Writing Letters & Making Applications


Application for Benefits  – My experience 

I’ve served as a liaison for individuals (between DWP, NHS and Claimants) , who have language barriers or lack communication skills, to claim benefits. These include DLA, Carers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Limited Capability for work & work related activity, Housing Benefits and Council Tax Reduction.  

First and foremost , I collate the necessary information from the claimant. In particular, their medical history. If I deem their clinical documents to be insufficient, I issue a consent letter for them to sign so that I can contact the NHS on their behalf. I then contact the departments that the claimants fall under to send across all their clinical documents. This includes Referral Letters, Clinic Letters, Test results and Fit Notes. After having obtained these documents, I progress with the application which includes filling out the form as well as attending the telephone and/or face-to-face assessments. 

My experience in this field stems from my past job where I worked at a Children’s Disability Service. During my time there, many parents, who were incompetent of speaking English, needed support with Application for DLA. Therefore, extra weekend shifts were set up which I accepted in order to help out these parents.


Simplifying the Marriage Process  – My experience 

For those who plan on getting married, I provide utmost support by making sure the process is efficient and stress-free.

First and foremost, I enquire what country the individuals plan on getting married in. Should the marriage take place in a foreign country, I contact that the embassy of that country based in the UK. Otherwise, I would directly contact the Register Office. 

Next, I instruct the individuals to supply the following documents : Passport or National Identity Card, Proof of Right to Reside in the country (subject to the individual not being a national of that country), Proof of Address , Birth Certificate and Confirmation of Civil Status. With regards to obtaining the Birth Certificate and Confirmation of Civil Status, I've provided support as follows: 


Birth Certificate

 

Confirmation of Civil Status


Having collated all of the above , I then submit this onto the relevant Authority to review. 

For Sri Lankan Nationals, their documents will be sent across to the Embassy of the country they currently reside in, based in Sri Lanka. For example, if the applicant resides in Switzerland – their documents would be sent across to the Swiss Embassy in Sri Lanka.  

The reason behind this is to verify the document’s authenticity. In particular, the Birth Certificate. The standard processing time for this usually takes approximately three months. Should the applicant not hear anything back, I directly contact their Country’s Embassy based in Sri Lanka as well as the Civil Registry Office to chase for an update.

Finally, the Civil Register Office will contact the applicant to arrange a date for the Marriage registration to take place. The couple must bring along two witnesses who are of legal age and have the capacity to judge. The couple must instruct the witnesses to have their Passport or Identity Card on them. The foreigner’s ID card is not enough. The marriage procedure will be conducted in the country’s national language. Therefore, if one or both partners cannot communicate in the language, or can only communicate insufficiently, they must bring a person who translates perfectly that isn’t related to both of them . Again, the couple must instruct the translating person to have their Passport or Identity Card on them.The foreigner’s ID card is not enough.

My experience in this domain derives from getting married myself. 


Application for UK Spouse Visa - My experience 

First and foremost, I assess the applicant’s english fluency to determine which CEFR level test is reasonable for them to take out of A1, A2 , B1, B2, C1 and C2.  A1 is basic whereas C2 is proficient. Should the Applicant take level A1, when applying to extend their spouse visa after 2.5 years, they’ll need to pass at least A2.

After fixating the test level, I provide utmost support in helping the applicant prepare for their IELTS Life Skills Exam. This includes writing out all the answers to the potential questions they might get asked as well as helping the applicant pronounce specific words.Once the applicant informs me that they feel confident to sit the exam, I contact the IELTS Test centre in their local area to book this. Some test centres offer a free mock test for applicants prior to them sitting the actual test. In this case, I strongly encourage the applicant to attend this session so that they gain thorough knowledge on what to expect for actual test. Unfortunately, as per the ruling of Cambridge, feedback will not be provided for the mock test.

Once the applicant has successfully passed the exam, I instruct them to scan and email me their IELTS Life Skills Test Report Form.

My next course of action is to act as a liaison between the Sponsor, Applicant and Immigration Caseworker, to ensure a successful UK Spouse Visa Application.

First and foremost, I undertake a free assessment with an assessment officer outlining the couple’s needs and circumstances. The officer will then relay this information onto a senior immigration solicitor at the firm for review. Should the solicitor agree to accept the case, I obtain a fixed fee quotation for the couple’s entire case to be handled from start to finish. Once the couple confirm that they are happy with the charge involved, I instruct them to make the payment directly to the law firm.

Next, the assessment officer will contact me to arrange a date and time for a personalised one-to-one legal consultation with a senior immigration solicitor. During this consultation, the solicitor will take my full instructions by exploring the couple’s circumstances in detail and advise me on the best way to meet our objectives. The solicitor will explain the relevant legislations and provide me with legal advice on the steps that would need to be taken to ensure a successful result.

After the consultation has ended, the solicitor will issue a client care pack which (a)documents everything that was discussed during the consultation and (b)states which documents the couple must submit as part of the application process. The solicitor will also issue the following forms:


With reference to the documents which the couple must submit, it falls within my responsibility to (a)help them fill the forms (b)collect the existing documents (c)take necessary action to retrieve and/or formulate the missing documents and (d)send them across to the solicitor. For example, I contact a local agency near where the Sponsor lives for a Property Inspection and thereby obtain a Property Inspection Report. Moreover, I formulate a letter for the Sponsor to sign which sets out the background of the couple’s relationship (when, where and how they met, how the relationship developed, the places they have lived together, current circumstances, future plans), confirmation that they are both in a genuine and subsisting relationship as well as confirmation that they will maintain and accommodate their partner in the UK without recourse to public funds.Furthermore, should the Parents of the Sponsor provide accommodation for the Applicant, I formulate a letter for them to sign confirming that they happily permit the Applicant to live at their property on a rent free basis. 

