There is a thread for FLR M but it's not very active

https://www.nairaland.com/3253552/applying-flr-after-initial-uk

You can post your questions here as the people here have gone theough that process and might be able to help.

lawrenzoh:
I greet you my brother. I see this thread is for ILR... as I do not want to derail the thread can I ask you in private about FLR M extension. I just need a few questions as I've pretty much covered the requirements.

I've sent you an email request, but if it's okay, I am happy to ask my questions here.

What do you think?

Apologies, I can't help with that. I never used it and I don't know anyone that has. Hopefully someone else will have a better response.

Pakinsluv:
Hi All,

Please has anyone used the ID verification app for biometrics for this ILR Set (M) application? Or know someone that has used it for any type of ILR?

I know people that have used it for Tier 2 residence extension but not ILR.

I am currently out of the country due to work. So I want to know if it's something I can do online with the new way of proving identity.

Please advise.

With the latest information you have provided, it is easier to wade in.

Firstly, your 80 days absence, is that in total since you moved here or for the period of the current visa. Actually, it doesn't matter either way, the absence rule is calculated as 180 days of absence in a 12 month period so your 80 days is nothing. Also, interestingly, that absence rule does not apply to spouse visa for ILR, it comes in when you apply for citizenship but not ILR (see the link on page 1 of this thread) but even at that your 80 days is well within the limit.

No, you do not need to wait till 28 days before September 2025. Use Oct 2019 which is when you arrived here. So by Oct 2024, you would have been here for 5 years. Ideally 28 days before that date is fine but I'd say give it a further 30 days and apply. So apply from end of Nov and you should be fine.

Life in the UK test, once you've passed it does not expire so I'd say try and get that sorted soon.

All the best.

profemebee:
thanks, yea all i'm trying to do is to know the date i qualify to put in an ILR application (baring in mind my 80days out f the UK) and also to be careful about any form of inconsistency

I haven't even done the Life in the UK test ..

Apologies for my questions.. i'm sure I will have more lol..

I rather ask questions than risk the ILR visa fees and all by applying too early, etc

My case with timeline is somewhat interesting

BRP date: Sept 2019

Arrival in UK: Oct 2019

FLR M Spousal visa renewal online application: June 2022

Successful email confirmation from Home Office for the FLR M Spousal visa renewal online application: March 2023 (There was a major delay with the whole backlog and it took almost 9months to get a response from Home Office)

Granted permission to stay in the UK by Home Office until: Sept 2025 (which is 30months from March 2023)

This means I would have been 5years 11months ish by Sept 2025 with about 80 days out of the UK

All BRPs are phased out by 31st Dec 2024 and everyone will use the online share code feature

So do i wait till 28days from Sept 2025 for ILR?

Or i can apply earlier once I have 5years (and maybe 3 months extra due to 80days out of the UK)?

In my opinion, I think you are placing more emphasis on the calculator than required. As far as I am aware, it's there to help you estimate when you can apply so if you use the BRP date for the calculator, whatever date it gives you will work as it is the latest date out of all 3 dates (date on your visa, date you arrived and date on your BRP) you are considering.

I can understand that you want to be consistent with your application and the dates you have provided previously. For consistency on your actual forms, you can use the date on your BRP like you have used before then in the notes or other information section of the application form, you can say that the date you used is based on your BRP but that you arrived the UK on xyz.

When I came here in 2015, BRP wasn't a thing. It was when I renewed that I got my first BRP. The question on the actual immigration forms have always been along the lines of 'date you arrived the UK' or something similar and that is the date I used on all my forms.

profemebee:
the arrival to the UK isn't the issue... it is the first visa start date that's not clear because i have 2 different dates.. one being the date on 1st BRP and another date being the start date on the 1st visa letter i got while in Nigeria

I used the BRP date in my FLR M visa extension application but i feel like maybe i made a mistake using that

I highlighted the field i'm referring to in the screenshot attached which is the https://immigrationstory.uk/en-gb/tools/ilr-calculator..

The dates will differ for ILR qualification when i use either of the 2 dates

I just need to know which of the 2 dates to use in the highlighted field

profemebee:
Hi hi,

Finally read all through the pages and please I have questions.

