standard post vs first class mail

[uvnkk]

Hi All,

I submitted my HSMP in Jan 2nd 2004 and received a two pages email from HSMP team on march 18th that HSMP had reached a decision. HSMP Team informed me that they would send my originals and decision letter by "standard post". However I could see some posts in this newsgroup that they received documents in "first class mail".

Does the “Standard post” refers the refusal of my application.. Please guide me…

(I have lots of hopes on my application and curious to know…)

The original email content follows :
If we have not been advised of the courier arrangements within fourteen days of the date of this e-mail, we will return your documents by standard post.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Brahmos, India

[Kayalami]

The method in which your decision is sent does not allude to it being an approval or rejection

Post sent within the UK is either 1st class or 2nd class. 1st class post is usually delivered the following day after posting wheras 2nd class post is usually deleivered 2-3 days following posting. 1st class = 28p and 2nd class=20p for a standard wight letter (<30g I think)

To ensure that the receipient got your letter you can send it as a 'recorded delivery' i.e the person has to sign for it when it arrives. You would pay an additional premium for the recorded part ( I think its 90p) and have the option to send it as a 1st or 2nd class recorded delivery. However there is no guarantee that your post will arrive in the stated next day/2-3 days time frame. This is what the Home Office including HSMP Team use to send correspondence within the UK.

To guarantee next day delivery you need to use 'special delivery' which again requires the receipient to sign for it - this option is only on a 1st class basis. Delivery is guaranteed by 12 noon the next working day. This option includes insurance for loss of items. Consequently there is a higher premium for this with a typical letter sent by SD costing GBP 4.10.

Overseas standard post means that they will just weigh the package and pay the normal airmail rate - no recorded delivery etc hence why overseas HSMP applicants are advised to use a courier unless you trust the postal system in your home country for the delivery of your items to HSMP Team as well as return of docs from HSMP Team.

[uvnkk]

Thank you Kayalami for detailed reply and time.

May be it is helpful, if Home department provided some options to the applicants and charges the amount while processing the application fee.

Anyways, we hope we receive our originals….

Regards,
Brahmos

[Kayalami]

May be it is helpful, if Home department provided some options to the applicants and charges the amount while processing the application fee.

The Home Office is not in the business of giving applicants posting options then charging them a top up fee on top of the standard processing fee accordingly. They already give you the option to send HMSP applications by post or courier - how you do that and the cost you incur is a matter between you and the relevant organisation.

[zeke]

Kayalami,

I am applying from the United States, and I do trust my post service in my home country.

What I am confused about is whether HO will return documents/approval letter to an address other than my residential address -- for example, the address of a family member who lives in my city., (or I have the option to rent a postbox from a private business , which will give me a secure street address rather than a post office box) -- would HO honor my request to mail documents to one of these addresses if they are not my residential address?.

On page one of the application, my I write the alternate (mailing) address where it asks for "current address"? Elsewhere on this board it has been stated that HO will not mail to any address other than the applicant's residential address (for example I have seen a post in which HO declined to send to the applicant's work address), but I have seen other posts suggesting that the applicant is permitted to request that documents be sent to an alternate address. I have never seen any HO written material which addresses this issue.

Where it asks for "current address" on page one of the application, may I place both my residential address and alternate mailing address and include an explanation?

The reason I am a bit apprehensive about using my residence address is because there have been some postal items missing recently from the mail bin in my apartments -- no fault of my postal service.I am apprehensive about using courier because of the difficulities others have faced in using them (HO will not sign any courier service's forms).

The April deadline is looming for avoiding the increase in fees, and so I don't want to take the chance to email HO with this question --I have been receiving almost nothing but automated responses from them lately.

What do you suggest?

I thank you in advance for your time.

[Kayalami]

I suggest using/giving the relevant mailing address as your current address.

Whilst a mix and match of addresses i.e. residence and correspondence with/on an explanatory cover letter makes perfect sense it may not necessarily be given due attention given the volumes of work being undertaken by the HSMP Team.

Note that the issue of addresses is only of major concern/a remit to the HSMP Team in establishing whether an application is 'in country' or 'external' to the UK. Beyond that they go with what you give them subject to the 'extra' workload I mentioned above.

[zeke]

Thank you, Kayalami. it seems like a little thing, but I don't want to lose sleep over the safety of my documents...

So-- it is perfectly acceptable for me to write in my preferred mailing address under "current address", even though the "contact address" in the payment slip, as well as the address on some of my documents I am using for evidence in the HSMP application, is my residential address, and different from my "current address", yes?

(I am guessing that the "contact address" is meant to be the address connected to billing for the credit card?? If so, the billing address for my credit card is my residence address and not my preferred mailing address.

So you are saying that I may provide two different addresses without a special explanation?

I suppose I am worrying needlessly?
[/i]