Thanks LondonCool - I think my wife is leaving nothing to chance to make sure that I do not regret coming to the UK as a result of the weather.

Femigirl - Thanks for asking about my welbeing.  I can confirm to you that UK has been wonderful as far as my experience is concerned.  I have very good job with a nice house and car.  My family is also doing great most especially my girls.

It was rough initially but due to God's help and the help of a wonderful Nigerian who is UK born, I was able to put everything back on track.

I have learnt the hard way around here.  You only know things in the UK when you ask questions.  Although, it took me time to realise this.

Sorry people for not contribting to this tread since I got to the UK.  I remember when I started this tread with my cry for help.  It seems like yesterday. I cannot but be grateful for the advice given to me when I was applying for my settlement visa.  I'm willing to share my experience on immigration issues and life in the UK with others if needed.

Cheers

Bring it on. I will surely be there.

I like having my people (Nigerians) around me. Although, I cannot stay in their midst but like inviting my friends among them to my place on weekends to watch premiership matches.

Yes, I have seen such. But does it mean the ECO will see it that way?

Mathematically, to have N600k from a N50k salary either means you have been saving for 12 months without spending any part of your monthly salary or you have been saving for a long time.

That is the way the think.

I hope you are not telling them in your application that you have only one source of income (i.e. your N58k job)? I can assure you that the ECO will not even blink twice before refusing you the visa.

I don't believe N58k per month is what accumulated to be over N600k. I'm sure any reasonable person will think likewise. You must show all the sources of income to make your case stronger. If they are not sure about the source of whatever amount you have in your account, they might think that you boosted your account balance for the purpose of the visa application.

The first time I apply for a UK visa, I had about N50k only in my account. However, i presented evidence such as payslips and letter of employment to show that i earn far more than that amount every month. I got the visa without any problem.

However, having huge amount in your account does not guarantee a visa.

You are certainly considering the right route for settlement.  Personally, I find it worthwhile having experience in the developed countries to let you have an idea that those "oyinbos" are afterall not gods.  By the way, you will need to show that you can sustain yourself during the period of unemployment without recourse to public funds.  They consider it very important to deny whoever they deem to be a potential liability to them.

You need to apply for entry clearance after being granted the approval like I said earlier.  I believe you need to show that you have a saving of about £2.8k at least three month prior to applying for the entry clearance. You must substantiate this with evidence in the form of cash funds. Other accounts or financial instruments for example, shares, bonds, pension funds or agreed overdraft facilities are not acceptable as evidence.

However, you do not have to show that you have had the funds for at least three months before your application if you are submitting your application after 31 October 2008. You must only show you have the required funds at the time you apply.

I will suggest you take things one at a time.

If you have scored 95 points and have experience with one of the big four audit firms in Naija like you stated, then you shouldn't have any problem being given an approval. However, the issuing of entry clearance depends on your savings.

Finding job in the UK is another huddle you must be prepared to cross. The credit crunch and recent layoffs in the financial sectors will make the job market crowdy for the next two months. But if you are prepared coming to the UK with the amount you mentioned, then you should be able to survive on that before securing a good job. The salary scale of the job you'll secure depends on whether you have a UK experience or not. You might secure a job with an experience in the UK but the pay would not be as anticipated by you.

However, you may consider taking up voluntary job in your field as soon as you land in the UK and do it for a month or two. I can assure you that as soon as this is included on your CV, the sky will be the limit for you. Though, there is nothing stopping you from registering with employment agencies as soon as you are in the UK, but I prefer applying directly to employer.

Agencies may be able to secure contract jobs paying £30k or more per annum depending on your experience in the UK. But if you prefer to go for permanent employment, you may be able to get jobs that will give you additional benefits like medical insurance, study support, paternity leave, career developments, etc.

Thanks for your comments Siena. Its obvious you must be an intelligent person.

To be an effective team member, you must be prepared to be flexible. You don't have to participate in activities that you like. You must make an attempt to participate in what they like as well. When you are with them, it gives them little opportunity to engage in gossip about you. I started attending badminton session not because I knew how to play but because I wanted to learn few things from them. I have difficulty in hearing them at times and I don't pretend about it. I ask them if I don't understand them.

Like a poster said earlier, some of them can be dangerous to deal with but not all. Even Black British can be more dangerous at times. You may consider inviting them to participate in things you like doing.

Don't let accent be an hindrance to your career growth. We are in their country and we shouldn't expect them to change for us. It has to be the other way round.

KarmaMod - Let me clarify the statement I made with regard to tea making as I've noticed that some people here will prefer every little details to enable them understand like kindergarten pupils.

