Kindly note I had gone for a 2nd Tier-1 extension on May 2012 and both me and my wife have Tier-1 and Tier-1 dependent visa respectively, until 4th Sep 2014. Both of us will be finishing Life In UK test by end of Dec this year.
I want to go for my ILR (SET(O)) on 14th Jan 2013. My wife came into the UK on 7th April 2011 and hence won't be completing 2 years by that time.
Here are my questions
1) If say I apply for my ILR on 14th Jan 2013, does she really need to apply for FLR(M)? Since she already has a valid Tier-1 dependent visa until Sept 2014 and is already in the UK can she directly apply for her SET(M) on 7th April 2013 when she completes 2 years in the UK as a dependent?
1.a) Also can she travel with her Tier-1 dependent BRP card freely in and out of UK?
2) In case my assumption above is wrong i.e she needs to apply for FLR(M) before she can apply SET(M) can I apply for my ILR i.e. SET(O) and my wife's FLR(M) with the same appointment? Or I apply first and then she applies for her FLR(M) after a few days? Ideally would like to apply together.
If you can kindly answer the questions above I will be deeply obliged.
PS: I have gone through this link already
http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=105162
And
Still no sure how dependents of "relevant PBS migrants who have received settlement" are benefitting - i.e. what exactly is the benefit? Is it same as what I have asked in (1) above.it appears that immigration rule 319E benefits only those PBS dependants where the PBS migrant has applied for or received settlement "as a relevant PBS migrant". Hence, it appears that PBS dependants where PBS migrant has received settlement under long residence will continue to need to switch to FLR(M) in order to apply for settlement as and when they become eligible. Such dependants should apply for FLR(M) before they travel outside the CTA or before their current leave expires (whichever occurs first).
Many Thanks