Wow, it’s been such a long time since I last posted. I know, I was supposed to post much more regularly but I guess with work and all my travels, this site has been very quiet.
Anyway, after my ordeal with losing my passport I eventually got it back just in time for Croatia in late July. Thank God I got it otherwise I would have murdered someone at Home Office given that I had already paid for my flights and the touring agency (roughly £750 all up). Eventually I had to pay for a premium service (£520 ouch! that did feel like someone kicked me in the nuts) as I needed to get my visa done ASAP. Initially I had submitted my application for a transfer of conditions (to transfer my visa from my old passport to my new one) via postal but that had been rejected due to either insufficient funds or wrong credit number. No f!@king clue since Home Office had my credit card details and passport for over a month. What to do? Go in person to waste 5 hours of my life that I can’t ever get back. So doesn’t matter, I finally got my passport and a visa with it.
On a lighter note, when I got off the plane at Split (Croatia) I checked the police report I got for my lost passport and this is what I read: -
Like WTF?! I didn’t notice that they called me a LOSER!! An official one!!! Bastardos! Guess I deserved to be called a loser for losing such an important document. Never again though!!
Stay tuned, I’ve got heaps of photos to filter and upload and hopefully that will result in more posts
January 12th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Hey man,
Funny post, I sometimes feel like murdering some Home Office people too. I have recently lost my passport, and need to apply for TOC when I receive my passport. I am planning to apply for it in person too, as I need to go on a trip where I have paid for everything already. How long did it take for you to receive the biometric ID card from the day that you submitted your application. I know you get your passport back on the same day, but I know they also send you an ID card thesedays.
Sorry for the trouble, appreciate it if you could help
Regards,
Jack
January 12th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Hey Jack,
No probs, I’m always willing to help people if I can.
OK, with the TOC, you need to book yourself in for an appointment and as far as I remember the next best time I could get one was like 2-3 weeks away. So much for paying for a speedy premium service! But once you get through the premium service, you should get your ID card in the mail within 10 working days but don’t fret. If you don’t get the card in time, at the end of the premium service they will print you a letter indicating that your card will be issued. For me, I didn’t get my card in time before Croatia so I just brought that letter and my police report overseas. Coming back into UK border control, I just showed them those documents and they let me in. So it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get your ID card. Just make sure you have the letter with you!!!
Oh btw, if you’re going through the premium service, it’s not going to take an hour or two. You’re looking at around 3-5 hours. They make you wait for AGES. Once the interviewer sees your document, it takes them less than 15 minutes to do so but it’s just waiting for your number to get called. Bring a book because you can’t use your phone in there..
Hope that helps
Jon
January 13th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Hi Jon,
Thanks very very much for your reply, the information certainly helps, and I am feeling less worried than before.
I have just called the home office, to confirmed with them whether or not I can travel with just the letter indicating that my card will be issued. Guess what, they said no. So I told him that my friend has recently done that, and then he started saying “if your friend has done it, it might be possible, but we don’t advertise that”. The guy I spoke to has made me nervous again.
How was your experience going getting out of UK and coming back in without the ID card? What’s the process like? And would they stamp you with a visitor visa when you are coming back in? Because I am afraid that the visitor visa will void my current work permit visa.
I am sorry for the quesetions, it’s just that I am feeling very anxious at the moment!
By the way, I used to stay in Bayswater last year
January 13th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Hi Jack,
Yep, they definitely don’t advise doing what I did and I myself don’t advise doing it too since it’s depends on the border control officer. In my case I really needed to do it because I already paid for all my flights, accommodation and tours so I just couldn’t just let that go. So I just bit the bullet and went. If you are in my situation then my advice for you is to be nice to the officer and most importantly honest. If you bring up the case that you had lost your passport (with the police report) and provided them the approval letter then you can play the sympathy card.
Yes they don’t advise you to fly but it’s not end of the world. Just imagine for those who have their ID cards but left it at home, what sort of excuse can they use? I think you’ll be fine, so long you get your TOC approved!!
Are you currently on the work permit or hsmp? I’m not too sure what the terms and conditions are for a work permit. I only know HSMP/Tier 1
Hope that helps
Jon
January 14th, 2010 at 1:07 am
Hi Jon,
Yeah I have no choice too because my parents are flying all the way to the UK so that we can go to Italy together, and everything has been booked. Definitely can’t afford to disappoint my parents..
I know you get your passport back on the day you go for your TOC appointment, but do they put the entry clearance sticker into your passport? Or is everything stored on the ID card? Sorry, not really sure how the ID card works.
Do you have trouble getting out of UK as well as coming back in? Yea I am currently on a 5 years work permit. I have to admit you are brave, what if the officer didn’t let you in? What happens to the job then
January 14th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Hey Jack,
With the return of your passport, they won’t stamp anything on it so it won’t show any signs that you have the right to work in the UK. It’s all on that card of yours. It’s also a hassle cos the next time you travel with the ID card, you’ll have to carry it with you so it’ll be two pieces of items to take with you overseas (passport & ID card).
Getting out of the UK you won’t have trouble because they don’t check your passport at all. You are flying right? Of all the London Airports I’ve been to (and I’ve been to ALL of them) they don’t stamp on it at all. It’s only for entry…
As far as I can see, you got your folks coming, you got everything paid for and you have the right to work in the UK. You’ll soon have a letter stating that as well so don’t worry! If they didn’t let me in then I would have a) asked for the sympathy card cos you lost your passport b) get them to have a chat with home office because your card would have arrived in the mail already.
It’ll be fine
cheers