Welcome back
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- Exactly which form do I fill out? The gov.uk website lists 3 options and I am not sure which I use between the 2-or-5-year-scheme or the 5-or-10-year-scheme for partners. I called immigration help, and she said to do the FLR-M 5 year. So I am assuming, the scheme year amount is referring to years to settle/ILR? Can someone please verify that this is the correct form and that I do it for the 5 year scheme?
You are applying for FLR(M) on the 5-year route. You entered the UK on the 5-year route and will stay on it to ILR unless you cannot qualify for FLR(M) this time.
You can only be put onto the 10-year route if you are already living in the UK, but you cannot meet the financial requirement for FLR(M). In that case, you MIGHT be put on the 10-year route, which is a special circumstances visa, based on Article 8 (right to family life in the UK) but usually ONLY if you have a UK-citizen child.
- When do I apply? The lady at immigration said 28 days before the visa expires. However, I have read otherwise. I have read to do it "no more than 30 days before...." I can't remember exactly what I read or where...that might even refer to ILR.
It's 28 days before you reach 30 months in the UK.
So, if you arrived on January 30th 2015, you will reach 30 months on 30th July 2017... so you can apply for your extension any time from July 2nd 2017 up to September 10th 2017
if it can take up to 8 weeks for the application to go through, shouldn't I apply sooner than that? Will there not be an issue if it takes longer because I will technically be overstaying my visa? I would assume it should definitely be no LESS than 28 days before the visa ends - but can it be more? Any advice on this?
Definitely no less than 28 days before you reach 30 months... if you apply too early, you may screw up your timeline for ILR and may require an extra FLR(M) visa to make up the time.
All that matters is that your application has been SUBMITTED before your visa expires. If it has not been processed when your visa expires, your current immigration status will simply be extended until a decision has been made.
- If I apply after 30 months, but before my visa expiration date - will they start the new visa from the date it is approved or will it start from the original expiration date?
Not, sure - I think from when they approve it.
- My husband and I are in lease at our current place until September 2017 - the same time my visa expires. We are currently in the process of buying a house. We will hopefully be in it by summer, before we apply for the visa. The mortgage will be in my husbands name, with me listed as a legal resident. We are also getting him life insurance with me as the beneficiary. Does anyone know how this will affect our application?
It won't affect the application. You just submit the Land Registry document and mortgage statement.
- Can anyone help me in regards to advice for the biometric? I did not have to have it for the first visa - only fingerprints. Does anyone know anything about it? I know it costs about 100 quid - but I'm a bit in the dark about the rest of it.
You DID have it for your first visa.
Biometrics (fingerprints and photos) have been required for all visas for about 10 years or so now. You will be required to list your biometrics appointment date and location in the US on this FLR(M) application form, so if you can find your appointment details from the first visa, that would help.
It does not cost £100 though.
If you apply for FLR(M) by post, it costs about £20 at a Post Office - you will get an invitation letter to give biometrics a few weeks after you mail your application.
If you apply in person, it is part of the appointment fee and you will give biometrics at the in-person appointment.
- Can anyone please give me advice about what documents I need to provide? I know my husband's contract is one, our marriage license, as well as bills and things with both our names on it. But I remember the original visa required so many pieces of proof like pictures of us and letters between us and all that craziness. Are there any obscure things that will not be obvious or will help my case? I've been looking around on the threads for ideas, but I am not sure if people are talking about the same application of me.
It's basically the same documents as the first visa, but instead of communication evidence, you provide 6 items of official mail addressed to both of you at the same UK address, spread evenly over the last 2 years.
If your husband meets the financial requirement with just his income, there's no need to mention your income, or provide any financial documents from you.
Have a look at the application form for more information (particularly about the 6 items of mail):
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-as-a-partner-form-flrmAnd here for the financial requirement documentation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/525708/Appendix_FM_1_7_Financial_Requirement.pdfand
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence
