Online Citizenship Application - Timeline Questions

Some niggly questions about online citizenship application. I am now ready to apply - referees lined up, etc. - but, as it happens, I was abroad 8 - 18 February 2019. I understand I should have been present in the UK exactly three years before the date of application (I'm married to a UK spouse); this means, realistically, the earliest I can submit the application is on 18 February 2022.

(1) I have a UK entry stamp on my US passport dated 18 Feb 2019. Would this be sufficient evidence for my UK presence, if I make the application on or shortly after 18 Feb this year? I have been abroad since, but I have no further UK stamps since I have started using the automated gate at Heathrow (I have stamps of countries I visited).

(2) Ideally I'd like to have the application ready for submission by 18 Feb, so that all I have to do then will be to hit the "submit" button. How much of the supporting documents should I have ready by then? Specifically the referee forms - am I correct in thinking that I will be filling referee details myself online as part of the application process, and the forms will become available for download once the application is submitted (similar to Family Declaration in the case of ILR)?

Thanks in advance 

Some niggly questions about online citizenship application. I am now ready to apply - referees lined up, etc. - but, as it happens, I was abroad 8 - 18 February 2019. I understand I should have been present in the UK exactly three years before the date of application (I'm married to a UK spouse); this means, realistically, the earliest I can submit the application is on 18 February 2022.

Well, technically you could apply any time from 30th Jan to 8th Feb and from 18th Feb onwards, it's just that you cannot apply between 9th-17th Feb because you were not in the UK on those dates in 2019.

(1) I have a UK entry stamp on my US passport dated 18 Feb 2019. Would this be sufficient evidence for my UK presence, if I make the application on or shortly after 18 Feb this year? I have been abroad since, but I have no further UK stamps since I have started using the automated gate at Heathrow (I have stamps of countries I visited).

Yep, that should be fine.

(2) Ideally I'd like to have the application ready for submission by 18 Feb, so that all I have to do then will be to hit the "submit" button. How much of the supporting documents should I have ready by then? Specifically the referee forms - am I correct in thinking that I will be filling referee details myself online as part of the application process, and the forms will become available for download once the application is submitted (similar to Family Declaration in the case of ILR)?

All your documents should be ready before you apply online. However, there are very few documents required anyway, so there isn't much to prepare.

I'm not quite sure how the referee forms work, but I would think that it'll be a case of downloading them when you apply online.

The only documents you'll need are:
- your US passport
- your ILR BRP card
- your spouse's UK passport
- your marriage certificate
- your Life in the UK test reference number
- 2 signed referee forms (which I'm assuming will be downloaded and signed after you have applied online?)

Well, technically you could apply any time from 30th Jan to 8th Feb and from 18th Feb onwards, it's just that you cannot apply between 9th-17th Feb because you were not in the UK on those dates in 2019.

Yep, that should be fine.

Thank you - yes theoretically I can squeeze an application in by 7 Feb, but my experience with online FLR and ILR applications tells me 18 Feb is a more realistic timeline.

All your documents should be ready before you apply online. However, there are very few documents required anyway, so there isn't much to prepare.

I'm not quite sure how the referee forms work, but I would think that it'll be a case of downloading them when you apply online.

The only documents you'll need are:
- your US passport
- your ILR BRP card
- your spouse's UK passport
- your marriage certificate
- your Life in the UK test reference number
- 2 signed referee forms (which I'm assuming will be downloaded and signed after you have applied online?)

Thank you for the list - that's very helpful. I have lined up all except referee forms.

My "professional" referee is an out-of-town friend, and I need to think about the logistics of involving him (certainly, COVID is causing complications here - my friend cares for an elderly parent). It would be very helpful if someone could tell me when the form becomes available in the application process, and by when I am / the referee is expected to submit it.