Gap between degree and job - Self-sufficient or jobseeker?

[Weatherwitch]

Hi everyone,

I'm filling in the application for PR and have come across a little problem. I finished my degree at the end of August 2012, then went back to Germany for a few weeks holiday, and returned in the beginning of October 2012 (Total holiday was about 5 weeks). I then had a job interview with a subsequent job offer and started work in November 2012.

What do I do with the time I was in Germany?

Can I leave it as is? Student until end of August, explain I was on holiday, jobseeker upon return?

Alternatively, I could try saying I was a jobseeker from end of August to start of job, but the problem with that is I have no evidence of job seeking until the interview invitation at the beginning of October.

Third option, I could say I was self sufficient (did have CSI), however my UK bank account was dormant during the five weeks I was in Germany, so I have no bank statements for that time.

Any suggestions on how best to solve this?

[Weatherwitch]

Anyone?

[muraenidae]

I've seen people put jobseeker for small gaps like this, and they were fine. All evidence required were printouts from email applications. As there were only a few months between the end of your degree and the start of your job, there is likely no problem and the home office will likely not need a huge amount of evidence. I don't think you need evidence for earlier than early October. Self sufficiency might need more evidence (?), so I'd probably go for a short period of jobseeking.

Also, I would not specifically explain anything about the short holiday in Germany. Student until end of August, jobseeking September - end of November, employed from the end of November.

[wjbrown]

I have a similar question:

I am an EEA national and am supporting my non-EEA spouse's EEA(PR) application.

I was a UK PhD student being paid a scholarship until March 2015. The last payments were made in February according to my tax and payroll records, in advance for March.

There is no later official university record until my graduation in July 2015, although I continued to study in March, submitted my PhD thesis early April, and passed my examined on it in June 2015.

I began employment in the last week of April 2015, but I applied for the job in November 2014, interviewed in January 2015 and accepted the job with a contract signed and dated in February 2015, all while still a student.

Was I a student still in March and April until my first day of work (but with no official record of being at the uni), or was I job seeking (but did not apply for any jobs, attend any interviews or register as unemployed), or was I self-sufficient (I had savings but no income during these months)?