I will start with one and then that might answer some of the questions..

In this ILR calculator https://immigrationstory.uk/en-gb/tools/ilr-calculator, in the field where it asks for "When was the start date of your first relevant visa that goes toward the continuous period for this ILR application?"..

Do i type in the date on the letter i got from my first application when i went to the UK embassy? the one that states the period which my initial spousal visa qualifies for? e.g. 15th Sept 2019 - 15th Sept 2022 for the first spousal visa i got , therefore i type in 15th Sept 2019 in the field for start date of first relevant visa

OR

I type in the date on my first BRP when i got into the UK which was for e.g. 1st Sept 2019 and dated 2 weeks before the 15th Sept 2019 which was on the letter?

Note: A question came up during my FLR M spousal visa extension ( What is the start date of your current visa or leave to remain) and i inputted date on my BRP, e.g. 1st Sept 2019 which was the date of issue on my 1st BRP.

Thanks for any help i can get

I have more questions incoming

Going by the question asked on the calculator link, the start date of your first relevant visa is the date on the actual visa but 2 weeks isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things because if you are in doubt, you could wait out 2 weeks before putting in your application. Are you trying to apply on the day it is bang on 5 years?

Sorry for the delayed response.

Since you are on this thread, I am guessing your spouse is British, if that is the case, then the answer is yes, you can add your dependants under 18yrs to your ILR application even if they haven't lived here for 5 years.

evenda:





I am due to apply for my ILR / spouse visa, my 3 dependants under 18yrs have not lived in uk for 5yrs but I have read online they can be added to my ILR application as there is no 5yr rule for dependeants when applying for ilr.

Is this correct please?

Congratulations

Divine88:
ILR submission & payment - 05/06/2023
ILR Biometric - 22/06/2023 (free)
ILR Approval email - 24/07/2023
BRP delivered - 26/07/2023

2 days after BRP card collection.

Naturalisation submission & payment - 31/07/2023
Biometric - 15/08/2023 (Free)
Approval email - 20/11/2023
Ceremony date booked - 08/01/2024.

Many thanks to everyone. Without your inputs, this wouldn't have been easy. All the best to all who will soon get to this stage.

Congratulations

foxyvisa:
Hello, house

Happy to report I have received my British passport.
3 weeks 1 day from date of application.

Many thanks to everyone in the house for your timelines contribution, updates and responses to questions and inquiries.

It's the end of my UK immigration journey. Wheew😓😥

Thanks for the info

Spinardo:
Thanks Newbie. Got there in the end...lol

I'm actually tracking timelines through a mate who applied a week ago. However another mate that applied in November said he got it within a little over a week.

I'll share updates in this regard as i'm informed.

Phew...that's quite the roller coaster. Glad you got there in the end. Congratulations! Hopefully they find your Nigerian passports. Do you know what the wait time is like to get Nigerian passport reissued/renewed now?

Spinardo:
Hi guys,

Trust everyone is well.

Been a minute I gave an update however my application did not pan out as straightforward as it should be.

Summarily, the HMPO misplaced my Nigerian Passports hence that impacted my timeline.

For context, I submitted my application on December 7 and sent supporting documents via a tracked Royal Mail service, it was delivered to HMPO on December 12 then I got a notification that it had been received and merged to my application on December 22 and a second on same day asking that I forward my International Passports. I immediately called their line and affirmed it was already with them.

Around end of January, 2023 after some search was done, I was told that the Nigerian Passports (2) were lost. I was advised to get a new one from the Nigerian High Commission to be able to progress my application and assurance that the sum will be reimbursed by the HMPO.

Quite a bit of back and forth via calls, emails and post but after a lot of follow up, push and resilience, my British Passport was issued last week (week of Feb 19th) without a Nigerian Passport. I am going ahead to get my Nigerian Passport re-issued by the Nigerian House while another round of search is being done by the HMPO for the lost passports.

Not exactly the smooth process I was hoping for but I got there in the end.

I reckon this is not a popular situation but if anyone has got the same, I may be able to share my experience in getting a resolution.

