ILR at last -- 5 year route

Applied in person at Solihull for ILR under SET (M) on Thursday and it turned out fine, as you wise people on here reassured me it would.

It was so straightforward and painless it made me wonder if the worry and the preparation had been necessary. I arrived for my 9 am appointment early with a squirmy 20 month old and a grumpy 10 year old and a long suffering partner. The PSC staff were helpful and friendly and it was all over by 11:30. Granted.

They didn't ask about the 6 month absence from the UK, or the change of pay in August, or the 5 year old LIUK test pass (taken for a previous withdrawn ILR app in 2012), or anything at all. They just took my biometrics, sent me out for an hour, and called me back to give me my documents back.

Thank you to those on here who helped me along the way. Haven't gotten my head around citizenship yet but that's next.

 Congrats! I'll be in Solihull in Dec for the same

Applied in person at Solihull for ILR under SET (M) on Thursday and it turned out fine, as you wise people on here reassured me it would.

It was so straightforward and painless it made me wonder if the worry and the preparation had been necessary. I arrived for my 9 am appointment early with a squirmy 20 month old and a grumpy 10 year old and a long suffering partner. The PSC staff were helpful and friendly and it was all over by 11:30. Granted.

They didn't ask about the 6 month absence from the UK, or the change of pay in August, or the 5 year old LIUK test pass (taken for a previous withdrawn ILR app in 2012), or anything at all. They just took my biometrics, sent me out for an hour, and called me back to give me my documents back.

Thank you to those on here who helped me along the way. Haven't gotten my head around citizenship yet but that's next.

Congratulations! 

Congrats! I'll be in Solihull in Dec for the same

Good luck! This was my second time at Solihull (did my second FLR (M) there) and I much prefer it to Cardiff (where my luck was not so good).

We stayed in a B&B near the PSC and the owner claims she has never had anyone who has stayed there have an application refused. I find this hard to believe but maybe her B&B is charmed.

BTW, I made an appointment for 26 days from the expiration of my FLR (M) visa and it was fine.

Good luck! This was my second time at Solihull (did my second FLR (M) there) and I much prefer it to Cardiff (where my luck was not so good).

I did my first FLR(M) at Cardiff.  Is Solihull less depressing, or is it just nicer because you had a bad experience at Cardiff?  My husband is going to have to take some time off work for the appointment when we do it, so we could travel if it's worth it.

Woo hoo!  Another member of the "I Got ILR after FIVE LONG YEARS" Club!

Woo hoo!  Another member of the "I Got ILR after FIVE LONG YEARS" Club!

Thanks! 10 years, in my case, but only 5 on the partner route. Long wait, but worth it!

I did my first FLR(M) at Cardiff.  Is Solihull less depressing, or is it just nicer because you had a bad experience at Cardiff?

I found Cardiff depressing too, not just because of the bad luck. Solihull is not--or it didn't seem so on my visits. The staff seem to like people, and want to help them. The centre is cramped but comfortable and bright. The neighbourhood is a fine place to spend a few hours (big park, new shopping mall) and relatively easy to get to. Cardiff had hard metal seats; Solihull has slightly stained sofas.