HSMP quick questions....

[richsam]

Hiya,

I am a south african chartered accountant, currently living and working in the uk on a 2 year working holiday visa.

1. For purposes of the hsmp, will I earn 35 points for my ca(sa) without having written any conversion exams for the uk equivalent chartered accounting body?

2. Where can I get proof that my ca(sa) is equivalent to the uk qualification? I know that it is, but cant seem to find this info on the web.

3. If I submit my membership certificate, references, cv and all the other documents, which are in english, do I still have to submit proof that I am proficient in English?

4. My whv expires in a years time. Should I use an agency to ensure that I get the visa before the my whv runs out?

Thanks folks - this site is great!

[try-one]

1. It should be equivalent, but further in the application there is a tick box asking if you can continue your profession in the Uk, if you are required to get acredited in the UK, you need to sort that before the HSMP as it might affect your application.
2. www.naric.org.uk and pay the £35
3. No, south africa is english speaking and they would be enough.
4. I'm not sure if you can switch visas.... please search this site to confirm if you are allowed to switch from WHM to HSMP. If you are allowed, then 8 months is enough, agencies won't speed up the process and CAN't affect the outcome. If you fill the application in the next month you will get the visa within 10 months.
Try to read all the past postings to evoid mistakes.

Hiya,

I am a south african chartered accountant, currently living and working in the uk on a 2 year working holiday visa.

1. For purposes of the hsmp, will I earn 35 points for my ca(sa) without having written any conversion exams for the uk equivalent chartered accounting body?

2. Where can I get proof that my ca(sa) is equivalent to the uk qualification? I know that it is, but cant seem to find this info on the web.

3. If I submit my membership certificate, references, cv and all the other documents, which are in english, do I still have to submit proof that I am proficient in English?

4. My whv expires in a years time. Should I use an agency to ensure that I get the visa before the my whv runs out?

Thanks folks - this site is great!

[gunjans]

I agree with what Try-One says in this regard.

1. You have to get registered with Charted Society to get ur work certified and earn points.
2. get certificate from NARIC that ur qulification is equivalent to UK standards.

[richsam]

thanks for the replies, that clears up a bit.

i've been doing some surfing and have found some evidence on the icaew's website (the accounting body in the uk) that mentions the following:

"In these regulations the term ‘Chartered Accountant’ means a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (the Institute) or a member of one of the following bodies:
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand."

Is there anyone out there who is a south african CA and has obtained the 35 points for education? Guess I could just pay the £35 for the Naric thing, but any further advice would be appreciated.

Thanks again

[richsam]

In the original post I stated:

"1. For purposes of the hsmp, will I earn 35 points for my ca(sa) without having written any conversion exams for the uk equivalent chartered accounting body? "

I think 25 points, ie for a masters would be more appropriate.

Thanks

[drewchad]

You should get 25 points. That's what I claimed, unfortunately they don't tell you what points you receive, just whether you have been granted the visa. So, I can't say if I was awarded these points or not.

If you go back through the old posts you will find a few other people who claimed 25, also the points calculator (on this website) gives a CA qualification as an example of someone who would receive 25 points. I also rang a few of the advertisers in TNT who offer HSMP services & asked them if 25 points would be awarded & they all said it should be accepted. (BTW I am a NZ CA)

An Aside: My understanding of the ICAEW regulations would be that you can only refer to yourself as a CA if you qualify the statement by showing the country you received the qualification in i.e. CA (South Africa)

[richsam]

I rang a few of the hsmp agencies and they confirmed that I should get the 25 points.

So all appears to be in order!

Just waiting for some docs to come from SA on Sunday and then off I go with the application.

Thanks for the tip.

[richsam]

busy filling in the form now....

what should i put in for the "country of legal residence"
- i have been in the uk for the past year on a working holiday visa but am a south african national?

thanks in advance

[MWazir]

You would be applying as an incountry applicant and therefore your current residence is UK.

[richsam]

great thanks