Uk Settlement Financial Thing

[Sianey]

I just need some advice on the new financial requirement. I can really find anything out there answers my question

I started my maternity leave at the end of July, in order to apply for a settlement visa I have to submit 6 months of wage slips prior to this date. The problem I have is that although I earn over the £18,600, I had a months unpaid leave. For my April 2012 I was only paid my shift enhancements of approx £400.

My questions are:

1) Is this a automatic refusal or can I show my P60 and 12 months worth of payslips (March 11- April 12) to prove I earn over the required amount

2) If I can't do this I'm due to return to work the end of April. Do I have to wait until I have 6 months worths of payslips before I can apply, or can I use the 3months before I went on Mat leave plus 3 months when I get back to work

Thank you in advance and apologies if any of it doesn't make sense. Sleep deprivation has finally killed off my brain!

[Sianey]

Could I apply under category B for the financial requirement, using the unpaid leave as a break in my employment or would I have to us category A?

[7by7]

VisasPlus seems to have got his head around this new requirement better than most of us.

I suggest a POM to him if he doesn't see this topic.

[Sianey]

Thanks will do

[theoldgit]

Just be aware that Visa Plus is out of town at the moment, so you may not get a response until after Christmas.

[VisasPlus]

Sianey,

I was away ( as theolgit said).

As I understand the recent changes you can now choose either the 6 months prior to the date of application ( in your case the date you started receiving maternity pay) or the 12 months prior to that same date. During either of those periods you must have met the financial requirement of 18,600 GBP. So, it won't matter if you have a low salary month during the 12 months as long as you meet the requirement in that 12 months. This is all covered in paragrpah 13 of Appendix FM-SE ( which is quite long, so I won't cut and paste here).

Don't forget the other documentation you will need to meet the requirements :

Bank statements covering the period of the wage slips, plus

© A letter from the employer confirming:

(i) the length of the person's employment;

(ii) the gross annual salary and the period over which it has been paid at this level;

(iii) the entitlement to maternity, paternity or adoption leave; and

(iv) the date of commencement and the end-date of the maternity, paternity or adoption leave.

[Sianey]

Thanks so much for the reply, that's really helped! I have all those documents including stuff for the prior 12 month period with me so we should be all set to go. Thanks again.