After having carefully reviewed all the documents, the solicitor will share a draft application to ensure that all parties are happy with the representations that will be submitted to the Home Office. Once the couple confirm that they are happy with the draft application, I instruct them to make the following payments to the law firm :



Next, the solicitor will book a Biometric appointment for the Applicant to attend at a Visa Application centre, in their country of residence, where their fingerprints and photograph will be taken. I instruct the Applicant to print and bring the following documents with them to the appointment : 



As soon as the solicitor has notified me that the Applicant’s UK Spouse Visa has successfully been granted, I immediately relay the good news onto the Applicant. After having read the decision letter from the Home office, I advise the Applicant that they should expect to hear from the Visa Application Centre with regards to receiving their passport back via post. The passport will be returned with a vignette (sticker) inside which is the Applicant’s physical form of their Entry Clearance/Leave to enter. I instruct the Applicant to arrive in the UK before the Expiry date set out in the Vignette . This typically tends to be for a period of 90 days.

Moreover, I advise the applicant that the Vignette is not their proof of right to live and work in the UK. Instead, it will be the BRP (Biometric Residence Card). Therefore, my final duty is to instruct the Applicant to collect this card from the Post Office set out in the decision letter which is available for collection 2 weeks post their visa issue date.

My experience in this sector emanates from sponsoring my partner to live with me in UK.


Visit/Tourist Visa Sponsor Cover Letter (Any Country) - My experience 

I've written cover letters for individuals who wish to sponsor a friend or relative to visit them in their country of residence. My experience in this area originates from having written these letters for certain family members (acting as the sponsor) to provide their relative with, in support of their Visit Visa application to Switzerland, Canada, France and the UK.I instruct the individual to send me their Personal Details (Inc. Proof of ID,Proof of Address,Proof of relationship with the Applicant, 3 Months Bank Statements) and Job Details (Inc. Confirmation of employment letter, latest P60, 3 Months Payslips).Also, I enquire the start and end date for the Applicant's visit so that I can formulate the letter.

 

Confirmation of Employment and Resignation Letters – My experience

I’ve written confirmation of employment letters for individuals who hold unprofessional Jobs or work for unprofessional employers. My experience in this genre stems from having written these letters for Stock Assistants, Sales Assistants and Cashiers who work at Local Corner Shops in addition to Domestic Assistants who work in HealthCare. I instruct these individuals to  send me their Job Details (Inc. Job Title, Start Date, Contract Type, ,Address of Workplace, Line Manager’s Name, Number of Hours Worked per week, Salary per Annum etc.) so that I can formulate the letter. Next, I instruct them to print and get the letter signed by their Line Manager. This letter will then be used for the purpose of Mortgage Applications, Job Applications, Application for Working Tax or Universal Credit, Application for Citizenship etc. Furthermore, I also write Resignation Letters.

 

Character Reference Letters – My experience

I’ve written Character Reference Letters which acts as a Supporting Statement for individuals to demonstrate what sort of character they are in addition to their personality traits. My experience in this sector stems from having written these letters for Visa Applicants and First time Job Seekers (Inc. sixth form, college and university students who want to work on a part-time basis).  I instruct these individuals to attach this letter along with their Visa or Job Application so they have an increased chance of being granted the Visa or appointed for the Job.

 

Case History Letters – My experience

I’ve written Case History Letters which act as a Supporting Statement for individuals in order to put forward a stronger case in any affairs they face. My experience in this domain stems from having written letters addressed to the Home Office for immediate family members who live far apart due to their immigration status. I instruct these individuals to provide me with an in-depth overview of their circumstance, how they felt, what the impact/consequence is and request them to hand in any supporting evidence so that I can formulate the letter.   

 

CV’s, Personal Statements and Expression of Interest Letters – My experience

I’ve written CV’s, Expression of Interest Letters and Personal Statements for individuals who are incompetent of doing them or lack literacy skills. My experience in this sector stems from supporting various co-workers and certain family members in their Application for Referrals Administrator and Receptionist ,Patient Pathway Coordinator , Assistant Service Manager, Nursing Associate Apprenticeship, Healthcare Assistant,Domestic Assistant,Carer,House Keeper,Catering Assistant and Chef. I instruct these individuals to send me details of their Academic Qualifications, Training Courses, Extra-Curricular Activities, Work and Volunteer Experience so that I can formulate the documents.

 

Appeal/Complaint Letters – My experience

I’ve written Appeal/Complaint Letters for Institutions to re-consider a decision they’ve made for Individuals. My experience in this area stems from having written letters addressed to a HealthCare Provider for delayed Medical Care, Home office for Visa Rejection, Embassy for delayed issuance of Passport, Insurance Company for refusal to cover costs of damage, Finance department for delayed issuance of pension refunds, HMRC self assessment for late filing or late payment penalty, council for penalty charge notice, Employers for failing to provide Staff with their Payslips etc. I instruct these individuals to give in an in-depth overview of the incident, how they felt, what the impact/consequence was as well as request them to provide me with any supporting evidence so that I can formulate the letter.   


Notice Letters – My experience

I’ve written Notice letters for Individuals, well in advance, regarding an upcoming affair or a change of plan. My experience in this discipline stems from having written letters addressed to mortgage co-applicants in order to be removed from a Mortgage. I inform these individuals of the expectations they must comply to, provide advice to facilitate their compliance to the expectations as well as set deadlines in order to hold them accountable for actioning tasks within a fixed timescale. I conclude the notice letter by stating the consequences of failing to meet the deadline. This serves as an educational mechanism to illustrate the seriousness of the matter.


Application for a transfer of title 

*WORK IN PROGRESS*