Preparing ILR Application (SET M)

[Robstin2014]

Hi,

My wife originally came to the UK on a Student Visa in August 2016. She was granted her Spouse Visa in 25th April 2019.

She was granted her FLR(M) on 11th October 2021, which expires on 2nd May 2024.

What is the earliest date we could submit her Indefinite Leave to Remain Application?

Presumably the latest date we could submit it is 2nd May 2024?

[CR001]

She can apply for ILR within 28 days before the 25th April 2024, the 5th anniversary of her spouse visa grant date. Her student visa time is irrelevant.

The latest she can apply is the date her visa expires.

[Robstin2014]

Hi,

My wife qualifies for ILR under SET M within the next few weeks.

She passed her Life in the UK Test around a month ago.

Other than the Life in the UK Test requirement, it seems like a ILR Application under SET M is very similar to the Spouse Visa / FLR Applications we have submitted in the past, in terms of the documents required.

Am I right in thinking this?

e.g.

- Applicant / Sponsor Passports / BRP Card
- Declarations
- Financial Requirement (6 months of payslips, bank statements, and letter from employer)
- Proof of Relationship (Marriage Certificate)
- Proof of Cohabitation (6 x Joint Letters evenly spaced around 3-4 months apart over last 2 years? Or 12 Individually addressed letters also spaced evenly / to supplement the lack of joint correspondence)
- Life in UK Test Pass Reference

Am I missing anything?

Thanks very much in advance.

[Ticktack]

Hi,

My wife qualifies for ILR under SET M within the next few weeks.

She passed her Life in the UK Test around a month ago.

Other than the Life in the UK Test requirement, it seems like a ILR Application under SET M is very similar to the Spouse Visa / FLR Applications we have submitted in the past, in terms of the documents required.

Am I right in thinking this?

e.g.

- Applicant / Sponsor Passports / BRP Card
- Declarations
- Financial Requirement (6 months of payslips, bank statements, and letter from employer)
- Proof of Relationship (Marriage Certificate)
- Proof of Cohabitation (6 x Joint Letters evenly spaced around 3-4 months apart over last 2 years? Or 12 Individually addressed letters also spaced evenly / to supplement the lack of joint correspondence)
- Life in UK Test Pass Reference

Am I missing anything?

Thanks very much in advance.

Yep, it's pretty similar. You're missing the letter from where you work stating where you work, designation, how much you earn and if still needed for the unforeseeable future.

[Robstin2014]

Thanks.

How far back do I need to go with the correspondence / financial requirement evidence?

Our previous FLR application only required going back as far as 2 years prior to the application date.

[Ticktack]

Thanks.

How far back do I need to go with the correspondence / financial requirement evidence?

Our previous FLR application only required going back as far as 2 years prior to the application date.

Same 2 years applies. Some go back 2.5 years.

[Robstin2014]

I'm currently in the process of getting a letter from my employer to confirm:

• My employment details and current gross annual salary
• The length of my employment
• The period over which I have been paid the level of salary
• The type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency)
• Confirmation that the payslips that I’m submitting are the

Does this letter need to be written by my HR department or can my line manager, or Director write this letter?

I work for a large company and HR are being VERY slow to give me this letter.

My director and line manager have both offered to write me this letter instead. Would this suffice?

[AmazonianX]

I'm currently in the process of getting a letter from my employer to confirm:

• My employment details and current gross annual salary
• The length of my employment
• The period over which I have been paid the level of salary
• The type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency)
• Confirmation that the payslips that I’m submitting are the

Does this letter need to be written by my HR department or can my line manager, or Director write this letter?

I work for a large company and HR are being VERY slow to give me this letter.

My director and line manager have both offered to write me this letter instead. Would this suffice?

On company headed paper, with official contact details provided, it should suffice.

[Robstin2014]

Thanks - I have received this letter now.

For clarity, do we need to provide correspondence for the past 2.5 years or just 2 years under SET M?

Thanks.

[zimba]

Thanks - I have received this letter now.

For clarity, do we need to provide correspondence for the past 2.5 years or just 2 years under SET M?

Thanks.

All you need to know about cohabitation evidence

[AmazonianX]

Thanks - I have received this letter now.

For clarity, do we need to provide correspondence for the past 2.5 years or just 2 years under SET M? This is sufficient

Thanks.

[Robstin2014]

Thanks for your help.

We have compiled the following, ready for when we submit the application. We are leaving the country for a few days next week so are going to submit when we are back.

Have I captured everything which is required in my list below?