White British take a lot of tea and therefore they don't consider it degrading to make tea for their colleagues. However, when they continue to make tea for you without you making any attend to reciprocate this once in a while, they usually look at it like an insult. Even your boss will come to your office to make tea for you. We Naijas like what is called "awuf". Forgive me if you cannot find that in your dictionary. So, that is the reason why I took it upon myself to make tea in the morning even though I make the least tea in the office.


It is part of their culture and you must try as much as possible to respect that. If you don't want to make tea for anybody, anytime they ask if you'll like to take tea, just tell them no and thank them politely. But that will not help your relationship with anybody in the office.

Damiso - I perfectly understand your plight as I was in that same position few months ago. I cannot categorically tell you that the situation has changed completely because some of my colleagues still have little difficulty understanding me. Although it has improved considerably compared to when I started my first job in the UK. It is even disadvantageous if your workplace is full of Africans/or maybe foreigners as most people will prefer to speak in the local ascent which will give you little or no opportunity to learn the British ascent.

When I moved from my former workplace which was full of Nigerians to my current job which is full of white British. To make it worse, I was the only black person in my dept which has a total work force of 43 staff. I made up my mind on the first day to try as much as possible to avoid being a weirdo. I started going to the pub with my colleagues (where I always ensure that discussions are centred around me to avoid being bored because of my inability to take beer). I tell them things about my country and make sure that they understand that I need time to understand their culture. Frankly, they got the gist and they are always doing things to help. They asked me to join the football team, badminton team, etc, which I oblige without any fuss. We all go to the gym every Wednesday during lunch and they are helping me to learn how to play badminton presently. They now understand my ascent and I understand theirs as well.

As far as work is concern, I make sure that my work speaks volume about me. Even though, I am in a senior position, I have never noticed any form of envy or jealousy from them (Please note that not all of them are racists - There are loveable and tolerant ones among them). They assisted me to settle in when I just came and they are still helping me with things till today.

My advice - Always try to tell them about yourself and your country. Ask about their family (they appreciate that a lot). Let them know that they should try to help you to understand their culture to enable you blend with them. Let them feel important by asking them to help out with office work. Mingle with them by going to the pubs (you dont necessarily have to take alcohol) and gyms. Discuss sports with them and know which football clubs they are in support of.

Finally, ensure that you don't always sit at your desk lazily all day expecting them to make tea for you. Try and make tea for them once in a while. I have adopted an approach of making tea for everyone in the morning before settling to work.

I can assure you that if you can do all the above, things will improve considerably.


Best of luck.

What is wrong with accommodating a man? Are there no disabled people that are far more dangerous than abledmen?

Please when the prospective tenant is ready, he can give me a call or e-mail to let me know what his decision is.

However, I may consider negotiating with you in case you cannot afford the amount requested. But this will be solely based on your circumstances.

Technically, the Jobcentreplus was right to tell you that you do not need an NIN to be employed especially where an interview for NIN has been schedulued or where the NI application is still being considered. However, employers are usually careful when it comes to holding NI deducted from their employees salaries without remitting it to the HMRC. Also, where an employee fails to provide an NIN, there is this directive on the HMRC website that an emergency tax code should be used for such person as the tax authority does not have any mechanism to determinestuffthe actual tax position of such person.

In light of this, employers will prefer to have your NIN handy before offering you any job whatsoever. As far as some employers are concerned, the NIN is an indication of your right to work in the UK.

Concerning the NIN application, the joncentreplus usually request for evidence that the applicant is actively looking for job. What is the essence of giving someone an NIN without the person having any intention to work. All applicants need to do is look for jobs through jobsites such as Hays, Monster, Accountancyage (sorry, these are the ones relevant to my profession), etc, and print copies of the applications to be presented at the NIN interview at Jobcentreplus. Another important document is proof of residence, which in most cases, are utility bills. But where you cannot provide one, it is advisable to apply for a UK provisional driving licence as soon as you land in the UK. This will be accepted as proof of residence for the purpose of your application for NIN and other important stuff like opening bank accounts, etc.

Busy Body - Please take it easy. You dont have to persecute me without asking me to provide details. The accomodation comes with a lot of things. The person is unlikely to pay anything on feeding as feeding will be provided by my wife. The tenant does not have to pay for gas, electricity, water, internet, etc, as all these have been taken care of. He/she will also have access to the computer and printer for school work as my wife is also running a degree programme. If the person is a football lover which I hope he/she would be, I have all sky and setanta channels.

By the time the tenant evaluate the cost and benefit of staying with us, i am sure he/she would be glad to have made the decision to stay with us. Please note that I am not asking anyone to stay with me because of the monetary benefit. I can afford to pay my mortgage without taking any extra from anybody. If you are not interested in the proposition, that is your decision and life goes on.

If your friend do not mind, i may consider giving her a room but she will have to put up with me and my family. However, the rent per week will be 100 pounds. I have a wife and two daughters, although some of my friends do come around from time to time especially on weekends.

