Spouse visa first extension

[Sat7Dec]

Hi All,

My current spouse visa (5 year route) expires on 28th December 2019 so I'm in process of preparing documents for an extension.

The trouble is only now I'm realising that I have been granted 2 weeks short of 30 months on my initial spouse visa. On my BRP it's saying the date of issue 12-07-2017 and valid until 28-12-2019.

Apparently it's too late for me to appeal for this, and I have no intention to pay another £2500 to extend the spouse visa for the 2nd time.

I guess it's best to apply for the 1st extension as late as possible so am thinking of finishing applying online on 23th December.

Would you say it would be safer for me to include a cover letter explaining this situation and asking to grant me to reach 5 year with the 1st extension?

Any help will be much appreciated.

p.s. before getting this spouse visa I had already entered the UK with a work visa and had remained with that visa for 2 years.

[seagul]

You should have reported that mistake when you had received the BRP. If you look ILR thread then many members got success even having shortfall because they have applied before expiry which triggers the section 3C that prevents you from becoming an overstayer until the date of decision. And if on the date of decision you complete your qualifying period then caseworker grant you ILR.

[Sat7Dec]

@seagul thank you!

[Sat7Dec]

Hi All,

I have another question.

So again my current visa (initial spouse visa) expires on 28th Decemeber and I’m thinking of submitting the application online between 20th and 23rd.

Due to the Christmas period I don’t think I’ll get any biometric register appointment slot before the 28th though. Is this still ok and I won’t be considered as an overstayer?

Massive thanks for all your help in advance.

[seagul]

Hi All,

I have another question.

So again my current visa (initial spouse visa) expires on 28th Decemeber and I’m thinking of submitting the application online between 20th and 23rd.

Due to the Christmas period I don’t think I’ll get any biometric register appointment slot before the 28th though. Is this still ok and I won’t be considered as an overstayer?

Massive thanks for all your help in advance.

Date of online submission of application form will be the date of application and biometrics can be enrolled even after the expiry of visa.

[geoeng]

So again my current visa (initial spouse visa) expires on 28th Decemeber and I’m thinking of submitting the application online between 20th and 23rd.

They should add any time remaining on your current visa (up to a maximum of 28 days) to the validity period of the extension. So it may be worth applying a couple weeks before expiry, which should make up the shortfall. Also, the new visa will be valid from the issue date, which should also make up the shortfall as it usually takes 8 weeks or so to process. See below from https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa

"You can extend or switch at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.

If you’re extending to stay with the same family member, you’ll only get up to 28 days left on your current stay added to your new visa."

[Sat7Dec]

Thank you both. Really appreciated.

[Sat7Dec]

Hi All

One last question (hopefully)

I submitted my application on the 23rd and booked an appointment for Sopra Steria on 24th Jan 2020 as there was no earlier available free appointment.

My question is, I have got all the documents ready as of 23rd December & uploaded them all and hope this is the right thing? i.e. I won’t need to collect further documents such as January bank statements and payslip etc?

Also, do I need to take all the original paper documents to the Sopra Steria centre? It said so on their website but I’m not sure this is meant for those who booked for a scan service or for everyone...

[rssfed23]

No, you don't need to collect any more documents. Anything you include (generally) dated after your application will be ignored anyway unless they've specifically asked for it.

And yes; take ALL your paper documents to the centre. Everything that's been scanned by you take it.

2 reasons for this:
- So they can check you've actually got the documents you scanned
- More importantly; their system can say it's uploaded a document but when you get to the centre they tell you about a missing item. I've had this twice now. First time with my passport (I'm a sponsor) and the second time with all my employment documents. Both times I could see the upload shown as uploaded on the website but they were not on the computers at the centre. The lovely woman said this is a very common problem hence why the site tells you to take the originals with you incase they need to scan anything missing there (it's free).

[Sat7Dec]

@rssfed23 Thank you so much. Totally understood.

[vinny]

Don’t forget the A2 English language requirement.