Last night, I found, to my horror, my application for the HSMP visa had been returned. I had made a one-digit error which had stopped them from taking any money out of my account.
Shit. *You complete and utter, utter, utter, utter, utter to infinity... IDIOT!*
Not all my fault though. The application had arrived in London on the 8th of May, 8 days after I had posted it. The letter telling me that I'd made the mistake was dated the 9th of May. From there, it took SEVEN WEEKS to get back to me.
The cut-off date for HSMP applications is in three days time. I was invited in the letter to resubmit my application. Needless to say I was skeptical of the utility of this. So I rang the BIA and asked, well... was it worth it? And they said that "current advice" is that they'll accept applications date-stamped before the 30th.
I don't trust current advice. But this morning, ever the optimist, I re-posed the application with corrections, and so now must wait another two months at least, I suspect, before I'll know that they won't be accepting any more HSMP applications, and I've been sitting on my fanny, not looking for full time work because I have a job to go to in the UK, and running myself into thousands of dollars of debt, for nothing.
I have this picture in my head of about a dozen gorgeous beings, in elaborate flowing robes, surrounded by shining auras of incandescent light, lounging on various pieces of furniture made from clouds, feasting on laden platters of fruit and drinking from cups filled with red wine, all pointing their fingers at me, and laughing.
Friday 27 June 2008
Tuesday 24 June 2008
The end approaches
I've just got the latest news from the BIA - Border Immigration Agency UK.
As of the 30th June, HSMP applications will no longer be accepted, and their new Tier 1 visa comes into full effect.
That means that if my application should be refused, I will not be able to re-apply after the 30th, as I don't qualify under the new system. I haven't heard a peep from the BIA re my app and no news in this case is definitely not good news. My app could be missing in the ether of the postal service, could be stolen for someone for identity theft purposes, could be sitting forgotten on a dock or heaven knows where else. It's not with the BIA 'cause if it had been through their pay office, which is the first step to it being looked at as an application, I'd be 400 pounds poorer, and I'm not.
I would say fingers crossed, except it's more like, I can't work up enough emotion to be anything but pissed off.
As of the 30th June, HSMP applications will no longer be accepted, and their new Tier 1 visa comes into full effect.
That means that if my application should be refused, I will not be able to re-apply after the 30th, as I don't qualify under the new system. I haven't heard a peep from the BIA re my app and no news in this case is definitely not good news. My app could be missing in the ether of the postal service, could be stolen for someone for identity theft purposes, could be sitting forgotten on a dock or heaven knows where else. It's not with the BIA 'cause if it had been through their pay office, which is the first step to it being looked at as an application, I'd be 400 pounds poorer, and I'm not.
I would say fingers crossed, except it's more like, I can't work up enough emotion to be anything but pissed off.
Thursday 12 June 2008
Hurry up and wait.
I hate waiting. I really, really hate waiting.
I've still not heard anything from the HSMP people. My bank account has not been drained and no letters of confirmation of receipt have arrived. It's been six weeks, and the package at least is supposedly 'there'. Or at least, so Royal Mail tells me. But no word from the BIA.
And there are people waiting for me over there too! People with jobs for me and people kindly storing my stuff... sorry guys! I can't hurry the red tape for wishing however much I try.
I'm even contemplating applying for a full time job here and actually accepting it in the hope that the cosmos will pull another reverse psychology trick on me and grant me a visa as a result. But then I'd feel very guilty for leaving.
I really, really, really hate waiting.
I've still not heard anything from the HSMP people. My bank account has not been drained and no letters of confirmation of receipt have arrived. It's been six weeks, and the package at least is supposedly 'there'. Or at least, so Royal Mail tells me. But no word from the BIA.
And there are people waiting for me over there too! People with jobs for me and people kindly storing my stuff... sorry guys! I can't hurry the red tape for wishing however much I try.
I'm even contemplating applying for a full time job here and actually accepting it in the hope that the cosmos will pull another reverse psychology trick on me and grant me a visa as a result. But then I'd feel very guilty for leaving.
I really, really, really hate waiting.
Tuesday 10 June 2008
A shift in perception...
