After months and months of waiting, I finally got my UK entry clearance visa as a Returning Resident in my passport back today - a week after a long awaited email from the UKBA requesting it.
My whole story is on here somewhere I believe, though I couldn't find it to continue the thread. Suffice it to say, I am hugely relieved this ordeal is finally over. The Home Office withdrew the UKBA's decision against my case last October (the day before it went to oral hearing and on the basis of the skeleton argument) and sent it back to NY, asking them to issue a new decision. In late December, I got an email that the UKBA was sending my case BACK to the immigration tribunal again! But this was a complete screw up on their part because you can't uphold an appeal rejection that doesn't exist anymore (it had been officially withdrawn). They were supposed to follow protocol - reissue the decision, giving me the chance to appeal AGAIN if it wasn't in my favor.
Luckily, my barrister contacted the Sr. PO at the Home Office who intervened and found out that NY didn't have my entire appeal bundle for some strange reason. By early January they had it and said they would review it. Three months later, still nothing.
Finally last week, following on from what I believe was another nudge from the Sr. PO at the HO, I received an email that my appeal had been upheld by a UK immigration judge. Not quite right, but who's complaining? They skipped the reissuing an actual decision part and just requested my passport. And now, only a week later, I am in possession of it.
A long journey. And I know many of you have had them too. But since this was for the relatively rare Returning Resident visa, I thought I'd share. Until I found the particularly wonderful immigration specialist barrister I worked with, I was told by all others I'd contacted before him, this just wasn't possible or a viable option. But he believed, we persevered, and won. So, sometimes it's worth digging and pursuing until all possible options are exhausted.
all best to everyone,
Holly
