A word of warning

Our ILR application was turned down because something went wrong with the payment of the fee by debit card. Not that my bank did something wrong but because the agent at the border agency keyed in the wrong security number (the one on the back of your card).... it took me some time to understand why the application had been rejected as there was no clear reason stated, no box was ticked on the rejection letter.

I did not make a copy of the payment page and it was not returned to us, so now I am requesting it under the freedom of information act...

When I asked why we had not been contacted I was told that there was thousand of applications to deal with.

When I pointed at the form asking for email and phone number and reminded the agent that the reason d'etre of the fee was to pay for the processing of the applciation I was asked bluntly "Is there something else I can do for you today?"

Conclusion: MAKE a copy of everything!

Other people have had applications rejected because they put down their credit card number, but on the day the HO tried to process it the bank’s systems were down so the transaction failed.

It is best to send a cheque, but I suppose they could always lose that. Just make sure you have money in the account so it doesn’t bounce. They cashed our cheque within 4 days of receiving it and then spent 10 weeks processing the application.

The best was when I ask what to do now? And she then asked if we were still in the 28 days period...

This is simply pathetic...

Best
Roger

I'm very sorry but this post has to be deleted for protection of identity.

The lenght of the visa has recently been extended form 24 to 27 months as "someone" realised it was hardly possible to aplply within the 28 days rule.

As an aside, banks are phasing out cheque, therefore it won't be a payment option anymore soon (unless you ask and pay your bank for a cheque...).

I do intend to make a complain and follow up on my previous complaint that has not been answered yet...

~r

Was not aware of that, but from what I've heard you still have to apply 28days before your 27months visa run out, I presume? If so then it makes no difference whatsoever. May-I ask when and how they replied to you, also how long it took? I can imagine they won't keep you waiting 10 weeks just to say no. I'm on my 11th week!

No. you still have to applay at teh end of your 2 years peruiod in the uk but since you have now 27 months, it makes it feasible as most people do not enter on teh frist day of their Visa.

My application was sent back to me 3 weeks after I submitted it and I now need to resubmit arguing it shoudl not have been rejected (particularly if they made a mistake when trying to take the fee) it but i am being represenetd as i can't do it all myself.... We are using the freedom of information act to get back the application form in full... fun fun fun


~r

UPDATE: ILR granted

Following the rejection of our application because "the fees could not be taken", I obtained a letter from my bank saying that it was the Border Agency that made a mistake by keying in the wrong card number.

I had to take a sollicitor to help me beefing up our application (and in particular drawing their attention to the fact that applications can be made up to 27 months now).

We resubmitted our Set (M) form on 23 November and it was granted in Liverpool (?) on 29 January.

I don't know if it helped, but I had asked for my passport to be returned on the 6th of Jan, this was not done and I had to ask again twice before getting it... with my partner's passport and ILR... mid February.

Now dealing with the French ...

Best
roger

Did you demand recompense from them for your consequent expenses and losses?

I have and I have enot heard back.

I should chase that too! Though there is no chance I will get conpensation, and sollicitor's fees are definitively out of the picture...

~r