UK Alternates

[Keren_Makumahon]

Another Alternate here, best of luck everyone!

[ek09]

Let me know if any of you guys fancy a Skype chat group? PM me your username. Anyone have any ideas how many upgrades there were last year? It's too soul destroying to go through all the posts from last year.

[JasonB91]

Let me know if any of you guys fancy a Skype chat group? PM me your username. Anyone have any ideas how many upgrades there were last year? It's too soul destroying to go through all the posts from last year.

I did some research and using the numbers from 2010 (as opposed to last year which would be a statistical anomoly due to the disasters), and it would seem around 10 to 11 people from the UK posted on the forums as having been upgraded. The first was around May 7th (I don't know when the reply forms were due back).

[Yarantoiken]

I rang up the JET desk today to ask a few questions about being an Alternate CIR, this is what they told me:

There is NOT a good chance that an alternate CIR will be upgraded as it was so competitive this year. I don't know if she meant that I PERSONALLY would have a low chance, or if all alternates in general would have a low chance. She wouldn't tell me how many people were interviewed, or how many were short list or alternates.

I asked if there was a list or a pool, and there is apparently a LIST of people; I assume this means that there's a ranking as well. She wouldn't tell me where I was on that list, be it high or low. She did say that the good thing about being an alternate is that if you find something better, you can turn down JET and still try again next year. If you also said as a CIR applicant that you would be happy to go as an ALT, you still may be offered an ALT position if no CIR one becomes available. Don't expect a phone call offering upgrades until after the paperwork deadline which is 2nd of May for UK applicants.

Pretty useless stuff but I'm pleased that I still have a chance as an ALT as well. Fingers crossed and hopefully this will ease some minds for a while. Until after the deadline for papers and I will not let my phone leave my side.

[SakuraHoshi]

I rang up the JET desk today to ask a few questions about being an Alternate CIR, this is what they told me:

There is NOT a good chance that an alternate CIR will be upgraded as it was so competitive this year. I don't know if she meant that I PERSONALLY would have a low chance, or if all alternates in general would have a low chance. She wouldn't tell me how many people were interviewed, or how many were short list or alternates.

I asked if there was a list or a pool, and there is apparently a LIST of people; I assume this means that there's a ranking as well. She wouldn't tell me where I was on that list, be it high or low. She did say that the good thing about being an alternate is that if you find something better, you can turn down JET and still try again next year. If you also said as a CIR applicant that you would be happy to go as an ALT, you still may be offered an ALT position if no CIR one becomes available. Don't expect a phone call offering upgrades until after the paperwork deadline which is 2nd of May for UK applicants.

Pretty useless stuff but I'm pleased that I still have a chance as an ALT as well. Fingers crossed and hopefully this will ease some minds for a while. Until after the deadline for papers and I will not let my phone leave my side.

If you want more info on the inner workings of being an alternate, check out the main Alternates 2012 thread. Yeah there is a list, and it's in order of preference. But if a CO asks for certains things e.g. a female who can drive, they will skip down the list to the first person who meets that criteria, so knowing your ranking won't always help. And yeah, I've heard of CIR alternates being upgraded to ALT's. I know they won't do any upgrades yet but I've had by phone glued to my side all day! I think also I'm going to make a real effort to leave the forums in the next week or two until (if) I get an upgrade because I don't think it's doing me much good to be here. It's hard though when I'm so used to coming here everyday!

[JasonB91]

Guess it's time for alternates to start on their backup plans, if you haven't already!

[Mark_KyotoPA]

I rang up the JET desk today to ask a few questions about being an Alternate CIR, this is what they told me:

There is NOT a good chance that an alternate CIR will be upgraded as it was so competitive this year. I don't know if she meant that I PERSONALLY would have a low chance, or if all alternates in general would have a low chance. She wouldn't tell me how many people were interviewed, or how many were short list or alternates.

I asked if there was a list or a pool, and there is apparently a LIST of people; I assume this means that there's a ranking as well. She wouldn't tell me where I was on that list, be it high or low. She did say that the good thing about being an alternate is that if you find something better, you can turn down JET and still try again next year. If you also said as a CIR applicant that you would be happy to go as an ALT, you still may be offered an ALT position if no CIR one becomes available. Don't expect a phone call offering upgrades until after the paperwork deadline which is 2nd of May for UK applicants.

