HSMP extension much before expiry of one year period

[anjalik]

I have come here on a HSMP Visa and am currently working . I am likely to get another offer from an employer and he is willing to sign a three year contract with me. he was asking me if I could get an extension of my HSMP work visa immediately so that he does not have a problem of offering me the 3 year contract.
Just wanted to know whether anybody has faced a similar situation and has anyone got an extension like this within months of getting the initial HSMP EC and coming to UK.

[raoms]

welcome to board after a long break. hope you settled in UK. Regarding your query, about a week back KAYAlami has posted a reply similar to this. I could not find it but still remember the reply. She said that HSMP renewal can be applied only 1 month before expiry, if you do it before they will return it back. And regarding 2/3 years renewal , its not posible they will give only 1 year its the rule [thats what my consultant said]. I suggest you tell the employer that the visa is renewable subject to employment and he don't have to worry about it.

all the best for new job.

[Mini]

Raoms,
Are you sure ?
The renewal is for 3 yrs as per my understanding. The initial EC they give you has 1 yr validity and henceforth you get a 3 yr visa.

[FLR]

I absolutely agree with Mini and think that they will renew your visa for the next three years, and after that one can apply for Citizenship and all.
If it would be for just one year every time then Home office would have fallen into deep trouble renewing visas the whole year.

Let us all be known if the above assumptions are not correct.

[anjalik]

Thanks for the information. I will surely take the next steps based on this.
By the way are all of you in UK and working here?

[raoms]

visa is renewable for 3 years... thats right what I mean is at a time you get 1 year renewal and again next year apply for another 1 year. I heard in some cases they give at a time 2 years renewal [ not very sure of this]

[Kayalami]

I have come here on a HSMP Visa and am currently working . I am likely to get another offer from an employer and he is willing to sign a three year contract with me. he was asking me if I could get an extension of my HSMP work visa immediately so that he does not have a problem of offering me the 3 year contract.
Just wanted to know whether anybody has faced a similar situation and has anyone got an extension like this within months of getting the initial HSMP EC and coming to UK.

It is not possible to apply for an extension earlier than 1 month before the expiry of your initial 12 month HSMP visa - this is because renewal is subject to your economic activity across the entire 12 months. Extensions where the applicant has proven to be economically active in year 1 are for a further 3 years to bring the total time on HSMP visa to 4 years.

[Chess]

It is not possible to apply for an extension earlier than 1 month before the expiry of your initial 12 month HSMP visa - this is because renewal is subject to your economic activity across the entire 12 months.

Under 'special' circumstances, it is possible to extend your HSMP visa before the expiry of the first year however they would not extend it for three years and most likely would extend it for one more year.

One of the 'forum' posters did have the HSMP visa extended prior to the end of the first year as a School refused to enrol his/her child without proof that the Child would be in the country for more than a year

Yes, it is possible to get the visa extended prior to the end of the first year on 'compassionate'/special grounds

[Kayalami]

Under 'special' circumstances, it is possible to extend your HSMP visa before the expiry of the first year however they would not extend it for three years and most likely would extend it for one more year.

Thanks for the heads up - do you recall how far in advance of the 12 month anniversary the 'student based compassionate' application was made?

[Chess]

Under 'special' circumstances, it is possible to extend your HSMP visa before the expiry of the first year however they would not extend it for three years and most likely would extend it for one more year.

Thanks for the heads up - do you recall how far in advance of the 12 month anniversary the 'student based compassionate' application was made?

Kaya,

Cant remember the very precise details - however the HSMP visa holder got a letter from the School stating that they would not enrol the Child/Pupil/Student...until there was proof that the Parent/student would be in the UK for morethan a year

The HSMP visa holder posted the letter to HO and his/her Visa was extended......(in theory this could apply at anytime during the duration of the first year especially if the Child is in the 'compulsory education group i.e under 16 years old)

[anjalik]

Thanks a million Chess and Kaya.
Do you remember whendid you see this response , i.e. how many months back? May be we can then try to get this from the archive.

[Chess]

Thanks a million Chess and Kaya.
Do you remember whendid you see this response , i.e. how many months back? May be we can then try to get this from the archive.

Check postings in January and February 2004. IMHO your situation does not meet the required 'special/compassionate' circumstances. Clearly if a School is refusing to enrol a Child then those are very strong reasons - however, issues to do with an employer wanting to give you a longer contrcat do not hold water.

Dont forget all these immigration rules can be bent and twisted by the HO/Secretary of State whenever necessary

[ajani]

Hello Guys,
I was the guy whose application was extented before the expiration of the one year visa. As stated on the forum, it was done to enable my children enrol into school.

The local authorities insisted that as their visas duration was less than six months, they wont be admitted.

The copy of the letter was submitted to HSMP and the extention was granted for 3 years. This however left me short of about 3months to qualify for the indefinite leave.

To Kalayami and others, come 2007, do you advise that i apply straight for indefinite leave or submit another HSMP application. Where possible, i will like to avoid paying to application fees.
Thanks

[Kayalami]

Hello Guys,
I was the guy whose application was extented before the expiration of the one year visa. As stated on the forum, it was done to enable my children enrol into school. The local authorities insisted that as their visas duration was less than six months, they wont be admitted.

Thanks for the update - good to see you frequent the board and have sorted this one out for us all.

The copy of the letter was submitted to HSMP and the extention was granted for 3 years. This however left me short of about 3months to qualify for the indefinite leave.

How long into your 12 month visa was this done - it appears to be at month 9? Did you have to submit evidence of economic activity and what did you submit?

To Kalayami and others, come 2007, do you advise that i apply straight for indefinite leave or submit another HSMP application. Where possible, i will like to avoid paying to application fees.
Thanks

Home Office practice has been to consider applications at no earleir than 1 month before you reach the required time for ILR - in this case 4 years. IMHO while there may be some leeway 3 months is on the long side but there is no harm in trying and explaining that the early initial extension of yr 1 HSMP visa due to schooling issue impacted on time to 4 years. In any case the rules may have changed by then so its a matter of wait and see.

[ajani]

Hello Kayalami,
In addition to the letter from the school, i had to show proof of economic activity. But, the economic activity was not in my chosen field. Although i completed a Masters Degree in the UK, the reality is that qualification and having the desired UK working experience are two different things.

I was not afraid to explain to the home office that i was working as a security officer. At this point they offered me a one year extention until i sort out a proper employment.

I however requested that i be given a few weeks as i had attended several interviews that were likely to become fruitful. Luckily for me, i got another appointment soon after, i faxed a copy of the letter and the three years was granted.

As for the time into my visa term this was done, it was in the 9th month, just few days to the 10th month. Hope this clarifies things

[anjalik]

Dear Ajani,
A couple of questions.
when you initiated the process of getting extension, did you fill the FLR form with payment or you just faxed them your details?
Can you provide me with the FAX/email/phone numbers of the office which you had contacted?

[tech]

Anajli

Didi you apply for 3 years extesion ? if yes, how did it go ?

Your response is highly appreciated.

Thanks
Tech

[anjalik]

No I did not.
After carefully analysing the facts, I have decided to defer my decision on aplication for extension