FLR(M) approved at Croydon PEO- borderline old rules/new rules

Yesterday DH and I went to Croydon PEO and had my FLR(M) approved!  Yippee!!!    But, it was kind of a roller coaster.....

Everything went well to start- they checked we had the right documents with us, we paid (even if you do the PEO appointment and will be paying in person, you still need to fill out the payment sheet in the application... we hadn't, but they let us do it there), they did some other check of documents, I had my biometrics taken.... blah blah blah

Then we went to the actual case worker who would decide our application.  Luckily, we had an 8a appointment on a Monday, so at least they were fresh from the weekend. 

He took the documents he needed from us and after looking them over a bit told us we would be considered under the new rules.   

Since the only two dates regarding the visa in my passport are the valid from date (17 July) and my entry stamp over the visa (27 July), he must have been going off one of those... 

He said since we had the documents we would need (6 months bank statements and 6 months payslips) and we met the financial requirement, we had everything we needed to be considered under the new rules.... he said it as if it were no problem.... .... uhhh..... yeah.... but we don't want to wait an extra 3 years for ILR and pay for an extra visa!!!! 

Here was our timeline:
15 June- We submitted the online Fiance Visa application
18 June- I attended my biometrics appointment
20 June (actually went out 21 June)- I sent in our application through FedEx
28 June- It was signed for (according to FedEx tracking)
3 July- Email from UK Embassy saying it was received
(unbeknownst to us, the rules changed 9 July)
18 July- Visa approved (valid from 17 July)
27 July- I arrived in the UK

From what I'd read online and here (thanks to this awesome community!!!!), since we submitted our application online well before the 9 July rule change and everything happened before 9 July besides the visa approval and my arrival in the UK, we would be considered under the old rules.

Unfortunately, we didn't have any documents printed off from the UKBA website where it states the old rules/new rules change time like it does here:

If you have completed your application using our online application system you must submit your application and pay your fee by 00:01 on 9 July 2012 (UK time) to be considered under the current Rules. All applications submitted after this time will be processed under the new Rules.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2012/july/13-forms

We (kindly) protested a bit, asked our case worker to consult his manager and while he was away, I found the section in the application where it says if we applied before 9 July we didn't have to fill out the main financial section of the application (which clearly applies to the new rules).

He came back and confirmed we were under the new rules (phew!) BUT he said the reason was because my application was submitted on 3 July! 

We submitted our fiance visa application online on 15 June. 

(Tuesday) 3 July is the date the UK Embassy in New York sent me the 'package received' email (but they actually signed for it on Thursday 28 June). 

Mind you, we were just happy to be considered (rightfully) under the old rules, so we didn't point out the fact that the date he was going by didn't line up with what their website said.......   

Word of advice to those who applied just before the rule change: know the rules and maybe even bring printoffs of the UKBA website where it states why you are considered under the old rules.  That probably would have helped us a bit even though it was resolved correctly in the end. 

Well, we were ecstatic (he hadn't even approved us yet), but then we were called to the window again.   

We had submitted DH's bank statements but he hadn't filled out the section allowing it.... it only asks for his address and signature.... no problem.... not even half a page.   He started filling it out at the case worker's window....

Well, DH's bank statements are sent to his dad's (DH rents and has moved house a few times in the last few years and found it easier to have stuff sent to his dad's).

When DH asked the case worker which address to put in that section (our home address or the address on the bank statements), the case worker (not realizing the address difference until then) said his bank statements might not be able to be considered in our application. 

They would usually need a letter from the homeowner where the bank statements are sent and a utility bill in the homeowner's name to prove they were the homeowner (seriously?). 

He said we had to have a written, signed, original letter and utility bill.  A phone call wouldn't do.   

We stepped away a little dejected, but since he didn't deny it then and there, we had a little hope leftover and after another 20 minutes or so, he approved us.   

We had arrived at 7.30 for our 8a appointment and were out the door by 10.15!   

We went to the bank in the shopping centre across the street and change DH's address straight away. 

PEO appointment is definitely worth it!  Everyone at the Croydon PEO was really friendly and helpful.    Be sure to ask any questions you might ever have (possibly your only chance to talk face to face to someone at the UKBA!) and take the opportunity to fill out a comment card (I commented on the horrible PEO appointment booking system and the discrepancy on the old rules/new rules with the case officer).

Unreal. Wow, I'm happy that you knew your rights, and the laws!

CONGRATS!

But, again... Wow.

Unreal. Wow, I'm happy that you knew your rights, and the laws!

CONGRATS!

But, again... Wow.

Thanks, Lara!  It was certainly a strange day. 

Got up early (coming from London, but we left home at 6.15 and got there at 7.15), not as much sleep as we should have had, arrived early (and cold!).  Put us in a cold, nervous and excited mood.  We were prepared with enough food and water for a long day at the PEO (we only ate half of it as we were done by 10.15!).

Everyone at Croydon PEO (and I mean EVERYONE!!!!) was friendly and helpful.  Definitely buoyed our spirits.

Everything went well and we were chipper and awake.... until the case worker.   

Started off well with him, then went downhill with the old rule/new rule thing.... then our spirits were boosted with that 'I just dodged a bullet that wasn't even aimed at me but ricocheted off something that shouldn't have even been there' feeling.

Then the gut-wrenching address thing and not knowing whether it was resolved until the very end.... (really, a simple thumbs-up would have been nice since we were right in the line of sight of the case worker    )

I couldn't stop repeating all day (and in this thread) how lucky we were and how there shouldn't have been any issues or scares with our application based on what I'd read here and on the UKBA website.... I was replaying it dramatically all day for DH.    I'll probably continue on tonight. 

We went to the M&S in the shopping centre across the street from the Croydon PEO and DH bought me a nice super soft, cozy scarf.... my FLR(M) scarf.    He knew how stressful the appointment was and how much it helped that I done the research and gotten so much info off UK Yankee and the UKBA website. 

Thanks again to everyone at UK Yankee!  You've saved us 3 years by sharing your knowledge (otherwise we may have been considered under the new rules if we hadn't known better and protested!!!!).   

Congrats! How exciting  And well done for standing up for yourself and getting in under old rules. Thanks for posting your experience...after 5 months (and counting) waiting for postal FLR (M), I have started saving up for a PEO appointment for ILR. It's reassuring to know that for now at least, they are reasonably friendly and helpful.

Congrats! How exciting  And well done for standing up for yourself and getting in under old rules. Thanks for posting your experience...after 5 months (and counting) waiting for postal FLR (M), I have started saving up for a PEO appointment for ILR. It's reassuring to know that for now at least, they are reasonably friendly and helpful.

Thanks, luckyjinx.   

Again, we're sooooooo grateful to everyone on UK Yankee who gave us good info and directed us to UKBA website pages.    Much appreciated.

After following the FLR(M) Processing Time thread, DH and I were easily convinced to get a priority appointment.    5 months (or 9 in some cases!) is way too long to wait.

We started saving any £1 and £2 coins we got as change.  They went in to our 'visa jar'.   

We'll use what we have so far to cover yesterday's FLR(M).  We haven't counted, but we guess we've saved about £200 in a few months.    Since it's just a pound or two a day, it's not even really noticeable. 

We're starting a fresh ILR 'visa jar' today. 

Sometimes I pay for things in a certain way so I purposefully get more £1 and £2 coins as change to put in the jar.    hehehehehe   

Yippee!!!  BRP arrived this morning.