For general info, note the following with such case:

1) Do not assume the UK passport office will by itself take the initiative of locating your missing documents. You alone will need to do the follow ups and be persistent. In my experience you will need to be persistent with them. Its your UK passport and your critical documents so it is in your interest to do the follow-ups.

2) Immediately you get to know your documents are missing call the UK passport helpline 0300 222 0000 (options 8 and 3 after that). I called up this number every alternate day and each time someone new picked up and I had to explain each time (approx 20 mins call each time). However, on each call they will update the notes and forward your concern to the relevant office

3) Once you call the UK Passport helpline, try to speak to someone from the "Customer Service Management" team. Thing is, most of the people you talk to on the UK passport helpline WFH and hence no one can actually go to the passport office and look at the envelope you sent. The "Customer Service Management" team however are resolution-based and will look to resolve

4) Always send your documents by Royal mail tracked and signed and keep the tracking number safely with you. In a scenario of lost/missing documents the Royal Mail tracking number alone will save the day for you. Make sure this Royal Mail tracking number is provided to the Customer Service Management team each time you call them

I am not certain the absence calculation applies to SET (M). I posted a link on the first page of this thread where this was explored thoroughly. As I also stated there, it didn't apply to me as I was not out of country more than the specified period so I can't validate it.but it's useful information.

https://www.freemovement.org.uk/the-180-day-absence-rule-doesnt-apply-to-people-with-a-spouse-or-partner-visa/

Fynebouy:
@Demoore is correct and I guess the calculator too. But please make sure if you have travelled outside the UK during these 60 months that you make the necessaary time allowance before applying.

I did travel to Nigeria quite a lot in the earlier days so had to wait until 28 days to BRP expiring to make my application. Otherwise I would have been out of time. Indeed I had over 250 days absences during the 60 months period and the extra days on the BRP helped me make it up.

Best of luck.

Fynebouy:
Hello everyone, I hope we are doing well and managing during this Cost of Living Crisis with the quintupling of energy bills. I hope we won't resort to Abacha stove at this rate.

Congratulations to all who've completed this process and obtained the Passport. Would anyone who did a Passport Interview please share how they were able to book an interview and what the interview was like ?

Thanks in advance for your response. God bless.

My question was going to be, What is Passport interview? As I had not heard of it before. But I have just read up on it on the gov.uk pages.

May I ask if you are the one wanting an interview (in which case, I'd ask why) or if they have invited you for one (in which case, I'd say the guidance for booking it should be in the invite)

From what I just read on the gov.uk pages, they stated that they will invite people to book appointments. It seems to be if they do not have enough information to identify the person.

Hi,

As far as I am aware, your referees need to be British passport holders as you put in the passport details in the form.

I don't know what you do for work but I guess your boss should be eligible as a referee can be any professional above 25 years.

I was actually going to say that since you have a UK degree, it means you haven't had to prove your knowledge of English so the response should be 'No' but then don't you always include your UK degree certificate in your application? So will that not be a way of proving your knowledge of English. My thinking is that one will fall into the category of not needing to prove it if you didn't need to submit additional information other than your passport to show you are from an English speaking country but if one has to submit anything additional then that means you are trying to prove it so in your case, maybe the answer is yes and you include your UK cert. I am not certain on this one. So forgive my rambling.

Edited to add, @wallg123. It shouldn't make a difference though to your application whether it's a yes or no. If you say yes, I believe it will ask what your proof is and you say UK degree cert. If you say no and still include the certificate, I don't see that you will have any issues. For mine, they emailed and requested some additional documentation when I submitted naturalisation documents. I was out of country for 6 weeks and they waited till I got back and submitted them then they approved my application.

wallg123:

Can I use my boss as one of the referees ? He is British and obviously over 25 with No criminal record. and can I used an old school mate as the other referee?. He is lives in uk but not a British citizen ?

Also I had my degrees in the uk so have never had to prove my knowledge of English. What should I answer there ?
Also see attached.

Hi, if I have understood correctly from your post. This is your first visa to the UK?

The information on this thread is for people who have relocated to the UK as spouse of a British citizen and have lived here for 5 years.

To qualify for ILR on most routes, you would have spent 5 years in the UK.

