contract jobs - tier 1 visa extension

[vidya]

hi everyone

my last day at work is 30 jan due to redundancy ( site closure) . i dont have enough earnings to apply right now for extension ( got visa feb 2008 , started working here by may 2008) i have been working only for 9 months ,
im hoping to get contract work for the next 3 mths and attending interviews for that next week - my query is
earnings through contract jobs do count for 'earnings category' as long as adequate evidence is supplied rite ?

my current visa is valid till early feb 2010 but i read elsewhere on this forum that we can apply as early as we want to for extension when it is switchover from hsmp to tier 1 .....

[vidya]

anyone working on contract basis successfully got the extension pls post here to give us an idea of what kind of paperwork you submitted for previous earnings category

thanks

[republique]

anyone working on contract basis successfully got the extension pls post here to give us an idea of what kind of paperwork you submitted for previous earnings category

thanks

the bia website explicitly provides instructions as to the documentation they want
further if you use the search function you will find many recent threads already discussing this info

[drjabberwocky23]

Yes - all your earnings should count towards the points criteria. Just note that you will need to provide 2 pieces of evidence for all your sources of income.

With regards to early applications, my understanding is that you should not really be applying to extend your visa a year in advance, and some correspondence from the UKBA suggests the same. However, some other members here have managed to get their approval on early applications. I think you'll need to justify why you're applying so early or it will be up to the caseworker's discretion. Also, you may only have your visa stamped from the time the extension is approved and not from the time of your visa expiry, meaning that you will have to shell out more money (and worry about what immigration rule changes may be brought out in a few years) when you have to renew your visa again before you get the opportunity to apply for ILR.