Questions about FLR

You were all so helpful back in June July 2016 in preparing everything correctly for my D-I-L Spouse Visa that once again we have come to you in preparing for her FLR.
We appreciate it is early but prefer to gather our documentation as we go along rather than in a last minute rush/panic.
Details:
D-I-L US citizen
Married in UK June 2012
Spouse Visa expires 9 July 2019(33 months)
2 x children both with UK & US passports
Sponsor same UK job since arriving back home to UK in August 2016 - Salary £40k+
Applicant worked with NHS since Feb 2017 - Salary £14k

Documents to hand:
Marriage Cert
2 x 1 year tenancy agreements (Oct 16 & Oct 17)
Joint Council Tax bil
Joint Water bill
Eon gas / Electric bills since Oct 2016 - Sponsor name only (Eon only put 1 name on account!)
Life Insurance policies on each other cross proposed (showing insurable interest)
Applicant DVLA letter for provisional driving licence
HMRC letters (both)
Applicant Mobile phone bills
Travel insurance policy in all 4 family names)
Bank account details will be obtained (no joint accounts)
Credit card letters & Sky letters (sponsor)

Questions:
Which 4 month periods will we need to cover (starting when?)
How many documents per period?
What other documents can we use?

As I mentioned we are a little ahead of ourselves but prefer to gather stuff as we go along.

Thanks

Questions:
Which 4 month periods will we need to cover (starting when?)
How many documents per period?
What other documents can we use?

1. Whichever 4-month periods work best for you. You need to cover the final 2 years leading up to the application date.

From your previous posts, it looks like she entered the UK on 15th October 2016? She can apply up to 28 days before she reaches 30 months in the UK. She'll reach 30 months on April 15th 2019, so she can apply for FLR(M) starting around 18th March 2019.

So, if she applies in March 2019, then the 4-month periods you will want to cover are approximately:
March-June 2017
July-Oct 2017
Nov 2017-Feb 2018
March-June 2018
July-Oct 2018
Nov 2017-Feb 2019

2. You need 1 document in each name per period. If the documents are joint, then it's just 1 document per 4 months (3 per year). If the documents are separately addressed, then it's 1 each (2 per 4 months), so 6 per year. If the documents are a combination of joint and separate then you just include the right number to make 6 in each name.

3. You need at least 3 different official sources. Acceptable sources are listed on the FLR(M) form, page 64: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-as-a-partner-or-dependent-child-form-flrm

Thanks Ksand24 for your prompt reply.
She did indeed enter UK on 15 October 2016 but her visa expiry date is 9 July 2019 which is 33 months not 30 as you have mentioned.
Can you please clarify why you have mentioned 30 months not 33?
She did apply when in USA and not UK.
Thanks again

She did indeed enter UK on 15 October 2016 but her visa expiry date is 9 July 2019 which is 33 months not 30 as you have mentioned.
Can you please clarify why you have mentioned 30 months not 33?
She did apply when in USA and not UK.
Thanks again

I said 30 months because that's how long you have to live in the UK for before you can apply for FLR(M). The visa is valid for 33 months (originally to give you 3 months leeway to enter the UK and still qualify for FLR(M) and ILR), but you can apply for FLR(M) up to 28 days before you reach 30 months... which means she can apply any time between March 18th 2019 and July 9th 2019.

If you enter the UK on a spousal visa, your visas are issued as follows:
- 33-month spousal visa
- 30-month FLR(M)
Total visa time = 63 months
Total time you need to live in the UK for to qualify for ILR = 60 months

You can apply for ILR up to 28 days before you reach 60 months in the UK, which means you can apply for FLR(M) after only 30 months and still have enough time to qualify for ILR.

If you enter the UK on a different visa and then switch to FLR(M) (i.e. fiance visa, student visa, work visa), your visas are issued as follows:
- 30-month FLR(M)
- 30-month FLR(M)
Total visa time = 60 months
Total time you need to live in the UK for to qualify for ILR = 60 months

You can apply for ILR up to 28 days before you reach 60 months in the UK, which means you cannot apply for the second FLR(M) until 28 days before the first one expires (30 months), otherwise you may run out of time to qualify for ILR.

Thank you.

ksand 24
Further to my message 6 February regarding documents. The official web site sites that "electronic bills must be accompanied by a letter from the issuing authority on its headed stationery confirming that the documents are authentic, or bear the official stamp of the issuing authority on every page".
I understand this about bank statements, but does this actually mean statements from SKY and Eon where almost everyone's account staements are now on line rather than sent via post?
Thanks

ksand 24
Further to my message 6 February regarding documents. The official web site sites that "electronic bills must be accompanied by a letter from the issuing authority on its headed stationery confirming that the documents are authentic, or bear the official stamp of the issuing authority on every page".
I understand this about bank statements, but does this actually mean statements from SKY and Eon where almost everyone's account staements are now on line rather than sent via post?
Thanks

That is specifically for the bank statements.
The bills for the correspondence must be original and sent to you through the post.
Until you have ILR, you should have the paperless setting turned off for all of your accounts. 

Hello once again,

We are starting to prepare D-I-L documents (well in advance I know) as well as familiarising ourselves with the application form.

Could you help clarifying Q 9:15 please (" details of the Diplomatic post involved if the application was made abroad".)

This is in relation to her current  visa I assume.?

Thanks in advance

Could you help clarifying Q 9:15 please (" details of the Diplomatic post involved if the application was made abroad".)

This is in relation to her current  visa I assume.?

Yes, it's the UKVI office/consulate that issued her visa... so if you applied from the US, that will be the address of UKVI Sheffield.

thank you once again. So efficient! 

Hi All,

Me and the hubby are over a year away from applying for FLR but I just wanted to ask a couple of questions:-

1) Is there a standard checklist of documents for FLR to collect over the 2 years? We live with my parents so we don't have any bills that come to the house. We have bank statements, letter from HMRC, DVLA, letters from his employer but I'm wondering if I should maybe put the mobile account under his name so we can get bills as well as bank statements to cover the 4 month periods.

2) Also, when the time comes can we apply for a further 5 years or the 2 year route? I know we cannot do ILR until he has been here for 60 months but I wondered what the pros and cons or how the requirements differ for both.

3) Is FLR still done by completing an online application, making the payment for the visa and IHS charge online, then printing off the documents and submitting a printed out copy with the documentation either via post or an in person appointment?

I know alot can change by the time we apply again but I'd like to keep up  to speed as last time I stressed myself into a real mess so I want to stay on track.

Thank you for any advice.

1.  Official sources for mail (as you are).  You need at least three different sources at the time of application.  Throw nothing away.

2.  FLR is issued for 30 months.  No other options.

3.  The entire process is changing right now.  Now more in person applications after Nov 30th.  It’s all a bit of a mess right now.  Check in closer to the time and we will have figured it out.   

Thank you so much KFDancer I can see it's really going through the changes so I will check in closer to the time. Finger's crossed the process keeps improving.