit for the initial HSMP application is the W2 or 1099 received in January, not the 1040 submitted by April (that's self-assessed, and not suitable for this purpose). You can apply once you can show accumulated actual gross earnings over any 12-month period (within the last 15 months) that meet or exceed the points threshold you require; you would just have to provide alternative evidence if the claimed period does not correspond to the calendar year (which the W2 and 1099 cover). Best wishes, AG

[kellyson]

Thanks to both of you for encouragement and helpful advice.

Gordon,
So just to clarify, i don't need to send in my 1040 income tax return to prove my income, rather i can send in my paystub that shows my income earned so far in a year?


Also i was wondering another question for everyone: when they ask if you had any education in england... i studied abroad for one semester, does that even count? i can send in my transcript from that semester, does that even matter??

Thanks all!

[gordon]

So no, you'll not need to send the 1040. If you apply between January and March of next year, you can submit the W2 for CY2007 and your individual payslips covering Jan07-Dec07. Sending the last payslip will only give the accumulated earnings in the tax year to date, but won't give a periodic breakdown for the periodic earnings in the previous 12 months up to that point. If the earnings period you claim is not the same as the tax year (say instead you claim earnings in Oct06-Sept07), then you'll have to submit exceptional evidence, such as bank statements and/or a letter from your employer, to corroborate gross earnings indicated across all payslips from that whole period.

Re the education in England, it only counts if you received a degree from a UK university (and only within the last five years, I think). Otherwise, you can't claim the five points for UK experience on that basis.

AG

[magsi23]

why you want to come to UK when you are US citizen . dont you think usa is the best place to be? i was there for several years and couldn't manage to get green card so had to leave. but if i could manage it i would never think of any other country. but at the end its every one's own dicision. i have a thread named " JUST CURIOUS". look on that thread. few americans replied there, so u can get their nick from that thread.

He is US citizen for you it might be a big deal but might not be the case for him

[kellyson]

Gordon,

Thanks for clarifying again. I do plan to apply in Jan 08 so for my required evidence I will send my W2 form from 07 and my individual payslips.

So one last clarification: I plan to claim points for my earnings from Jan 07-Jan 08. I changed jobs in May 07 so I'm going to assume that I will need to send my W9 form (old job & current job) and my individual payslips from old job (Jan-May 07) and my current job (June 07-Jan 08).

Apologizes if this is confusing. Just want to make sure.

Thanks!!

[gordon]

If you submit Forms W2 as corroborating evidence for gross earnings indicated on payslips, then provide the Form W2 for 2007 from each employer, as well as all of the corresponding payslips received between 1 Jan 07 and 31 Dec 07. Do not include Jan 08: payments made to you in Jan 08 will not be reflected in the W2 for CY2007, and at any rate, that would be the thirteenth month. And the Form W9 won't be relevant, as far as I can tell.

And re the English-language requirement (in another post), the admissions office at your university are unlikely to be of help; you might start with the university registrar (who otherwise issue academic certification and transcripts), or go to the dean of students in your college (your specific unit within the university).

Hope that helps
AG

[kellyson]

Thanks Gordon.

I received my payslips but they don't have a company seal or signature on them. The ones from my previous company are on company letterhead. The ones from my current company will be printouts from the company intranet site. Are these okay?

re: my letter from the university, I contacted the verification department. I didn't know there was one that existed but there is. So they will send me a letter that verifies that I attended the school and that it was taught in English.

Thanks!