Not a happy bunny at the moment.
I got my passport and visa application back today. I have just pissed away 350 quid, as visa has been denied. Well, not so much denied as me being told that I don't qualify for it as I'm currently under a pseudo-diplomatic visa. Reading between the legalese, it means that as long as I work for the EBI, I need the clearance exception visa that I currently have. As long as I have that visa, I cannot qualify for a spousal visa. As long as I can't get the spousal visa, I can't start the citizenship process.
What's even worse though is that when my contract runs its course, I'll need to apply for a spousal visa to stay in the UK. I'll have been there 9 years, but none of those will count for anything, immigration-wise. I will not have a job anymore, but I won't be able to apply for any until I get the spousal visa. Having a job will go a long way to being able to get a spousal visa. Anybody see the nice catch-22 in the making?
On the plus side, a job is not really a requirement, as long as we can show that we have means to support ourselves. That's a strong incentive to start saving; and the golden handshake I get from the EBI should help with that as well.
Still, I do not need this aggravation now.
Don't get me started. Since royal mail lost my passport (I'm trying to renew it), it looks like I have to go through the whole visa application thing again, and dole out the 250 mine costs. Outrageous prices. But this time, at least, it'll be out of royal mail's pockets.
PS don't trust royal mail!!!
(http://livejournal.com/users/suzn)
That's harsh, and I feel your pain! You've been quiet this past while. Is everything ok with you or just the usual grad school manic workload?
(http://livejournal.com/users/talisker)