Topic: Food for thought (Read 6971 times)

rem2007 · « **on:** November 12, 2019, 11:03:04 am »

...not really Model Boat related but with the current state of affairs with a word a shall not use and having to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain as I approach retirement, I thought some might want to know that the Home Office has out sourced their vetting services to a French company. Spora Steria now provides all services for uploading and vetting interviews for obtaining visas etc. to that end, they charge additional fees for such luxury items as buffet lunches, interpreters, VIP lounges and other services. All proof must now go thru their website for uploading which is a pain and half, just venting as this process costs £2400 for the basic no frills BRP card and if you want an expetited service its £3200. Moved here originally in 2005 on an Ancestry Visa, Granny was from Wisbech on Mum's side and Scotland on Dad's side, what a bother.

If any of you fine folk work for this lot I apologise in advance, but am use to dealing with foreign companies here in the UK such as ATOS as spent years working in the Housing Support field.

As an employed tax payer, married to a British citizen and a home owner it just doesn't feel right to me....any comments or advise appreciated.

Robert

JimG · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2019, 11:45:28 am »

Do it properly and become a British citizen.

rem2007 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2019, 12:48:23 pm »

This is the process of doing it properly. Through the Ancestry route, one must have stayed the full period of a 5 year period of their initial visa, check, and then apply for the Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa, check, and once this obtained one my apply to become a naturalized British citizen. Oh forgot to mention the UK Knowledge test you have to do as well, where they ask you things like what city is home to Tottenham Football Club.

I believe the point I was trying to make was, in the present state of the economy and employment, why are crucial vetting services for immigration being outsourced abroad.

Robert

grendel · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2019, 01:22:32 pm »

Quote from: rem2007 on November 12, 2019, 12:48:23 pm

where they ask you things like what city is home to Tottenham Football Club.

well thats me kicked out of the country then, I dont follow sport, so dont particularly know or care where they are based, and I was born in this country, dont bother asking me about tv programs either as I dont watch them - newspapers- dont read them, politics- well I might know which idiot is in charge but dont expect me to know any others.

TheLongBuild · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2019, 01:45:32 pm »

Quote from: grendel on November 12, 2019, 01:22:32 pm

- well I might know which idiot is in charge

Please tell us then as no one else seems to know, Suspect Putin..

In my case as looking at dual Citizenship, but would still have to go to the ceremony !! but don't think I need to do any tests, as been here since 76 and Mother is Uk born and bred as were her parents etc etc.. Have kept putting it off because of the paperwork.

DaveM · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2019, 01:46:23 pm »

Quote from: rem2007 on November 12, 2019, 12:48:23 pm

I believe the point I was trying to make was, in the present state of the economy and employment, why are crucial vetting services for immigration being outsourced abroad.
Robert

Hi Rob

It's very hard to reply without straying into 'forbidden areas', but there has been an increasing trend to outsource (aka privatise) many tasks previously done by public servants. Quite how you can improve and cheapen a service by introducing a profit margin and using untrained staff is not a question I'd like to have to answer. I have noticed, however, that many businesses which once gleefully outsourced their customer services abroad have begun to bring them back into the UK. I suspect the language barrier may have had some bearing on that.

As to "crucial" vetting services I suspect that these are based progressively less on staff judgment and are instead becoming crude box-ticking exercises which can eventually be done by AI. It's all down to the great God money.

Tottenham Hotspurs? Don't they play in Tottenham?

Dave M

gingyer · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2019, 01:47:32 pm »

Robert,
Are you sure you have the correct site??

I have just helped my wife to update hers from
Permanent residence to settled status and it doesn’t cost a penny!!

If she wants to get British citizenship then that costs but
We have been advise in holding off applying at the moment as they are changing
Application requirements and it may become free for her as

She has been in the uk paying taxes for 10+ years
And is married to a British citizen

TheLongBuild · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2019, 01:48:26 pm »

or who played for Melchester Rovers

TheLongBuild · « **Reply #8 on:** November 12, 2019, 01:51:22 pm »

Apart from 1 incident I actually find it harder to leave the UK than getting back in !!

RST · « **Reply #9 on:** November 12, 2019, 02:07:46 pm »

The "outsourcing" happens a lot these days. Possibly an open competition, so the cheapest bid sometimes automatically wins the work. Councils do it

. No way around it sometimes with the current rules.

...I wouldn't have a clue about the football club either! I'd have to Google it.

roycv · « **Reply #10 on:** November 12, 2019, 03:34:37 pm »

Hello always like to supply obscure knowledge. I have looked up Tottenham checked on a google map and it is quite near a Sainsburys.
Just thought it might help.

Good luck to all above if you make model boats that's good enough for me.
Roy

grendel · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2019, 04:22:07 pm »

Quote from: roycv on November 12, 2019, 03:34:37 pm

Good luck to all above if you make model boats that's good enough for me.
Roy

thats what i do instead of following sport and watching TV

BrianB6 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 12, 2019, 08:49:39 pm »

The only reason I know where it is, is because our son in law wanted me to buy a genuine shirt from there when we visited the UK some years ago.

warspite · « **Reply #13 on:** November 13, 2019, 10:15:27 am »

Quote from: TheLongBuild on November 12, 2019, 01:48:26 pm

or who played for Melchester Rovers

wasn't their top striker ROY - not a footy fan to be honest

TheLongBuild · « **Reply #14 on:** November 13, 2019, 10:23:40 am »

dreadnought72 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 14, 2019, 09:45:46 pm »

And it gets weirder.

I've done some ancestral research over the last couple of years, and I've discovered that I'm fully one-eighth Irish. Can I apply for an Irish passport? The answer's 'No'.

My wife, born in Belfast, NI, and yet with no ancestral connections to 'the south' for at least a hundred and fifty years? 'Yes'.

So she, in the post-word-that-cannot-be-named world, can zoom through customs as an EU citizen, while me, with my totally 100% Irish leg, cannot.

(It's mad, I tell you)

Andy

gingyer · « **Reply #16 on:** November 14, 2019, 10:15:51 pm »

Back to the serious bit for a second....

Robert, unless you are applying for FULL UK CITIZENSHIP you are being taken for a mug!

https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

according to the above website,
application for full settled status...

Fees

It’s free to apply to the scheme

rem2007 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 15, 2019, 08:14:31 am »

Quote from: gingyer on November 12, 2019, 01:47:32 pm

Robert,
Are you sure you have the correct site??

I have just helped my wife to update hers from
Permanent residence to settled status and it doesn’t cost a penny!!

If she wants to get British citizenship then that costs but
We have been advise in holding off applying at the moment as they are changing
Application requirements and it may become free for her as

She has been in the uk paying taxes for 10+ years
And is married to a British citizen

yes quite sure, perhaps her conditions were different, mine was under the ancestry visa, but yes quite sure.

https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/set-o

through this one,

robert

rem2007 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 15, 2019, 08:19:28 am »

Quote from: gingyer on November 14, 2019, 10:15:51 pm

Back to the serious bit for a second....

Robert, unless you are applying for FULL UK CITIZENSHIP you are being taken for a mug!

https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

according to the above website,
application for full settled status...

Fees

It’s free to apply to the scheme

...not a mug mate, that applies to EU, EEC citizens, I, m Canuch thru and thru. welcome to the Great White North Eh, Rush, bears wolves, that sort of thing and most of my uncles and cousins on grand dad's side were in Dances with Wolves. I'm sure.

Robert

rem2007 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 15, 2019, 08:23:15 am »

I appreciate all your comments and humor and will plough on through this process, but will find it real funny when we fly back from visiting our grand daughter in January to be told you can't come back to work at your contracted post and live in the home you own, ah well worse could happen.

warspite · « **Reply #20 on:** November 15, 2019, 09:59:14 am »

I'm English, the wife is British as she too hails from NI - conlig to be more precise, so apparently my sons are entitled to apply for Rep Ireland status as well - good as they both need to leave home

gingyer · « **Reply #21 on:** November 15, 2019, 10:17:20 am »

Robert,
If you are sure.

There has been websites my wife’s friend nearly got
Stung by claiming to do all the work and taking thousands for doing nothing

Hence why I was questioning the costs

DaveM · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2019, 08:27:09 am »

Looks like yor case is the proverbial tip of the ice berg, Rob https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/17/government-exploits-migrants-for-profit-by-outsourcing-visa-services-to-private-firms
DaveM

rem2007 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2019, 01:31:57 pm »

Hi Dave,

...been awhile, yes I'm afraid so, but I have been told in the past that although the visa may expire, you are still permitted to work and live here whilst the decision process is going through. Should be hilarious flying back from Cancun in January with the wife after a holiday with my son and his family from Canada, sorry you can't come back in to work and pay taxes, oh dear what shall I do, who'll feed the dogs after the daughter goes home from dog sitting for us. Should have done it yonks ago before they contracted services out.

Will let you know how I get on, have my appt on the 27th in Cardiff...blimey, getting close.

Robert

rem2007 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 24, 2019, 08:53:21 am »

Well apparently I don;t have to do the British knowledge test as I come from Canada and speak the hanglish, good thing I'm not from Le Belle Provence.

all set for Wednesday in Cardiff for mug shot and prints...wish me luck.

Robert

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Author Topic: Food for thought (Read 6971 times)

RST