Spouse visa to ILR

[waleed205]

Hello,
and thank you all for your support. I have been following this for a long time and always thought I understood this fact, and planned my timeline accordingly, the earliest date to apply for ILR is 28 days prior to completing 5-year anniversary from the date you entered the UK. I recently started noticing the date is changing to 28 days prior to completing 5-year anniversary from the date the visa was granted.

Has anything changed? or did I misunderstood it the whole time? here is my timeline:

Spouse visa approved, and sticker on passport showing: 24/11/2019 to 24/12/2019.
I entred UK 20/12/2019
FLR-M fingerprint 28/6/2022, and approved 29/6/2022 (email recieved)
Email approval from ATLAS states visa valid until 25/1/2025.

The online calculator is showing 25/10/2024 as ealriest date to apply, referring to it as "qualifying period"

When can I apply?

Thanks

[CR001]

Nothing has changed. For spouse visa holders the qualifying time starts from date of entry.

It is a completely different visa category that starts from initial visa issue date. You have misunderstood, it is different rules/requirments for different visas, it is not a one size fits all.

[AmazonianX]

Hello,
and thank you all for your support. I have been following this for a long time and always thought I understood this fact, and planned my timeline accordingly, the earliest date to apply for ILR is 28 days prior to completing 5-year anniversary from the date you entered the UK. I recently started noticing the date is changing to 28 days prior to completing 5-year anniversary from the date the visa was granted.

Has anything changed? or did I misunderstood it the whole time? here is my timeline:

Spouse visa approved, and sticker on passport showing: 24/11/2019 to 24/12/2019.
I entred UK 20/12/2019
FLR-M fingerprint 28/6/2022, and approved 29/6/2022 (email recieved)
Email approval from ATLAS states visa valid until 25/1/2025.

The online calculator is showing 25/10/2024 as ealriest date to apply, referring to it as "qualifying period"

When can I apply?

Thanks

Your count starts from 20/12/2019 which is the day you entered UK.
Therefore eligibility with the 28-day concession will be from 22/11/2024 till expiration of your current leave.

[waleed205]

Thanks a lot for your prompt response

And as we are at it, also I confirm my understanding that Sposue Visa holders are not subject to the time outside UK limitation (180 days etc) as long as they have been with the sponsoring spouse the whole time. Is this correct.

Regards

[zimba]

There is no absence limit under the family route.

[AmazonianX]

Thanks a lot for your prompt response

And as we are at it, also I confirm my understanding that Sposue Visa holders are not subject to the time outside UK limitation (180 days etc) as long as they have been with the sponsoring spouse the whole time. Is this correct. Correct

Regards

[waleed205]

Hello,
I realize that different categories may have different rule, but I will need help in the following question. For spouse ILR, what is the submission date? Online application and paying the fees OR the biometrics appointments?

I ask the question in the context of leaving the UK on business trip: can I apply and pay the fees and while waiting for the bio I travel? or that is application abandonment?

[zimba]

Hello,
I realize that different categories may have different rule, but I will need help in the following question. For spouse ILR, what is the submission date? Online application and paying the fees OR the biometrics appointments?

I ask the question in the context of leaving the UK on business trip: can I apply and pay the fees and while waiting for the bio I travel? or that is application abandonment?

The application date is the date of online submission. You should NOT leave the UK after that.
Online applications, UKVCAS appointments, eVisa & BRP queries - Read before you post

[waleed205]

Thanks for the reply. Few more questions as I am filling out the ILR SET(M)

Spouse ILR - married ~30 years, entered UK on spouse visa Dec 2019, FLR-M June 2022.

1- On the FLR-M and when I entered the travels outside UK, I entered short-term travels like 7- and 10-day travels. I can't remember why. On the SET(M), they specifically asked for travels more than 14 day. Should I enter the 7 and 10 day travels I entered before? The question asks for travel since moving to UK, and I don't want to omit information which I entered on the FLR-M, even though it is not applicable now that they ask for 14-day travels.

2- "Evidence of Monthly Housing Costs for the accomodation....". I own my flat with no mortgage. Do I need to tick this one? The next question asks about council tax.

3- It asks for "any other reasons for wanting to stay in the UK" and I ticked yes. When the document checklist came, it is asking me for evidence. The reason I entered is more social ties but no document evidence. They are expecting something like medical reports etc.. Any suggestions on this please?

4- My reasons for wanting to stay in the UK is more related to my children (UK citizens), provided that they are not children, they are grown adults but I want to stay in the UK to be with my wife and adult children, they want to stay in the UK for their normal life requirements and extended family (cousins etc.). Is this a good reasons?

I have read somewhere here that for spouse ILR these are routine questions and don't impact the outcome. The only critical items are:
1- genuine relationship (married for 30 years with kids)
2- accommodation (we own our flat)
3- financial support (we have jobs/cash savings). BTW: how much? 40,000 cash saving enough?
4- no problems with police or neighbors
Is this correct?

Apologies for the lengthy questions, but this is the most critical time for me. Regards

[Ticktack]

Thanks for the reply. Few more questions as I am filling out the ILR SET(M)

Spouse ILR - married ~30 years, entered UK on spouse visa Dec 2019, FLR-M June 2022.

1- On the FLR-M and when I entered the travels outside UK, I entered short-term travels like 7- and 10-day travels. I can't remember why. On the SET(M), they specifically asked for travels more than 14 day. Should I enter the 7 and 10 day travels I entered before? The question asks for travel since moving to UK, and I don't want to omit information which I entered on the FLR-M, even though it is not applicable now that they ask for 14-day travels. You don't need to enter short term visits less that 2 weeks.

2- "Evidence of Monthly Housing Costs for the accomodation....". I own my flat with no mortgage. Do I need to tick this one? The next question asks about council tax. Just show evidence that house is all paid for.

