I have been doing a rediculous amount of stuff lately, but it's all pretty much geared around keeping my mind off the visa situation.
It really hasn't worked.
The only thing keeping me sane at the mo is that there are many, many other people in the same situation as I am. This website has been a real lifesaver. I Know I'm Not Alone!
So since this is about the only thing I can think about these days, I thought I'd add the timeline here, and I'll edit to keep it current as I go along.
Ps - the UKBA service standard says that they complete 75% of applications in 4 weeks... bollox to that! As of 16/05 I've been waiting for 43 days and I'm not even half way through the process!
So Here Tis:
Current vignette: Tier 1 (General)
Date of expiry of current leave (Visa) : 02 May 2012
1. Application posted: 03 Apr 2012 (Royal Mail Special Delivery)
2. Application received at UKBA: 04 Apr 2012
3. Payment debited: 03 May 2012 - day 30
4. Acknowledgement letter received: 09 May 2012 (dated 02 May 2012) - day 36
5. Biometric letter received: 28 May 2012 (dated 23 May 2012) - day 55
6. Biometrics enrolment completed: 28 May 2012 - day 55
7. Passport, Documents and letter of approval received: 20 June 2012 (dated 18 June 2012) - day 78
8. Biometric Residence Permit received: 21 June 2012 - day 79
Date (new) leave to remain valid to: June 2014
DONE AND DUSTED!!!
Showing posts with label Visa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Visa. Show all posts
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Monday, 19 March 2012
Living on a knife's edge.
Time for my visa renewal, and as always, drama and panic ensues.
I can't help it, I'm hot-wired for panic. Oh, not when physical danger attacks - then I act. No, I only panic and go to pieces when something attacks me emotionally. No matter how much time I spend trying to understand my triggers, deal with my issues, learn about why I react the way I do, the minute I'm confronted with something that is an emotional sore point, I suffer almost physical paralysis, while the mice in my head run around frantically in increasingly tighter circles.
Gah.
I may not qualify this time around. For the visa I mean. I may, but I may not. I have no idea - yet again - where I'm going to be living in 2 months time. The ground has been whipped out from under my feet and I'm free falling. I read the application notes two months ago and came to the conclusion I qualified. I read them today and discovered I did not. I'm sure they're the same notes. Lots of phone calls to lots of people later and I may have a chance. But I may not.
Shit.
I am slightly prouder of myself this time around though - I'm still reeling, and my heart is still doing intermittent cartwheels, but I'm thinking now. And taking action too. I only spent an hour in blind panic instead of days of it. And I made a decision; all within 12 hours of discovering I had no hope.
Bah.
You know you're alive when you can't breath.
A poem, for perspective, suggested by my adored mother.
ITHACA
When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.
Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.
Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.
C.P. Cavafy
I can't help it, I'm hot-wired for panic. Oh, not when physical danger attacks - then I act. No, I only panic and go to pieces when something attacks me emotionally. No matter how much time I spend trying to understand my triggers, deal with my issues, learn about why I react the way I do, the minute I'm confronted with something that is an emotional sore point, I suffer almost physical paralysis, while the mice in my head run around frantically in increasingly tighter circles.
Gah.
I may not qualify this time around. For the visa I mean. I may, but I may not. I have no idea - yet again - where I'm going to be living in 2 months time. The ground has been whipped out from under my feet and I'm free falling. I read the application notes two months ago and came to the conclusion I qualified. I read them today and discovered I did not. I'm sure they're the same notes. Lots of phone calls to lots of people later and I may have a chance. But I may not.
Shit.
I am slightly prouder of myself this time around though - I'm still reeling, and my heart is still doing intermittent cartwheels, but I'm thinking now. And taking action too. I only spent an hour in blind panic instead of days of it. And I made a decision; all within 12 hours of discovering I had no hope.
Bah.
You know you're alive when you can't breath.
A poem, for perspective, suggested by my adored mother.
ITHACA
When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.
Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.
Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.
C.P. Cavafy
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