My house is a three bedroom bulding and its on the eastern part of London. I guess you can link Oxford Circus directly on district line/circle line. Not very sure though but i know some of my friends go to schools in that area and they've never complained of being late for classes.

You may let me know if she's interested.

My dear ur best bet is Wyse. I received lectures for my finals at wyse and I can assure u that it was worthwhile. Although, not all the lecturers are well grounded but ofcourse, u can expect that anywhere.

Yes, my brother was sucessful until he decided to add some value to himself. He thought the system would be able to give more as a result of additional qualifications (like university degree) but alas, the reverse was the case. He now works with agencies in the UK but at least he is doing something with his life. The same system that we are talking about will give more respect to a Nigerian that goes abroad to obtain university degree, even though we all know they are not as good. I remember a lady who had a few months stint in my office in Nigeria before I left. She graduated with a first class from one of the best universities in the US (i beg not to mention the name). She found it difficult to keep up with the pace of the Nigerian universities' graduates, even though more respect was given to her initially. I have so many examples of situation like this.

The case of government workers are exactly the same. If you have been to any govt office, you will appreciate the point that i'm making. How do you expect a person to work under such condition being seen in the Nigerian public sector's offices. No light, no water, not airconditioning, in some cases, no fan. Is it the workers that said that lifts in the who of CBN office in Lagos, FIRS office at Broad Street, Fedral Secretariat, Ikoyi, etc. Capital "NO". Some people are given money to maintain these facilities and are these called "people". Your guess is as good as mine. Iyabo Obasanjo claimed to spend about N2 billion on three federal teaching hospitals including LUTH. But LUTH has becoming worse off in the last two years. Only few lifts are working in the whole of LUTH. The lifts can only be used by patients and not any other person. The greatest mistake a person can make is to take your loved ones to LUTH or any of the Federal teaching hospitals when they are ill. Even my brother, who happened to be a resident doctor in LUTH could not do anything for my mum when she was admitted as all facilities that were needed to revive her were either not in existence as against what was claimed by the government or the hospital authority did not want to use them. IS THAT A SYSTEM?

Personally, it pains me that I am now contributing to another country's economy at the expense of mine but what can I do. A system that couldnt give a drug of N300 to your mum free (Government hospital for that matter). I will rather prefer my family to remain here and make some money until we are good enough to establish something on our own in Nigeria. I prefer a country that is fair and just to one that requires you to know the Obasanjos, Atikus, Babangidas, Adenuga, or Ovias for you to be sucessful. Only the rich are destined to be richer in Nigeria.

I am writing this with all honesty devoid of any bias or sntiment. If you have good qualifications in the UK, employers will be running after you instead of the other way round. Let the same thing happen in Nigeria, and see how the number of graduates that are always looking for way out of Nigeria (by all means) will reduce.

Regards

Londoner/Akinalabi - I beg to differ with you on your view with regard to how the system has contributed to the woes of ordinary Nigerians. While some people are benefitting from it, no doubt, these same people are the ones making it so difficult for others to make headwaysin it. Our leaders have failed the system by tilting it to one side and not allowing it to work properly.

My immediate elder brother used to work in the informal sector of the economy before he decided to go to the university. While working in the sector, he was doing well to the extent of paying my school fees and my brother's when we were in the university. After graduating from school, he could not get any job takless of a well paying one. I had to sponsor him to the university for a master's programme to see if the situation will change. Alas!!! the situation remained the same. He had no choice but to start thinking of leaving the country because as far as he was concerned, the system had failed him.

He is now in the UK on a student visa. Even though, he is working 20 hours each week, he is contented.

My brother's case is just one out of the manys that i'm aware of. The system is malfunctioning and it will take the grace of God for any welmeaning person to put it in order. Mind you, my only prayer is to see the system work, but how do we achieve this?

Regards

Hi guys - Just to let you know that my settlement visa was granted yesterday after an intensive interview at the BHC in Lagos.  I'll be happy to share my experience if it so desired.   

Concerning the offer letter, I've been having some difficulty securing one as I am presently in Nigeria. I believe you will have to be on ground in the UK for interviews and all the other stuff to be able to get a job offer. Although, I have applied for several jobs through difference job agency websites but none have returned any favourable response so far. I still have the intention of taking along with me to the interview, copies of job placements that suit my qualifications. My wife will also send her employment letter to me as soon as she receives it.

Moreover, my wife sent to me her bank statement for six months but the issue is that the statement does not show any income from employment. Most credits in the statement were from the DWP. Can I still go ahead to present the statement to the ECO at the interview?

Pls I will appreciate your response to this question.

Thanks guys - I will put my hope in God.

