The Wait is Over!

"Highly Skilled Migrant Programme"

"We have considered the application against the HSMP qualifying criteria and are able to approve this application."

"You [...] fulfil the terms of the qualifying criteria."

"You must now make an application for entry clearance to come to the UK under HSMP."

Today our British Royal Mail carrier, Keith, handed us a large manila envelope. I have been scrutinizing every item of mail for weeks, hoping and hoping. Today I dismissed the long-awaited envelope and tossed it on the bed towards David, who said, "What's this?"

"I don't know."

He turned it over, and read the return address: HSMP. This was it.

Thank you to each one of you who prayed for us during this waiting time. The long wait is over. The work permit was approved. Now we have to complete the next step of getting the official entry visas, which apparently is quickly done in person (outside the country). We'll officially end our "summer holidays" in England, exit the country (probably to France), and come back in as residents. Very exciting.

The Timeline (soaked in desperate prayer):

May 18             We receive the contract of employment from David's new company in London and soon thereafter submit our first application for the UK work permit, with what we think are a lot of detailed documents.

June 21            Our first application is refused.

June 29            We submit our second application with a thicker stack of documentation obtained by Fedex from various transatlantic and transcontinental sources to whom we are grateful.

July 12             With trepidation, we take all our earthly goods with us on "summer holiday" to England, and move into a rented house.

July 26             The UK work permit office makes their second decision but won't tell us over the phone what it is; they mail the paperwork to our old address in France.

August 2            France redirects the mail to us (but we don't know this has happened yet).

August 5            The work permit paperwork arrives in England and we discover the approval at long last.

Glory to God, who answered our prayers and yours!