Quick questions ILR application spouse visa

Hi everyone,

Just had a couple of quick questions regarding ILR. I’m on the second half of my spouse visa which expires end of October. I’ve been trying to stay in my current work role until my application window to have the 6 months continuous employment and to make the application as easy as it can be. However, I’ve reached the end of the line with my current employer and just can continue to work there. My wife is employed full-time and meets financial requirements, so this is a option, but I don’t really want to saddle this on her as you just never know what happens between now and then so this is kind of last resort.

What I am wondering is, if I quit my job today is it even possible to get a new job with only a month or two left on my visa?

Would I be able to meet financial requirements section if I change employers before the application? Salary is not the concern but I’m worried about verifying pay checks etc.

Hopefully that’s all clear. Thanks for any help!!

Honestly, the easiest thing to do would be to use your wife's income, as she already meets the requirements and will have been with the same employer throughout the 6-month period.

I imagine it could be tricky for you to get a new job with only a short time left on your visa, as UK companies may be concerned about whether the next visa will be granted or not... so I would actually consider this option as a last resort instead.

Also, if you are able to get a job that meets the salary requirements, you will need to provide more paperwork and will have more requirements to meet than if you just used your wife's income.

For example:

Using your wife's income
She will need to meet 1 requirement:
1) she has been with the same employer, earning £18,600 or more, for at least 6 months
She will need to provide:
- 6 months of payslips
- 6 months of bank statements
- employer letter
- job contract
- latest P60

Using your income
You will need to meet 2 requirements:
1) you have been with your new employer, earning £18,600 or more, for less than 6 months
AND
2) you have earned at least £18,600 in total in the last 12 months, from any and all jobs you have held in that time
You will need to provide:
- 12 months of payslips, from the old and new jobs
- 12 months of bank statements
- employer letter from new employer
- if your previous payslips were issued electronically, you need a payslip verification letter from the old employer as well
- new job contract
- latest P60 (issued by previous employer and also verified in a letter if issued electronically)

Alternatively, if you have enough cash savings between you, that might be an option too... as the savings requirement for ILR is only £34,600 (compared to £62,500 for the previous visas).

Thanks very much for the reply, really appreciate it. I think we will hopefully be in a position to use my wife’s salary, but I’m just doing a bit of a risk assessment in a worst case scenario that I terminate my employment and then she loses her job…

To that effect, if I am unable to meet the financial requirement in such a scenario, is the 10-year route an option or am I at risk of not being able to secure a visa?

Unfortunately we don’t have sufficient cash savings. I’m assuming the equity in our house can’t be used?

Thanks again