FLRM #2

Hi everyone!

It’s been a while since I last posted here, but I’m looking to apply for my second FLRM in April and wanted to put my mind at ease for some timing issues

First, I never changed my name in my passport and visa after getting married, though I’ve been using my married name on pretty much everything else since. My passport is due for renewal next year around the same time I will need to do my new visa, so I’m looking g to renew my passport plus name change less than 3 months prior to applying for my new visa. Is this all still ok to do?

Secondly, my previous FLRM was valid from 22/10/15 and expires 20/5/18. My husband and I want to try and do the same day service prior to the fees going up in early April, so ideally have an appt on the 4th or so. This should put me with a valid visa until 4th October 2020. Obviously this will place me on a relatively tight timeline where ILR is concerned. Am I right in that we are still able to apply for ILR 28 before our 5 year anniversary? For example, I could apply as early as late September 2020?

Thanks in advance for all your help!




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As a secondary question, my desire to do the appointment in person stems mostly from anxiety over this whole process. We barely scraped by financially last time and it really took a toll on me (we are completely fine on this point now).

Anyhow, if I were to become ok mentally with the postal app, I should be fine to have my passport back by July right(post in early April to avoid fee rise)? My in laws are planning a big family holiday and I need to make sure I’ll be able to travel by then.


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Welcome back .

Yes, it’s still fine to change your name on your passport within 3 months of applying for your second FLR(M) .

You can apply for your new FLR(M) up to 28 days before your current one expires... any earlier than that and the new visa might expire before you can qualify for ILR - so the earliest appointment you can attend will be on 22nd April 2018.

However, since you pay for the visa when you book the appointment, as long as you book it before the visa fees increase you will pay the current fee.

You can book the appointment up to 42 days in advance so you can book from around mid-March 2018 onward.


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If you apply by post, the earliest you can mail the application is 22nd April 2018... which means you will pay the higher fees.

The processing standards time is 8 weeks... it’s been pretty consistent at 5-6 weeks for the last few months but was known to go to 14-16 weeks last year.


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Hang on, are you sure your current FLR(M) expires on 20th May and not 20th April?

By my calculation, if the visa started in October it should expire in April (30 months)

If this is the case, then your 28 days will start 19th March ... so you can hopefully apply either in person or by post before the fee rise (though the fees did rise in March, not April in 2016, so watch out for that).


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Hang on, are you sure your current FLR(M) expires on 20th May and not 20th April?

By my calculation, if the visa started in October it should expire in April (30 months)

If this is the case, then your 28 days will start 19th March ... so you can hopefully apply either in person or by post before the fee rise (though the fees did rise in March, not April in 2016, so watch out for that).


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Yep. For some reason it was made valid for 31 months. I didn’t question it and have just ignored it tbh.

So the actual 30 month anniversary is 22nd April, which does put my 28 day prior date at the end of March, meaning I could apply in person or by post in early April without creating a disaster for ILR in 2020?


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Oh and thanks for the heads up on the fee rise.

ETA
sorry  didn’t even see your first reply initially! Glad to see you’re still here!

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And I’m back cause I am getting closer to the time for booking my appointment. Based on the above, I’m looking at doing an appointment on 11th April (my 29th birthday ) so I can book it at the end of Feb.  My first FLR was valid from 22/10/15 so this should put me in a perfectly comfortable position for ILR.  Right?!?!

I’ve been looking through the FLR form and I can’t for the life of me find where it says what I need to provide for the accommodation requirement. Looking back at my FLR #1 thread, it appears I just need my original tenancy agreement with both our names on it? Is that right?

I’ve recently had my passport renewed as well. Will they want to see my old one too? It has 2 long expired tier 4’s in it.

Think that’s all for now. Thanks in advance everyone!!


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Yes, just the tenancy agreement with both names will meet the accommodation requirement.

And yes, your appointment date will be fine.

Have you considered applying by post and saving the money for the in person appointment?  They have been pretty consistent in processing FLR(M) in 6/7 weeks for about a year.  The service standard is 8 weeks.  Unless you need to travel during that time, you can save a bundle (especially as I've always been stuck sitting around for 8 hours + at in person appointments - that wouldn't be fun on your birthday!).  Just something to think about.

Yes, just the tenancy agreement with both names will meet the accommodation requirement.

And yes, your appointment date will be fine.

Have you considered applying by post and saving the money for the in person appointment?  They have been pretty consistent in processing FLR(M) in 6/7 weeks for about a year.  The service standard is 8 weeks.  Unless you need to travel during that time, you can save a bundle (especially as I've always been stuck sitting around for 8 hours + at in person appointments - that wouldn't be fun on your birthday!).  Just something to think about.

Yeah I have considered it. I’ve got travel plans in July and I’m not sure I could cope with the anxiety nightmares at the thought of something going wrong.

I’m also aware that this is the time of year for fee increase. If the trend continues as it has for the last few years, I may not get much benefit from a postal application in April since I’d be booking an in person appt before the fees would (presumably) go up.

Thanks as always for the reassurances! All of you keep me sane!


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Yeah I have considered it. I’ve got travel plans in July and I’m not sure I could cope with the anxiety nightmares at the thought of something going wrong.

I’m also aware that this is the time of year for fee increase. If the trend continues as it has for the last few years, I may not get much benefit from a postal application in April since I’d be booking an in person appt before the fees would (presumably) go up.

Thanks as always for the reassurances! All of you keep me sane!


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The fee increase will (most likely) be effective from April 6th.  So if you posted your application before that date - which you can do with your dates, you'd save the money.

BUT, I hear you on the planned travel in July.  While it should be fine, I too would be worried and it might not be worth the savings! 

I know there was some discussion on larrabee’s ILR thread about whether the appointment booking window is 42 or 45 days—anyone know which it is? I’m getting antsy and today would be 45 for us, but as I’ve got to go ahead and pay the IHS charge before I get to the appointment screen, I’m not sure if it will mess things up to do that now and then book the appointment later if the date isn’t there.

Anybody know for sure one way or the other? Seems at the very least he system is still glitchy.


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It's 42 days.

It's easy to change the appointment though if needed.  😊

It's 42 days.

It's easy to change the appointment though if needed. 

Thanks as always!

Annoyingly I’ve just noticed that the Cardiff office only opens from noon on a Wednesday, which is the day we were planning to go. Might swap it out to the Tuesday as I don’t think I could take the anxiety until noon.


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I’m going through our correspondence, and I’m wondering how loosely the term ‘bank’ is interpreted for the purposes of bank letters or statements

For instance, I’ve got letter from both of our pension plan holders as well as credit card statements. Anyone know if those are considered acceptable?


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