Pretty useless stuff but I'm pleased that I still have a chance as an ALT as well. Fingers crossed and hopefully this will ease some minds for a while. Until after the deadline for papers and I will not let my phone leave my side.

This sucks, but cheers for the info and calling up. And then posting it here, obviously.

[naju]

Hello nearly Jetters!
My husband and I are away in the states at the moment but that hasn't stopped me from scowering the Jet forums haha
He found out he was short listed on Friday but I didn't receive anything. As we've been away I asked my friend to check my post for me and I just found out I'm on the Alernate list. Surprising how one can feel such relief and sadness all in one!
Good news for me is though, as my husband is shortlisted I can join him on a Spouse Visa if I don't get upgraded. Bad news is just feeling bummed that you didn't quite make it (that slightly dull pain in your chest mixed with hope that you're feeling right now!)
It's comforting to know you guys are all feeling the same feelings I am though, and I wish you all the best in receiving an upgrade soon.
The one thing I'm really confused (and scared) about is, if Jet offer me an upgrade how much will they be willing to place me near or with my husband? Surely an upgrade is from a placement that has been rejected or cancelled for whatever reason and I will be taking their place? So if my husband is placed in, say, Nagano and they phone me for an upgrade, will they even bother to place me in Nagano too?? I have no idea, and cannot find any thread to help answer.. I suppose I just have to wait...!

[ek09]

Let me know if any of you guys fancy a Skype chat group? PM me your username. Anyone have any ideas how many upgrades there were last year? It's too soul destroying to go through all the posts from last year.

I did some research and using the numbers from 2010 (as opposed to last year which would be a statistical anomoly due to the disasters), and it would seem around 10 to 11 people from the UK posted on the forums as having been upgraded. The first was around May 7th (I don't know when the reply forms were due back).

Oh ok thanks! And thank for the comment in the Irish Alternate Group too. I know we know nothing but that gave me a little hope at least. I think I'm going to avoid the forums for the next few weeks too (if i can).

[Bazzle260]

Hi all,

firstly hearing of some alternates in the main alternates 2012 topic being upgraded so soon should be a bit of good, hopeful news for alternates everywhere.

secondly, on the reply form, do we need to send off both a copy of the photo page of passport and attach 2 passport sized photos? Or is it one or the other?

thanks, and remember PMA! (positive mental attitude)

[Kojika]

Another extremely hopeful UK alternate here.

[Hazuki]

Hi all,

firstly hearing of some alternates in the main alternates 2012 topic being upgraded so soon should be a bit of good, hopeful news for alternates everywhere.

secondly, on the reply form, do we need to send off both a copy of the photo page of passport and attach 2 passport sized photos? Or is it one or the other?

Confusingly explained wasn't it. The actual form just tells you to include 2 passport photos...however one of the other various bits of coloured paper then sneaks in a mention of a photocopy of your passport. I sent both,

[chihiro]

Another alternate here! Late reply because the letter arrived while I was out of the country (which means i'm getting quite stressed about not getting all the paperwork in on time because I only got back yesterday, anyone else feeling like this?!)
I'm really pleased it's not an outright rejection, good luck to everyone! Let's hope it works out well for all of us.

[Bazzle260]

Thanks Hazuki, i think i'll do likewise.

Good luck to fellow alts!

[naju]

Another alternate here! Late reply because the letter arrived while I was out of the country (which means i'm getting quite stressed about not getting all the paperwork in on time because I only got back yesterday, anyone else feeling like this?!)
I'm really pleased it's not an outright rejection, good luck to everyone! Let's hope it works out well for all of us.

Welcome to the crew
I'm kind of in the same boat as you, as I just returned to the UK today too and feel I have a mass to catch up with! I applied for my Subject Access Request form before I left, before I knew my result, but don't get *too* stressed about the deadline for that. The statutory deadline for ACRO to send your police reply form back to you is 40 days so you should have good time before the 18th June deadline, if you send it off soon. I suppose it's just your doctors you need to sort out, but it shouldn't take until mid-June to do that? Good luck and all the best.

I don't know about where the rest of you guys are, but is anyone else feeling the (London) weather is reflecting one's Alternate mood : sunny one minute, miserable the next...