I am not knowledgeable on other routes and it is not clear whether you are undergrad or postgrad/spouse of a British citizen or settled person. If you are not married to a British citizen and spent the qualifying period here, this is not your route.

Zionist26:
Hello all
I just got my student visa approved
I will like to know the different routes available to me inorder to be able to apply for ilr
Kindly advise

Congratulations

Alohetij:
Update:

My naturalisation ceremony was done on the 18th of June. My passport arrived today!

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to provide useful information. My immigration journey has finally come to an end

Good luck to everyone still in the process.

@Demoore,
Congratulations

Firstly, downloaded copies are allowed and perfectly fine to use. Secondly, even if they aren't (they totally are, by the way) if they have posted it, I then don't understand why you need to wait to receive it to submit your application online. I mean, the dates won't change if it's already on it's way to you especially as you said the statements will not be stamped. Am I missing something?

profemebee:
Hi,

I have very few days left to expiry of my BRP, and been waiting for sponsor's 6 months bank statement (HSBC) to be posted to the house.. requested for it on the 1st of June 2022 so it covers the full months of Dec 1st 2021 - May 31st 2022 and the last day covered will be within 28days of online application... The statements from other banks have arrived..

We still haven't received the bank statement and this is what is delaying the online application as there is a rule no documents should be dated after the online application (i'm not sure if bank statement will come with a date).

Called the bank yesterday and today to get feedback, and they kept saying it should arrive.. we even re-ordered another 6months bank statement just incase...

The lady on the phone said we could download the same statements from internet banking platform as it is recognised and even used for things like mortgage..

Please has anyone used HSBC downloaded online statements for initial spousal visa or FLR M spousal visa extension? bearing in mind that HSBC doesn't stamp statements and i can see a difference already in the one we used in the last spousal visa application which was posted to the house and the one gotten from HSBC internet banking platform..

I'm trying to get alternatives as my expiry date of initial visa is close.. will appreciate quick response..

Thanks.

profemebee:
Hi hi, please quick questions from the flr m online application questions..

1. "How long has your partner had British citizenship"...

If your spouse was born in Nigeria, and British citizen by descent, i.e. parents are British due to being born in the UK, and applied for the citizenship for the spouse when the spouse was younger as the citizenship can be passed to one generation, which is the answer?

a. By Birth or b. Date citizenship obtained?

If b is the answer (i think it should be a), what date is then the Date citizenship obtained?

I thought Date citizenship obtained applies to those who got citizenship from naturalisation for example..


2. Is FLR M spousal visa extension a Settlement or Family visa?

I ask because in the initial spousal visa application, the Type of visa & Purpose of Application was Settlement while I see online that Spousal visa is part of the Family visa..

1. By birth
2. Settlement

Congratulations.

abubarakat:
My passport arrived today.

I have now come to the end of my UK immigration journey. I wish everyone still in the process success in current/future applications.

Now is the time to see the world without the stress of visa applications. Going to Amsterdam next month and Mallorca in October lol.

Congratulations

Alohetij:
Hi All

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday today. My naturalisation application just got approved!

My application was submitted 24th of March, got my approval today.

Yes, I used the same NARIC certificate for my ILR and for naturalisation as I just got my passport a few months ago and I have never heard anyone talk about reprinting, maybe the poster lost the initial certificate?

Your HR really should not be requesting your new BRP. What they need to request is proof of your right to work which they can access by confirming your submission details with Home Office using this link https://www.gov.uk/employee-immigration-employment-status. My employer had to do that when my spouse visa expired and I was awaiting FLR and when I joined a new company when I was waiting for ILR. Some employers can be funny about it so you need to prioritise your online submission.

profemebee:
thanks for the quick response

i had similar opinion around the UK Naric too, though yours is a bit different as you freshly ordered just before your FLR M. however, i'm assuming you used it for your ILR too... Congrats on that if you've gotten ILR.

HR is giving me double jeopardy as they they want to see the new BRP asap, and i'm surely not traveling.. will need to think it thru Or wait to see if anyone updates with their timeline here for a standard process time and make a decision..

Right...my advice is to submit your application online ASAP if your spouse visa is expiring early next month. Getting a date for your biometrics can be up to 3 or 4 weeks away from when you submit.