Strange how your views change to suit the climate you exist in. Not just political and social but environmental too.
When in London, the site of clouds was a reason for glum forbearance, and rain mild annoyance. Here, clouds are an incitement to hope and, should it actually rain, joy. Ali was all but dancing yesterday when the clouds opened and we could actually hear it on the roof. Her plants should grow now. So although there is no sun today, I'm happy because it's wet outside!
And I've always been a person who tries to recycle. Not always successfully and not always mindfully. But in the UK, my zeal lapsed markedly with the absence of state enforced recycling. Oh we did have a recycling box from the council and I did still put aside large cardboard and glass items, but my green waste and my plastics recycling was almost non-existent. Here... well, for example, at work they have three rubbish bins in every kitchen and at strategic positions in most corridors, one for recycling, one for compost and one for landfill. It really makes you think about what you're throwing away when the rubbish bin is marked 'Landfill'. And Ali of course has always recycled. We have two bins, and although we don't often recycle compost, all other recyclables get a new life.
So I have become much more 'green' lately. I've even been considering taking a sea journey in favour of the ever increasing cost - and carbon emitting burden - of air travel. I will most certainly be looking into doing the carbon offset thing next time I fly. We who have the wherewithal to be environmentally conscientious should do so to our utmost. It's a positive step that we need to take, and now, not later. Later will be too late.
When in London, the site of clouds was a reason for glum forbearance, and rain mild annoyance. Here, clouds are an incitement to hope and, should it actually rain, joy. Ali was all but dancing yesterday when the clouds opened and we could actually hear it on the roof. Her plants should grow now. So although there is no sun today, I'm happy because it's wet outside!
And I've always been a person who tries to recycle. Not always successfully and not always mindfully. But in the UK, my zeal lapsed markedly with the absence of state enforced recycling. Oh we did have a recycling box from the council and I did still put aside large cardboard and glass items, but my green waste and my plastics recycling was almost non-existent. Here... well, for example, at work they have three rubbish bins in every kitchen and at strategic positions in most corridors, one for recycling, one for compost and one for landfill. It really makes you think about what you're throwing away when the rubbish bin is marked 'Landfill'. And Ali of course has always recycled. We have two bins, and although we don't often recycle compost, all other recyclables get a new life.
So I have become much more 'green' lately. I've even been considering taking a sea journey in favour of the ever increasing cost - and carbon emitting burden - of air travel. I will most certainly be looking into doing the carbon offset thing next time I fly. We who have the wherewithal to be environmentally conscientious should do so to our utmost. It's a positive step that we need to take, and now, not later. Later will be too late.
Thursday 5 June 2008
A Country Life...
I love working in the country. I loved it the last time I was working in Bendigo, and I am loving it now. The people are so genuine, so welcoming. They're hard working and tough but open-hearted too. I feel like I belong here after only a week, and that's all because of the people.
It makes the decision to leave harder, and I keep thinking 'well, maybe I need to revise going back to the UK'. I haven't heard a thing about my visa application, and the smog and desultory weather are looking more objectionable every day, especially from where I am here in the clean outdoors.
Of course, there are very, very, very few jobs here. I was damn lucky to get this one. But I've been only applying for short-term and there have been a couple of longer-term positions that I could have gone for, and one that I did go for and didn't get because they wanted someone for more than 6 months.
I guess I should just enjoy what I've got whilst I've got it. And that is an absolutely wonderful bunch of easy-going and friendly work-mates. I'll miss this place when I go, that's for sure.
It makes the decision to leave harder, and I keep thinking 'well, maybe I need to revise going back to the UK'. I haven't heard a thing about my visa application, and the smog and desultory weather are looking more objectionable every day, especially from where I am here in the clean outdoors.
Of course, there are very, very, very few jobs here. I was damn lucky to get this one. But I've been only applying for short-term and there have been a couple of longer-term positions that I could have gone for, and one that I did go for and didn't get because they wanted someone for more than 6 months.
I guess I should just enjoy what I've got whilst I've got it. And that is an absolutely wonderful bunch of easy-going and friendly work-mates. I'll miss this place when I go, that's for sure.
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