Wednesday, December 22, 2010

國藉非香港

這一天生日,本來沒什麼期望,卻是收到了很多祝福:長途電話,電話,email,sms,msn,gtalk…還有facebook跟當面說的。請了no-pay leave,並非生日想去玩,而是預約了去辦証,UK YMS tier-5 Visa。


懷抱輕鬆的心情,踏上法院道一號,望著指示British Consulate方向的路牌,終於感覺到自己將會開展旅程。入到護照部第一件事就是搜袋熄手機過探測器,所以不能在內拍照。護照部給我的感覺,與想像中很不一樣;就像銀行櫃位的一個個窗口,聽到staff在罵人:「怎麼你們都不喜歡把文件釘好才交進來?散收收的叫人家怎麼看?」咒罵聲之下,病中的我有點精神渙散,靈敏度下降。

到了櫃位前面,串串地的staff 對我說:「你究竟是youth mobility還是temporarily worker,後者要sponsor,有人請你去做工才申請得的!你明天再來過吧。」最後一句,令世界頓時風雲變色;虧我還慎重地在家好好填了份表,誰知最重要的東西填錯了。她續說:「我可以人手幫你改張form,但不擔保英國那邊是否會因此reject你的申請,你要自己承擔這個風險!你打算幾時走,不急的話明天再來吧。」

我說不急,五月才走,她又提我該遲兩個月才去申請,過份早的申請也會被拒絕的。我表明我是請了no-pay leave去辦証的,她改為建議我到consulate對面的酒店「借」電腦一用,上網改form,並幫我改了appointment,給我45分鐘時間回頭。(要有預約才可以進去護照部)


厚住面皮,過條馬路到對面的港麗酒店問「Business Center」的位置,「借」電腦的價錢為15分鐘$60大元。Click click click,才發覺原來當初網頁上未有YMS的choice供選擇,是因為我在Nationality國藉一欄填了「Hong Kong」,實則應該填「BNO」。摩打手填form,print出來再回去consulate...

本來要收$60的上網費,酒店的哥哥仔一句:「不計你上網費了」就免了。不過print out就續張計費,$8一張。

返到Consulate,所有的申請者都走了,只剩空空的座位。還好原先那個staff肯等我。交了maintanence fee的証明,BNO & Id Card影印本,貼有照片的online application form,還有2張當場填的表格。付費,打指模,拍照,基本上整個過程就完結,都是在櫃位完成的。

一額汗,呼。幸好不用再走一趟。


P.S. 重點是:
◎ 在Visa4Uk填的國藉Nationality要選BNO,勿選Hong Kong
◎ 出發前三個月才好去申請,否則「預定出發日期」要填早一點(相對地可逗留期限也會縮短)
◎ 生活費不用維持一段時間,只要曾經有一刻出現過就好。當然要提供「那一刻」的証明
◎ 文件要有副本

Thursday, December 2, 2010

TIER 5 Visa - Online Application

終於更新。

不是我懶,而是終於又有進展。

* * *

預想的出發日期漸近,別人說出發前三個月就好申請定Visa;又根據上次領使館職員所提醒,還是再早一點點吧。

申請人所在地點是香港的話,就一定要先網上預約。

先到網址http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ApplyNow.aspx去填一份查家宅的表,再選個時間去領使館親身交證明文件(supporting documents)。

後補:記得國藉Nationality要選British National Overseas,勿選Hong Kong。否則無Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme可以選擇!

花了我一個鐘填的資料:

SECTION 1 - ABOUT YOU
1 Given Name
2 Family Name
3 Other Names
4 Gender
5 Date of Birth
6 Place of Birth
7 Country of Birth
8 Do you hold any other nationalities?
9 What is your marital status?

SECTION 2 - PASSPORT INFORMATION
10 Current passport or travel document number
11 Place of Issue
12 Issuing Authority
13 Date of Issue
14 Date of Expiry
15 Is this your first passport
16 You stated that you have got a previous passport.
Passport or travel document number(if known)
17 Place of Issue (If known)
18 Where is this passport

SECTION 3 - YOUR CONTACT DETAILS
19 APT/FLOOR/SUITE/ROOM/STREET
20 CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE/SUBURB/STATE/PROVINCE(WHERE APPLICABLE)
21 Select the country in which you live
22 Postal Code/Zip Code
23 How long have you lived at this address
24 Home(Landline) Telephone Number
25 Mobile Telephone Number
26 Will this be you contact details during the application process?

SECTION 4 - YOUR FAMILY
27 Do you have any children
28 Will any other children be travelling with you?

SECTION 4 - YOUR FAMILY(FATHER)
29 Father's Given Name
30 Father's Family Name
31 Father's Date of Birth
32 Father's Place and Country of Birth
33 Father's Nationality/Nationalities

SECTION 4 - YOUR FAMILY(MOTHER)
34 Mother's Given Name
35 Mother's Family Name
36 Mother's Date of Birth
37 Mother's Place and Country of Birth
38 Mother's Nationality/Nationalities

SECTION 5 - IMMIGRATION HISTORY
39 Have you ever travelled outside your country or residence, in the last 10 years?
40 Have you ever travelled to the UK, in the last 10 years?
41 Have you ever been refused a Visa for the UK?
42 Have you ever been refused a Visa for any country?
43 Have you been granted a UK visa in the last 10 years?
44 Have you been refused entry on arrival to the UK in the last 10 years?
45 Have you ever been deported, removed or otherwise required to leave the UK?
46 Have you ever been deported, removed or otherwise required to leave another country?
47 Have you made an application to the home office to remain in the UK in the last 10 years?
48 Do you have a UK national insurance number?
49 Do you have any criminal convictions in any country (including traffic offences)?
50 Have you ever been charged in any country with a criminal offence for which you have not yet been tried in the court (including traffic offences)?
51 In times of either peace or war have you, ever been involved in, or suspected of involvement in, war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide?
52 Have you ever been involved in, supported, or encouraged terrorist activities in any country? Have you, ever been a member of , or given support to an organisation that has been concerned in terrorism?
53 Have you ever, by any means or medium, expressed views that justify or glorify terrorist violence or that may encourage others to terrorist acts or other serious criminal acts?
54 Have you engaged in any other activities that might indicate that you may not be considered a person of good character?
55 You stated that you have travelled outside your country.
Please give the approximate date and duration and purpose of your stay/s

SECTION 6 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
56 Is there any other information you wish to be considered as part of your application?
57 When do you wish to travel to the UK?

終於打完,手軟。

這麼多的問題,如果一次過答不完,系統還會幫忙儲存記錄,下次再續。頗為貼心呢。

* * *

再說約見時間,available的timeslot感覺上好像是填表當天的一個星期後開始,而且都很早,我選的10:45am(星期二)已是當日最遲的時間了。(要過海還要晨咁早很痛苦啊!)

要提供的證明文件,大概就是以上幾十條問題的打印本,身份證明文件,旅遊證件,持有生活費的證明。詳情可參考以下網址:
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/supportdocstier5yms

且看下回分解!

P.S. 祝我今日考牌順利吧。