For your questions:
1. When I got my initial spouse visa, we were still allowed to use Nigerian certificate with a letter from your school stating your degree was thought in English. By the time I applied for FLR, one needed NARIC as a letter from the school was no longer enough *massive eye roll* so I got NARIC in 2018 for FLR and used the same certificate for all other applications after that so I don't see any need for requesting anything from NARIC again (never even heard that before)

2. I am not sure how long the std wait time is currently but if you don't intend to travel and don't want to part with the cash for super priority, then when you submit, HR can use your submission details to confirm from Home Office that you have a pending application and you can keep working until your FLR is out but I suspect you also need to have done biometrics before Home Office will respond (not 100% sure on this now, I have forgotten)

3. Not as far as I know, you can't get an earlier appointment, when you check on the portal, you see available dates and times and pick from those, if you see no availability then you wait till midnight because the portal refreshes then and presents new appointments

All the best

profemebee:
hi everyone

I went back to page 1 to re-read everything again as it is almost time for my FLR M extension..

1. The bolded statement is new to me.... i thought i could just use the same hardcopy documents from the initial spousal visa application..

Did anyone who has successfully done their FLR M extension use same hardcopy documents or one has to re-order a re-printed service from NARIC as stated in Bold?

2. My HR is already sending mails about my initial spousal visa expiring early next month, and asking when i will get it renewed. Has anyone recently paid for Super priority? How fast in recent times is standard wait time for an FLR M extension? £800 is a lot of money

3. Is paying for an appointment date earlier still a thing? or i can pay for a convenient date when i submit my application online? i intend to use the one in Croydon.

Thanks for anticipated answers

Someone will probably come along and give you the official address but personally, I never really bothered with it. Mine was always addressed to 'To Whom It May Concern' and it was never a problem with getting visas.

profemebee:
hi hi,

It has been a minute..

I have a question please...

What UK Home office address or title was used in the official letters coming from your employer stating your employment, payslips verification, length of employment, etc??

In the initial spousal visa application, the UK Home office Sheffield address was used in the letters from sponsor's employer, but i'm not sure if it should be the same address in the letters for the FLR M extension too..

Thanks for anticipated responses.

Congratulations!!! Good news.

Demoore:
Hi everyone,

Just got my ILR today. Please see my timeline below, a few twists and turns but we got there in the end.

My timeline:

Applied for ILR Route : SET(M)
Date application sent : 04/03/2022 (standard)
Variation application sent: 16/03/2022 (super priority service £800)
Refund for standard application received less £25 admin fee: 18/03/2022
Documents uploaded to UKVCAS portal: 18/03/2022
Date Biometrics Enrolled: 24/03/2022 7:00am Birmingham (£125)
Approval Received : 24/03/2022 2:00pm
BRP Card: Pending....

I just checked my email and saw where I saved the documents I scanned and uploaded. Here goes:

- Spouse British passport data page
- My passport data page and BRP
- The page on my old passport that shows my entry stamp
- A very old letter I received when I got my NI number (sure it's not necessary but just in addition to the stamp to show I have been here 5 years)
- Marriage Certificate
- Masters certificate + NARIC letter
- 2 Referees
I wrote the name at the back of the passport, but it was useless as I didn't scan the back. You can skip it.

I can't remember if there was anything else but I think that was it.

Alohetij:


Thank you, that was useful.

Please did you send all the pages of your passport and that of your spouse?

Also the referee form with my passport attached, wondering how they get to see the back of the passport since they ask that I put my name & D.O.B. Should the form just be scanned and uploaded with the rest of the requested documents?

Off the top of my head, I couldn't list the documents but I can remember it didn't include proof of habitation but I seem to remember it wanted something that showed when you arrived so I sent a copy of my passport page where I was stamped in. I may be wrong but I don't recall the need to show proof of income, obviously no IHS payment but you need 2 referees. Sorry I couldn't be of more help but it's pretty straight forward.

Alohetij:
Hi All,

Please anyone able to provide a list of documents submitted for Naturalisation. I have checked the thread, I just see those who have done it saying the document required is less than that for ILR.

