One More Step Along The Road WE Go ...

[aposhark]

... an appropriate opening for the first post of my 7th "millenia". Myrna and I travelled down to the UKBA's only Scottish PEO in my native city of Glasgow, today ... to present her application for ILR in person. Her appointment wasn't actually till 2 o'clock in the afternoon ... but we arrived just after midday ... and the staff were ever so helpful (well that's Glaswegians for you!) - from the security officials manning the gate, right through to the lady who affixed the precious RESIDENCE PERMIT to her passport.

Because we'd arrived ahead of time, all was "done & dusted" - even before the scheduled time of our appointment - and we emerged from the modern buildings with documents returned intact in less than an hour ... oblivious to the damp, drizzly weather conditions.

One scary moment did arise though. And that was at the beginning of the interview ... when the guy we saw first asked if we'd brought the Title Deeds of the house that I've lived in for nearly 43 years, ! I hadn't, of course - despite Myrna advising me to include them last night! But luckily, his senior officer - who'd been hovering around at the time - overheard the question and verified that the Council Tax Bills we had provided amounted to proof enough that I was able to accommodate my wife without the need to resort to claiming public funds.

So - apart from momentary panic [on MY part] - all went smoothly ... thanks to valuable support from Aileen (Acs) who received her ILR by post two days ago and Joe Bloggs' ever-helpful guidance on when to apply.

Hello Arthur

Well done with Myrna's successful ILR

I hope you don't mind me asking why you booked an appointment at a UK Border Agency Public Enquiry Office (PEO) instead of doing it online ?
I see from the UKBA website that it costs £350 extra to do it this way. (£1250 versus £900)

My wife will sit the "Life In the UK Test" soon. She arrived in the UK on 12th May 2009.

I'm just wondering what the benefits are applying for permanent residence in the office versus filling out the form and sending by post.

Brgds,
aposhark

[Arthur Little]

Hello Arthur

Well done with Myrna's successful ILR

Hello, mate ...

I hope you don't mind me asking why you booked an appointment at a UK Border Agency Public Enquiry Office (PEO) instead of doing it online ?
I see from the UKBA website that it costs £350 extra to do it this way. (£1250 versus £900)

My wife will sit the "Life In the UK Test" soon. She arrived in the UK on 12th May 2009.

I'm just wondering what the benefits are applying for permanent residence in the office versus filling out the form and sending by post.

Not at all ... the reason we decided to fork out the extra £350 was because I'm none too patient when it comes to waiting up to 3 months or more for either good or bad news; it's far too stressful and nerve-wracking!! Best to "get it over and done with" is my motto. Besides, Glasgow's little more than an hour's bus ride from Perth ... so it would've been easy enough to *nip back home and return the next day with any crucial document(s) we'd forgotten. Thankfully, *that wasn't necessary.

Good Luck to Rochelyn when her turn comes.