FLR(M) Renewal

[NS1990]

G'day guys,

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I came to the UK on a Tier 5 YMS and then married my wife here & got my first FLR(M) visa 23/6/16. Since I got it in the UK i thought it would only be valid for 30 months, so expiry 23/12/18. However, my BRP shows an expiry of 23/01/19. So my question is, do i apply 28 days before the 30th month anniversary (so apply around the end of this month) or, do I apply 28 days before expiry (around Christmas time)?

Im not sure why I have a BRP for just under 31 months.

Any help would be great! Cheers.

[vinny]

Extend after 30 months anniversary and before leave expires.

[NS1990]

Thanks for getting back to me. Ill apply sometime towards the end of December then I think.

Would you happen to have any idea why my visa was granted for 31 months? Is it normal for HO to make mistakes in dates, or was I just lucky?

Cheers.

[joshd]

Thanks for getting back to me. Ill apply sometime towards the end of December then I think.

Would you happen to have any idea why my visa was granted for 31 months? Is it normal for HO to make mistakes in dates, or was I just lucky?

Cheers.

Gudday

The HO probably make mistakes with dates all the time... I am not sure how they work out the exact expiry date for BRP, but the one I sent them with my current application has/had an expiry date of Christmas Eve, which is not fantastic when you have a wife and 3 kids to think about (all have Brit passports themselves).

Currently I'm planning on spending Christmas on my own in Dublin as the HO still have not approved my 2nd FLR(M) renewal after 6 weeks now as I submitted the application by post on 5th of October...

If I were you I would get the application in 8 weeks before the expiry date on your BRP and do it online if possible as it would seem they deal with these a bit quicker.

And start the process before the NHS surcharge is doubled from £200 for every year of your visa, otherwise you will need to find an extra £500 to go with the £1033 fee itself, see here for more info:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/incr ... a-funding

Get on to it ASAP mate and look out for them slippery onions when next your local Bunnings!

[CR001]

Thanks for getting back to me. Ill apply sometime towards the end of December then I think.

Would you happen to have any idea why my visa was granted for 31 months? Is it normal for HO to make mistakes in dates, or was I just lucky?

Cheers.

It is normal and they frequently grant 2.5 years plus 28 day visas. No error.

[seagul]

A lot people even got 33 months which isn't an error.

[CR001]

A lot people even got 33 months which isn't an error.

The OP was referring to the extension visa duration!!

[vinny]

Thanks for getting back to me. Ill apply sometime towards the end of December then I think.

Would you happen to have any idea why my visa was granted for 31 months? Is it normal for HO to make mistakes in dates, or was I just lucky?

Cheers.

They have discretion to add extra days. Some do, some don't.

[NS1990]

Thanks for getting back to me. Ill apply sometime towards the end of December then I think.

Would you happen to have any idea why my visa was granted for 31 months? Is it normal for HO to make mistakes in dates, or was I just lucky?

Cheers.

Gudday

The HO probably make mistakes with dates all the time... I am not sure how they work out the exact expiry date for BRP, but the one I sent them with my current application has/had an expiry date of Christmas Eve, which is not fantastic when you have a wife and 3 kids to think about (all have Brit passports themselves).

Currently I'm planning on spending Christmas on my own in Dublin as the HO still have not approved my 2nd FLR(M) renewal after 6 weeks now as I submitted the application by post on 5th of October...

If I were you I would get the application in 8 weeks before the expiry date on your BRP and do it online if possible as it would seem they deal with these a bit quicker.

And start the process before the NHS surcharge is doubled from £200 for every year of your visa, otherwise you will need to find an extra £500 to go with the £1033 fee itself, see here for more info:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/incr ... a-funding

Get on to it ASAP mate and look out for them slippery onions when next your local Bunnings!

Ah mate its a nightmare isnt it! Especially with all the changes being made, I don't even know if I will have to post it or do it online at this stage. Hope your stuff gets back to you before Christmas!

I could go with a snag from Bunnings at the moment with all this stress

[joshd]

You should get your application started in early December before they double the NHS surcharge otherwise you'll end up having to pay an extra £500 for this, but keep in mind when you would be eligible for ILR under the 5 year route otherwise you may end up in a situation like me, where you have to apply for a 2nd FLR(M) extension just to cover the last 6 months until 5 year anniversary!

What's worse with my case is that back when my British wife and I married in 2009 I had ILR and so probably could of applied for British citizenship immediately after getting married, however I didn't and then we moved out to NZ for a few years so my ILR lapsed ...
Then on our return to the UK we didn't leave NZ within the first 3 months my entry visa was granted, so have ended up having to apply for a 2nd FLR(M).

[vinny]

Don’t forget the A2 English language requirements for an extension.

[mbist]

You should get your application started in early December before they double the NHS surcharge otherwise you'll end up having to pay an extra £500 for this, but keep in mind when you would be eligible for ILR under the 5 year route otherwise you may end up in a situation like me, where you have to apply for a 2nd FLR(M) extension just to cover the last 6 months until 5 year anniversary!

What's worse with my case is that back when my British wife and I married in 2009 I had ILR and so probably could of applied for British citizenship immediately after getting married, however I didn't and then we moved out to NZ for a few years so my ILR lapsed ...
Then on our return to the UK we didn't leave NZ within the first 3 months my entry visa was granted, so have ended up having to apply for a 2nd FLR(M).

Hi joshd,

Is it okay to apply say around 15-20 days before applicant completes 30 months in the UK? The form says:

We encourage you to apply no more than 28 days before the expiry date, or no more than 28 days before you have completed 30 months in the UK with leave as a partner. Extant leave as a partner of up to 28 days will be added to the 30 months of leave that you are granted.

Sounds like it’s okay to apply 28 days before completing 30 months and there will be no issue of shortfall in no. of days when applying for ILR later because they will add those extra days in the visa.

Kindly let me know, if you are sure.

Thanks so much.

[joshd]

I am not sure sorry, but 28 days is of course only 4 weeks and the HO currently operate on an up to 8 week waiting/operating period, and going by my experience in having FLR renewals done it takes at least 6 weeks... just today did I finally receive official word back from the HO after 7 weeks that my 2nd FLR(M) has been approved

So, maybe get your calendar out and do a count back to when you think the latest date you can wait for is, and possibly push it as late as you can, but keep in mind the extra £500 you will have to pay for the NHS surcharge sometime NEXT month.

Otherwise, maybe all the Brexit negotiations and BS gets sorted within the next 30 months, and by the time you've done your 5 years on FLR you will be able to remain in the UK on other grounds, such as the UK invaded your home country back in 1788, or that because so many THOUSANDS Australians (and a few NZers) died in Europe in both WW1 and its sequel that you and your country folk should be allowed to stay and live in the UK !

I know this argument applies for many other ex British colonies, and I have sympathy for all those who are from countries of the "commonwealth" who are in the UK and subject to the current immigration rules and laws that now PM Theresa May setup only a few years ago when she was the Secretary of the Home Office.

rant over! (for now)