Route to Settlement and Passport

[coco__nutty]

Can anyone please advise, what are my options, when my immigration history in the UK is as follows:

2003 - 2010 Student visas for 2 degrees from a legitimate University, recognised by the UKBA
2010-2013 - Post Study Work Visa (they lost part of my application, so it took a few months to get the visa, which meant that I got about 4 months on 'extended' student visa (while old one expired and I was awaiting decision on my application) before the PSW came through.
2013-2015 - Spouse visa...

Now, is my best (and only) option here applying for extension of Spouse visa once current one expires next year, or are there any other options for speeding up application for settlement and eventually, passport?

Also... when extending Spouse visa, will the application be pretty much same as before or will less (more???) evidence be required as it's just a 'top up'?

Thanks for your time

[CR001]

ILR based on 10 years long residency - form Set(LR) and provided you meet all the standard requirements and no long gaps in legal status and absences. Current waiting times vary between 3 months and 8 months (approximately).

Once you get ILR (if you are eligible) and if your spouse is British, then you can apply immediately after ILR for citizenship and once approved and you have attended ceremony, you can apply for a passport.

[coco__nutty]

ILR based on 10 years long residency - form Set(LR) and provided you meet all the standard requirements and no long gaps in legal status and absences. Current waiting times vary between 3 months and 8 months (approximately).

Once you get ILR (if you are eligible) and if your spouse is British, then you can apply immediately after ILR for citizenship and once approved and you have attended ceremony, you can apply for a passport.

Thanks for your response,

I'll look into this - my spouse is British.
And apart from going on holidays I've not lived/been away from Britain in the past (almost) 11 years - by the time I will be applying, will be 12.
The only thing that concerns me is that my PSW was refused and I got it on appeal, but the only reason it was refused was because HO read my bank statements wrong (there was way over the amount required and they stated it was in negative balance). I won it on appeal, but would this hinder my application/eligibility?..
It has never been mentioned or questioned at any other applications and I got my spouse visa in less than a month!

Thanks again!