3- It asks for "any other reasons for wanting to stay in the UK" and I ticked yes. When the document checklist came, it is asking me for evidence. The reason I entered is more social ties but no document evidence. They are expecting something like medical reports etc.. Any suggestions on this please? No documents required.

4- My reasons for wanting to stay in the UK is more related to my children (UK citizens), provided that they are not children, they are grown adults but I want to stay in the UK to be with my wife and adult children, they want to stay in the UK for their normal life requirements and extended family (cousins etc.). Is this a good reasons? That's it!

I have read somewhere here that for spouse ILR these are routine questions and don't impact the outcome. Yep, they're just tying up the loose ends. The only critical items are:
1- genuine relationship (married for 30 years with kids)
2- accommodation (we own our flat)
3- financial support (we have jobs/cash savings). BTW: how much? 40,000 cash saving enough? Some families don't have 10% of that. So that's your answer
4- no problems with police or neighbors
Is this correct? You're fine.

Apologies for the lengthy questions, but this is the most critical time for me. Regards

[zimba]

You do NOT need any other reasons to stay in the UK. If you answer YES you get a request to submit documents which will confuse you. That question is intended for people who normally do NOT qualify, not you

[waleed205]

3- financial support (we have jobs/cash savings). BTW: how much? 40,000 cash saving enough? Some families don't have 10% of that. So that's your answer

apologies, I hope my question was not mis-interpreted, I did not mean anything with the 40,000 question. I meant that I read in this forum that the minimum cash savings is different from FLR-M and ILR. I am under the impression that 34,000 is sufficient for ILR ( I can't remember where I saw the calculation. Now I am reading that 38,700 is the minimum. Thanks

[Ticktack]

3- financial support (we have jobs/cash savings). BTW: how much? 40,000 cash saving enough? Some families don't have 10% of that. So that's your answer

apologies, I hope my question was not mis-interpreted, I did not mean anything with the 40,000 question. I meant that I read in this forum that the minimum cash savings is different from FLR-M and ILR. I am under the impression that 34,000 is sufficient for ILR ( I can't remember where I saw the calculation. Now I am reading that 38,700 is the minimum. Thanks

No need to apologise. What I also meant is that you have more than enough. If you meet the earning via your salary, you don't even need to have a penny in your account.

However, if you wanted to meet the threshold via savings, you don't have enough.

[waleed205]

Thanks for the reply. What is the threshold for the Savings only qualification? I really thought it is about 34,000 for ILR

When I searched it in the past for FLR-M, it was 68,000 I believe.

[zimba]

The extension and ILR do NOT have the same thresholds for cash savings. So the requirement is that the cash saving must be above (min salary threshold + £16000) for ILR so £18600 + £16000 = £34,600 minimum

Read the official guide: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... rement.pdf

[waleed205]

thank you all for comments.

I filled out the ILR application. The document checklist did not ask for:
1- marriage certificate.
2- the 3-part consent form.
It only asked me for family declaration

Did I miss a click or the requirement changed?

[zimba]

A marriage certificate is not needed. The declaration is enough

[waleed205]

Hello,
do we have enough feedback on the new provider. From what I have read, there are fewer locations and ultimately fewer slots. IS this the common theme?
Any feedback on the document uploading, glitches, etc.

Thanks for your help

[waleed205]

Hello,
I am finalizing my application Set (M) and in the documents section, it is asking me:
"Documents supporting my other reasons to stay in the UK"

I am not sure what I ticking that causes this show up. Any help how I can make it disappear? Is it the question "can you and your partner live somewhere else"?

[zimba]

You do NOT need any other reasons to stay in the UK. If you answer YES you get a request to submit documents which will confuse you. That question is intended for people who normally do NOT qualify, not you

???

[waleed205]

Apologies, what I meant is how to remove it, it is not in the application page. I found it later, when I went to the checklist page and clicked the "back" link it too me to that page, thanks.

[waleed205]

Dear Admin(s)
Will it be possible to dedicate a thread for TLScontact timeline as being a new provider.

I am personally in a situation that I can only apply for ILR on the 23/11 or later, and my current leave expires 26/11, but I have to travel for the end of year celebrations with family, I need to leave by the 20/12. I am concerned about the timeline I will have to complete the ILR. I am planning to apply using super priority (if offered)at payment page, then I will only hope that TLS will have bio spot sometimes soon after.

I hope the remembers share their timeline will help me and other with comfort level.

Something like:
Date applied:
earliest bio appt:
city:
any remarks:

[alterhase58]

We don't need more timelines - TLS is the new biometrics provider since about mid October - Home Office UKVI are still processing the applications.

[MasterZap]

Dear Admin(s)
Will it be possible to dedicate a thread for TLScontact timeline as being a new provider.

I am personally in a situation that I can only apply for ILR on the 23/11 or later, and my current leave expires 26/11, but I have to travel for the end of year celebrations with family, I need to leave by the 20/12. I am concerned about the timeline I will have to complete the ILR. I am planning to apply using super priority (if offered)at payment page, then I will only hope that TLS will have bio spot sometimes soon after.

I hope the remembers share their timeline will help me and other with comfort level.

Something like:
Date applied:
earliest bio appt:
city:
any remarks:

Having recently booked an appointment, I don't think you will be able to find an appointment if you wait till that date. When I checked, the nearest appointment was 30 days away, I got my fingerprint (350 miles from me, in Belfast) after 2 weeks

[waleed205]

Thanks for all the help.

I logged in today to check my final answers, and it showed a message that the form was updated since my last login, and it needs my attension. But it is not showing me which section is updated and needs attention. Any suggestion how to find out?
I am think to restart a fresh form again, it should not be hard, lots of copy/paste only.