Will ECO's report illegal working

[coco]

Hello everyone,

I have finally gathered all the relevant documents for my spousal visa application, which I submit next week in ghana.

I have been completely honest about my current status here in the UK. My only worry is that the british consulate in Ghana may notify my current employers to say I am not eligible to work.

Can they do that and will they do that?

Has anyone experienced this?

Any information concerning the above will be very much appreciated.

Thank you

[John]

My only worry is that the british consulate in Ghana may notify my current employers to say I am not eligible to work.

The first point to make is that if the spouse visa is granted then you are eligible to work, quite legally!

The second point is that if the visa application is rejected for any reason, so you cannot get back to the UK, well you won't be working for your employer anyway.

At present the Home Office is extremely bad at enforcing the laws about illegal working. The average number of prosecutions of employers employing "illegals" is extremely small.

In short, stop worrying about your employer being told of your illegal status in an effort to stop you working there. Be thankful that the Home Office has yet to start handing out £2000 each Fixed Penalty Notices to those employing illegals. When that starts to happen, in a few months time(?), then employers might start to take the matter of illegal workers a bit more seriously.

[coco]

Dear John,

Thanks for the reply. When I initially started working for my current employer 5 year's ago it was all legal, till issues with my passport etc (I won't bore you with the details as I have already told you about it) after my permit expired, it never came up and I never brought it up. I know it was naughty of me, however I could not leave and I needed to work. Thank you for the reply though, I will let you know the outcome, hopefully I will be able to share a success story.

[transpondia]

If the consulate breached their confidentiality mandate by contacting your employer, please visit http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia I would love to know about it!

[coco]

Hello transpondia

Thank you for that. Does this mean the consulate can not divulge any information about an application to a third party? Even if the applicant is in breech of the immigration rules? Do you know where I can read more about the confidentiality claus?

[transpondia]

Hello transpondia

Thank you for that. Does this mean the consulate can not divulge any information about an application to a third party? Even if the applicant is in breech of the immigration rules? Do you know where I can read more about the confidentiality claus?

It is unlikely a consulate would breach confidentiality in a simple case like working in the black economy. I have helped people in the black economy before with good results and the key is to be up front about it. On the other hand, they can assail your credibility without informing anyone, so it's best to have that base covered.