General:
1. Sponsor Passport (all pages)
2. Applicant Passport (all pages)
3. Applicant BRP Card (both sides)
4. Relevant Declarations (will complete at time of online application)
5. Life in UK Test Pass Reference
6. Prepared a list of all dates absent from UK since original entry date

Financial Requirement:
- 6 Months of Sponsors Payslips (October 2023 to March 2024)
- 6 Months of Sponsors Bank Statements (October to March 2024)
- Letter from Sponsors Employer confirming employment details (as specified in this thread)

Cohabitation Evidence:
- Feb-22 Council Tax Bill (Joint names)
- Apr-22 Mortgage Statement (Joint names)
- Jun-22 DBS Certificate (Sponsors name)
- Jul-22 NHS Letter (Applicants name)
- Sep-22 Broadband Bill (Sponsors name)
- Nov-22 Pension Statement (Applicants name)
- Jan-23 Mortgage Statement (Joint names)
- Mar-23 NHS Letter (Applicants name)
- May-23 Mobile Bill (Sponsors name)
- Jun-23 Housing Association Letter (Joint names)
- Aug-23 South East Water Letter (Joint names)
- Nov-24 Bank Loan Statement (Joint names)
- Jan-24 Mortgage Statement (Joint names)
- Feb-24 Council Tax Bill (Joint names)
- Mar-24 Solicitors Cover Letter for Will's (Joint names)

I understand that this is way more correspondence than we probably need to provide, however I wanted to ensure that none of the gaps were more than 3 months. If any of this is unnecessary please let me know.

Proof of Relationship:
- Certified Marriage Certificate (USA)

[CR001]

Thanks for your help.

We have compiled the following, ready for when we submit the application. We are leaving the country for a few days next week so are going to submit when we are back.

Have I captured everything which is required in my list below?

General:
1. Sponsor Passport (all pages) - You only need your Biometric page as the sponsor.
2. Applicant Passport (all pages)
3. Applicant BRP Card (both sides)
4. Relevant Declarations (will complete at time of online application)
5. Life in UK Test Pass Reference
6. Prepared a list of all dates absent from UK since original entry date You are required to list the relevant absence of two weeks or more in the application form. Any other absence of less than two weeks is irrelevant.

Financial Requirement:
- 6 Months of Sponsors Payslips (October 2023 to March 2024)
- 6 Months of Sponsors Bank Statements (October to March 2024)
- Letter from Sponsors Employer confirming employment details (as specified in this thread)

Cohabitation Evidence:
- Feb-22 Council Tax Bill (Joint names)
- Apr-22 Mortgage Statement (Joint names)
- Jun-22 DBS Certificate (Sponsors name)
- Jul-22 NHS Letter (Applicants name)
- Sep-22 Broadband Bill (Sponsors name)
- Nov-22 Pension Statement (Applicants name)
- Jan-23 Mortgage Statement (Joint names)
- Mar-23 NHS Letter (Applicants name)
- May-23 Mobile Bill (Sponsors name)
- Jun-23 Housing Association Letter (Joint names)
- Aug-23 South East Water Letter (Joint names)
- Nov-24 Bank Loan Statement (Joint names)
- Jan-24 Mortgage Statement (Joint names)
- Feb-24 Council Tax Bill (Joint names)
- Mar-24 Solicitors Cover Letter for Will's (Joint names)

I understand that this is way more correspondence than we probably need to provide, however I wanted to ensure that none of the gaps were more than 3 months. If any of this is unnecessary please let me know. Submit the minimum that is required, NOT what you 'think' is needed. Submitting too much can delay the application or cause important mandatory documents to be missed. Items should be spread evenly for every 3 to 4 months. You were provided with a link explaining this.

Proof of Relationship:
- Certified Marriage Certificate (USA)

[Robstin2014]

We have just completed the application form and are ready to pay, however we were only given two payment options;

1. Standard Service (6 months wait)

2. Super-Priority Service (Next Working Day)

We were hoping to use the 'Priority Service' which is £500 less than the Super-Priority Service; is this not available for SET M? Or is it just very popular and the HO hasn't released more available slots?

I seem to remember reading other members posts suggesting that if you check at say 1-2am you may be able to get a slot for the Priority Service?

[CR001]

1. Standard Service (6 months wait)

2. Super-Priority Service (Next Working Day)

That is all that is available for Set(M).

We were hoping to use the 'Priority Service' which is £500 less than the Super-Priority Service; is this not available for SET M?

5 day Priority service is not available for Set(M). Only certain visa categories are eligible for Priority and is clearly stated on UKVI's website of who is eligible.

Or is it just very popular and the HO hasn't released more available slots?

You are not eligible for Priority.

I seem to remember reading other members posts suggesting that if you check at say 1-2am you may be able to get a slot for the Priority Service?

Not relevant to your visa category.

[Robstin2014]

Thanks. We submitted and paid last night via Super-Priority Service.

On the list of documents required, it suggests that my wife (the applicant) needs to provide her previous passport - I don't recall needing to do this for FLR(M).

The below is listed as a required document:

"All previous passports, travel documents or national identity cards that you have used to travel to or remain in the UK".

My wife had different passport in her old name way before we even made her initial spouse visa application in 2019. She was on a Tier 4 Student Visa at the time that we got married / changed her name and passport - so therefore she did use it to reside in the UK.

Am I interpreting this correctly?

[zimba]

Passports covering the last 5 years is enough

[Robstin2014]

Thanks for all your help. Her ILR was granted a couple of weeks ago.

BRP card has been received - the covering letter made no mention of needing return her old BRP card for FLR(M).

Do we need to return it?

[zimba]

Thanks for all your help. Her ILR was granted a couple of weeks ago.

BRP card has been received - the covering letter made no mention of needing return her old BRP card for FLR(M).

Do we need to return it?

If it is not asked then you do not need to do anything. BRPs are going to be useless from the end of the year anyway