Everything looks pretty straightforward on the checklist but worth seeing what others have provided to avoid any delay with my application.

Thanks

Congratulations

Alohetij:
Hello,

I have now received my ILR. Thanks to everyone for providing helpful information.

I used the priority service (it comes up only at midnight).

Biometrics was done on March 2nd, got an approval email about 2 hours later.
I received my card today (March 7th).

Different councils work differently. For mine, the approval email said to wait 1 working day before calling the council so I called them the following day, Dec 7th I believe, they asked for my Ref no and booked me into the next available slot which was January 6th, the ceremony is done only on Thursdays here.

They know about the 3 month cut off so they will definitely conduct yours before then. It doesn't even take more than 10 minutes (for mine, I should add). All the best.

abubarakat:
I called them 2 times during this past week and was told to wait until they reach out to me.

Apparently the HO has to send them a citizenship approval letter before they can schedule a ceremony appointment.

It's a waiting game now but one I'm bothered about except that I have to do citizenship ceremony before 3 months from the date my approval was issued.

abubarakat:
Just in - my naturalisation application has been approved. I'm now waiting for my council to give me a date for the citizenship ceremony.

The journey that started more 5 years ago has now come to an end with passport application now in sight.

Good luck to everyone still in the process.

Congratulations. Do you need to wait for the council? In my case, I called them and they gave me available dates to choose from.

oladunni4real:
Hi all, is the time line for ILR still 6 months.
2.After ILR, do we still need any type of documentation for the next 2 process, naturalisation and citizenship.
3. Is it safe to say if you get your ILR today you can start the next process immediately or still wait for sometime.
Congratulations to all that have crossed the finish line.
[color=#990000][/color]

My timeline is in the first post; it took about 5 months, and I stated there that other routes were faster and that it could be backlog. I have no idea what it is now. If you need a quick response, you could pay £800 for Super-priority as @Abubarakat put up in his timeline on this page. His response was within 4 hours or there about.

After ILR its naturalisation/citizenship (same thing), and yes, you do need documentation for it, check the first page. I believe I made a comment about it.

If your ILR is as a spouse of a British citizen, you can apply for naturalisation immediately.

To be fair and in the most polite way possible, the answers to your questions are mostly on the thread already, and it's just 2 pages long.

Alohetij:
Hi, I know we can apply for naturalisation immediately after getting our ILR. Please, how long did you wait after you got your ILR before you applied?

Hi, I got my ILR in May 2021 and applied for naturalisation in July 2021. I could have applied sooner but I needed to get all my ducks in a row.

profemebee:
hi, pls i have 3 more questions:

1. During the supporting documents process, there is a part to upload the proof of ID for the owner of the property you're renting.. how does one manage a scenario where the house is managed by real estate agents with the landlord not actively involved?

2. If one has a P45 from a previous year (previous job) and then a P60 from the most recent year before renewing spousal visa, does one still have to upload the P45? or just the P60?

3. I read on earlier posts here that 'TB certificate isn't needed' for the spousal visa extension. However, if i have a letter for the full treatment of latent TB (from NHS), do i need to upload the letter?

The key to a successful application is providing the required documents without going overboard.

1. Because we own I have never had to do this but I imagine that this is not peculiar to you. I doubt that landlords hand over their IDs willy nilly to tenants for visa applications. It sounds like what you describe applies when you are living with family? Inlaws perhaps? I'd say a tenancy agreement should suffice or if it makes you more comfortable, ask for a letter from the agency in addition stating you live there and add to it. Do you have council bill in your name?

2. The P60 and P45, are these for proof of address or proof of income. For income, a letter from your employer stating your ​gross salary, length of service with the company, type of employment and job title with stamped and signed payslips should suffice. The P60 is recommended but not mandatory. I have never submitted P60. A lot of times, salary increases even make the P60 obsolete as details no longer match. Have a look at the earlier pages for documents successful applicants submitted.

3. I'd say leave it out. Except I am missing something, I don't see the need to include your latent TB treatment details. It's not a requirement as far as I am aware. You already reside here, you have been treated for it. I fail to see how it applies to the application except to potentially open up other issues.

My advice is don't overthink the application. Cheers.