Entered UK Aug 2011, currently on FLR(M) which expires July 2022. Continuous lawful residence no gaps, overstays, or refusals ever (visas have been, in order since 2011: Tier 4 no1, Tier 4 no2, Tier 4 no2 extension, FLR(M), and FLR(M) extension). Never out of UK more than 30 days at once, out about 300 days total in the 10 years. With partner 13 years, cohab 7 years, but not married.
1) My primary question, the one that is actually stressing me out, is confusion over the required docs it has told me I must provide for a SET(LR). Based on understanding from forums and talking directly to solicitors, I was told they would NOT require any proof of cohabitation documents for my 10 year LR visa app, because it has ‘nothing to do’ so to speak with my partner. Given this, I have been rather lazy about keeping post letters/bills the last two years (whereas during the lead up to the FLR(M) applications I was obsessive). Yet, when I have just gone to do the application, it says required docs: joint letters of cohabitation, just like it had in the past on FLR(M) and what would be expected from SET(M), not SET(LR). This has fully stressed me out! I can scrounge together probably just barely enough joint documentation (or close), but I didn't expect it to be required- what is going on? They also want my partner's identity document- which of course can provide, but again, why do they need documentation for my partner at all if its on the basis of ME living lawfully in the UK for 10 years continually? Have they recently changed this, why else did so many advise me including solicitors it wouldn't’ be required?
2) Timing: The other main thing I have questions on. I am ready to submit my application. My issue is that I do not want to get 'trapped' in the UK over Christmas (mid Dec- early Jan) as I am due to help my elderly parent in the USA during this time. From tonight, I plan to try daily (nightly) to get a super priority appointment and try this for a couple weeks. At some point, it will get too close to Christmas to have time to do a super priority appointment, do biometrics and get a decision + BRP posted and still fly by mid/late December. Can anyone give me an idea of how what sort of appointment options I will see if I can get through to a super priority slot, and the max amount of days from that appointment slot I should have BRP (IF the decision is next working day). This will help me plan at what point I should give up on super priority and simply wait until I'm back in early January and start trying again for super priority for a while, and potentially give up and do standard as a very last resort. (I want to avoid standard in general as I have an elderly parent so want to be able to travel quickly to USA without having an outstanding visa application)
3) CCJs. I have three CCJs for small debts, two from 2017 and one from early 2019. On the application form, I declare each separately and put the same comment (that a period of financial hardship in 2017 and 2018 caused me to get the CCJs, that I have taken steps to make sure never happens again, and that they are settled in full. I then have the same text I use on the application form in my cover letter. I considered including the registry trust certificates that show they are satisfied in my supporting documents, but now I am thinking I may not, because they can look this information up themselves and because they were all three only fully satisfied in July 2021 (FYI they were in payment agreements until then being paid down). I’m not missing anything I should be doing differently here, right? I declared them/included them the same way for my FLR(M) in 2019, the difference being that then I said they were ‘under payment agreement’ whereas now it says ‘fully satisfied’.
4) Complex app or not? With the CCJs above and also one reckless driving charge that is 14 years old (2008, served no jail, one day community service + fine), is the combination of those two things enough to make the application complex enough for problems with super priority? Note that these issues didn't prevent an immediate approval for super priority for FLR(M) 2 years ago, but that was a different route, I assume they care more about character for ILR. The reckless driving charge has full documentation in supporting documents (court docket etc) and I have included the exact same documentation on each of my past five UK visa applications.
5) I’m pretty sure its fine but...The ‘do you have a social network in the USA’ question I answered ‘yes’, but under the explanation I just said I don't actually have existing social networks, just one good friend. I have lost touch with most old contacts. But surely I shouldn't’ say ‘no’ to this question because I mean, I guess I have/could create more of a network in the USA than someone who didn’t live there the first two decades of their life. But the wording is weird to me- as I dont actually maintain a social or professional network over there, other than one good old friend and my three family members. Everything about my professional and social life is pretty much all UK for the last 10 years, but I visit the USA two times a year purely to see my handful of family members, and ONE friend but that’s it. What are they actually trying to get at with this question?
Any insight especially on (1) and (2) is so appreciated!
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