I just got my FLR(M) on the 22nd so I'll give you the Croydon info:
As mentioned above, since you have the fiance visa the form is easy as. My man and I filled it out on the tram on the way. Very simple.
You need two pics of you and one of your spouse with your names written on the back (£3.50 for four at most tube stations in the little kiosks), your passport, your sponsor's passport and birth certificate and your marriage certificate.
It costs £250 to do the one day service and £155 for post.
Croydon will soon be appointment only. And hopefully soon they sort out all the kinks. To give you an idea, here's my experience:
Trip #1:
Woke up early to go down to Croydon (I live in W London, 1 hr 20 min trip) and realised the appointment system. It was a Friday. They made our appointment for Monday at 2:30. Easy.
Decided to go down for kicks as he'd taken the day off of work, maybe getting in a short walk-in queue.
£3.80 for zones 2-6 travelcard, £3.50 for pics and we show up to find a monster queue and no one in the appointment line. Instead of waiting we go window shopping at the Whitgift Centre and wander about the town for a bit.
Note: Croydon is very windy. Lots of high rise buildings. Dress warmly.
Trip #2:
Monday the 20th. Leave at noon to get to the Home Office. We find the exact opposite of Friday: no on in the walk-in queue but a monster queue at the appointment side. Not only was there some sort of evacuation that morning but most of their staff left for the day. Hence no walk-ins and they wouldn't take any appointments after 2pm. Figures.
Since we bought another travel card we go wander around the Whitgift Centre and Centrale then hit an Edwards pub for two for one lunches. Their burger with bacon and cheese is excellent... a great sweet salsa on it. Yum.
While admiring winter coats in Zara my man tries to make another appointment but the system is down. Figures again.
Trip #3:
After calling first thing on Tuesday the 21st, we get an appointment for the following day, Wednesday the 22nd at 2:30pm. Praying that there are no evacs, we head to Croydon a third time.
2:00pm - they recommend you arrive a half hour prior to your appointment, probably to queue up with the other 2:30ers.
2:15pm - they let us in. Belts off for metal detectors but you can keep your jackets on. Do not bring in your scissors if you haven't chopped up your pics yet as they held all sharp objects at the security area.
2:25pm - we are at window #10. Bobby (he didn't actually introduce himself, but his name tag said Bobby, so I figure that is his name) asks for application, passports and marriage certificate. Doesn't ask for Birth Certificate but make sure you have it anyway as it is listed in the must bring section. He stamps some paper, hands us a green ticket and tells us to pay on floor one.
2:31pm - Floor one: £250 payment (£155 for mail in apps). Only accept credit cards, checks with authorisation card and postal orders. Postal orders from our local post office come only in £20 and £10 denominations. We hand over our wad and she stamps away. Paid. Now up to floor two.
4:00pm - They have forgotten about us. We have enjoyed the company of the woman behind the snack bar counter who is annoyed that she has to clean up after her coworkers at the end of their shifts. But she makes a good tea. And they have McCoy's crisps. Salted. Yum.
All the people before us and everyone I recognize that queued up behind us have come and gone. I buzz the customer service bell and a woman looks stunned when I tell her my appointment time had come and gone an hour and a half before. Our number is the next to be called.
4:30pm - Done. There is no interview because we have the spouse visa. He double checks all Bobby's work, and after sitting back in the comfy blue plastic chairs we are called back up and he stamps, signs and gives a pretty letter from the Home Office.
Hooray. Now I can work. It's kind of cool applying for jobs that I am now authorised to do. I have an interview tomorrow. Cross fingers!
And good luck to you!
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