We have started exploring the option recommended by you. We have letters of invitation to interviews. I intend to take a copy of one of the letters with me to the interview. Her employment letter is still on hold pending when the potential employer receives her CRB.

I hope the letter will suffice if she doesnt get her letter of employment before my interview at the BHC.

Brownbonno - Dont get me wrong, I appreciate your comments. I am only saying that the circumstance did not change legally until November of 2007. The claim of benefits was due to my not being a member of the household just by having a joint marriage certificate. I am considering the substance of the whole relationship and not the form.

My wife went back to the UK in November after the solemnisation. I agree, maybe she should have informed DWP of the change of circumstance in term of marriage but I dont think that would have been necessary in term of support from me. What if I dont support her in any way? I know its a possibility in some marriages.

I am open to all suggesstions with respect to this application as I need to be well informed before going for the interview. Moreover, my wife just informed me that she also claims housing benefits. I still dont understand the impact of all these since I have my degrees and professional qualifications which I belive should suffice when it comes to securing employment and maintaining oneself.

Nouble/Brownbono - Thanks for your contributions.  Its really appreciated as I like seeing things from both ends (i mean positive and negative).  Point of correction, my wife did not claim child tax credits and child benefits illegally during 2006/2007 as she was a single parent during this period.  Our marriage became legal after her divorce and our civil marriage in 2007.  Also, I believe british citizens are entitled to IS when the income receive from employment is not enough to maintain them and the family.  IS is a right under certain cconditions, one of which she satisfies.

Concerning, housing benefits, I doubt if she receives this as I still send money to her on monthly basis to support her and the children.  Though, I will try to confirm this from her.  Moreover, she intends to stop receiving the IS since she is probably going to start work this January.

Thanks

Thanks guys - Its a good thing to share one's problems on this forum. I will make use of your advice and update you on my progress.

By the way, do you think my travel history can also help?

Thanks, the information on the link is very helpful.

Thanks Oluphapha for a prompt response.

I've tried to think of ways of answering the question with regards to the omitted benefit without any success. Honestly, I do not have any answer to this. Kindly suggest the best way of responding to the question, if any.

I will appreciate this.

Dear All,

I need help on my settlement visa application. I made an application to the BHC for a spousal visa in December last year and I've been scheduled for an interview at the end of January 2008. I met my wife (a British citizen) in August 2005 in Nigeria and we started dating in the same month. We have two beautiful daughters from the relationship and we have obtained British passports for the two of them. I travel to UK very often (about four times in the last four years) and was even present when my wife gave birth to our first daughter. I currently have a valid UK visa on my passport which will expire in February 2009. Also, I have never overstayed in the UK or any other country before.

My wife and I did a traditional weddding in December of 2006 and the civil wedding in November 2007. This is due to the lenghty time it took to get the court to dissolve her marriage with her ex. I am an accountant and work with a big professional firm in Lagos. We decided to apply for a spousal visa for me to relocate to the UK in November 2007. The following documents were submitted with the application:

1. Six month bank statements
2. Statement of my deferred compensation savings
3. Six months pay-slips
4. Letter of introduction from my employer
5. Tax clearance certificate
6. My certificates (evidence of my educational and professional qualifications)
7. My wife and our children's birth certificates
8. My wife and our children's British passports
9. My wife certificates (evidence of nursing qualifications)
10. My wife rental agreement
11. Letter from the dept of work and pension (evidencing payment of income support benefit to my wife)
12 Letter of consent from my wife

My concerns are as stated below:

* My wife is not presently working as she had to stop working in 2006 before the birth of our first daughter. She plans to start work this month or next and therefore have started attending interviews in that regard. I have a copy of one of her letters of invitation to interviews. Will this have any effect on our chance of getting the visa?

* My wife receives child tax credits and child benefits which were not disclosed in the application form. She told me that the benefits are her entitlements whether she is working or not. I need to know if this will not cast any doubt on our integrity.

* We only submitted photocopies of some documents. Although, original documents were also submitted in some cases. Does the non-certification of the docs have any effect?

* I recently received certain documents from my wife such as letter of permission from her landlord, letter of invitation to interviews, our marriage and some other family pictures, original of her bank statement, original of her P45, etc. Do you think we will be able to present these docs at the interview?

* As at the time of submitting my application, I had a total of N1.1m (about £4,000) in both my bank account and DCP savings. Do you think the ECO will consider this as enough without any recourse to public funds?

I will appreciate if knowledgeable members of this noble forum can assist to address my concerns above.

Thanks and regards,

tos

Hi All,

I have been following the thread on this critical issue that is boiling at this time of political victimisation. We should not allow people of irrational minds and low thinking ability to disunite this great country. What we are witnessing today in this country is politic being played without respect for peoples' lifes