What is considered as the application date for an application made online within the UK?

[RiverSong]

What is considered as the application date for an application made online within the UK?

Is it when you submit the filled form and pay or until the appointment to provide evidence (documents) and biometrics?

I ask because right before submitting the filled form the note below appeared twice just before I paid:

I understand the date of my application will be the date the Home Office receives it and calculations will normally be made on that basis. I understand that the Home Office will use a later date to make calculations where this would benefit my application rather than refusing it.

I understand this may delay my application until I can meet the statutory requirements and it may result in me having to pay an additional fee should application fees increase in the meantime.

So based on this note I’m wondering if I will have to pay the the difference (since I paid the current fee not the new one) because I’m still waiting for one of the referees to send me the declaration so I haven’t booked the appointment yet. Or can I book the appointment now even if I still don’t have that document and would this help me to not have to pay the difference?

Thanks!

[alterhase58]

Application date is when you submit and pay online. Bio date is not relevant. You will need to load all documents including referees by the bio memeeting date.

[RiverSong]

In understand. Thank you for clarifying this.