Expiration loophole

Regular readers will know that I’ve been stressed and worried about my visa situation for a while now. And a select group of friends know that being stressed and worried is an understatement. But, we’ll go with stressed and worried for this story.

Why so stressed? Well, it’s because the expiration date on my visa is today. Yes, today. And I don’t know what that means for my future.

In fairness, I am in a bit of an expiration loophole at the moment where I am still legal to stay in the country (and to work) because my new visa has been applied for and is in progress.

I have sent off my important bits of paperwork and am now waiting (desperately) for a letter from the UKBA stating that I can have my biometrics taken. After that, I will have to wait some more to hear if my visa application has been successful.

I am in a weird holding pattern because of it all. I can’t plan for a future because I don’t know what my future will be. I don’t know if I will be denied my visa – or if by the grace of God (and some random civil servant) it will be approved. And I don’t know exactly how long I have to leave the country if it’s denied.

I had tried to get around the stress of waiting by using the premium visa service so that I would have an answer in 24 hours, but there weren’t any appointments available. Which means that I am on tenterhooks. And with each passing day, I am becoming increasingly stressed. I am afraid to buy things for the house. I am afraid to commit myself to anything more than a week or two out.

And there is nothing I can do about it. Nothing. I am at the mercy of others.

But if (when?) I do get my new visa I will be treating myself to a new programmable coffee pot. Kind of like a visa present to myself.