FLR (M) to ILR (SET M)- Questions and Document Prep

Hello!

After successfully submitting my last FLR (M) visa with the help of this fantastic community 2.5 years ago, I'm back at it again putting together my application for my ILR.  Since Kstarrs and others have begun similar threads recently, I'm going to consult those first so I'm hopefully not repeating anything, but, as I'm gathering together all my documents, I realised I do have one area I'm not so clear on relating to my application that I'm hoping someone here might be able to help with.

For Finances, I know 7 months of payslips, 7 months of bank statements, and a letter from an employer are all necessary. My question is around whose finances to use, mine (I'm the applicant) or my spouse's?

As a bit of background, my spouse has been working for their company for 10+ years, earns over the ILR salary requirement, and can easily get the payslips/bank statements/HR letter.

In my case, I'm worried about things being a little tricker because I changed employers in mid-January 2023. For 3+ years, until January 2023, I held a permanent contract in one role, and then switched to a permanent contract in a new one. In both jobs, I've earned over the ILR salary requirement and, because I started my new role the day after my official end date at my old one, I haven't had a gap in employment.

We plan to submit my ILR application at the end of this month, however, and that means the 7 months of payslips will be for January-July. If we use my job for Finances on this application, my January payslip from my new role is quite small (I was only worked a few days before it was issued), and then I also have a January payslip from my old role.

Also, if I’m reading previous community advice correctly, if we use my finances, because of my job change, I think it means I'd have to submit 12 months of payslips/bank statements, rather than 7, and potentially 2 HR letters, and 2 P60s to cover the entire year and both roles? Would it also be worth including a cover letter to explain all this?

I wouldn't have trouble getting all the above from my current/previous employer and bank, I’m just worried about my situation potentially confusing any visa assessor. Since my spouse’s job/finances are more straightforward, my first thought was to just go with my their payslips/HR/bank statements on this. However, on the other hand, I’m wondering if it maybe makes the application stronger if we use mine and I can then show that I have held continuous employment, as this application is a bit more focused on “me” individually more so than me as “spouse”?

If anyone is able to confirm what I’d need to provide if we use my finances (e.g. 12 vs 7 months of payslips and bank statements; letters from one vs both employers’ HR; and one vs both P60s), and provide any advice on whether we should go with my spouse's financial documents or my own, I would very much appreciate it!

For Finances, I know 7 months of payslips, 7 months of bank statements, and a letter from an employer are all necessary. My question is around whose finances to use, mine (I'm the applicant) or my spouse's?

As a bit of background, my spouse has been working for their company for 10+ years, earns over the ILR salary requirement, and can easily get the payslips/bank statements/HR letter.

In my case, I'm worried about things being a little tricker because I changed employers in mid-January 2023. For 3+ years, until January 2023, I held a permanent contract in one role, and then switched to a permanent contract in a new one. In both jobs, I've earned over the ILR salary requirement and, because I started my new role the day after my official end date at my old one, I haven't had a gap in employment.

We plan to submit my ILR application at the end of this month, however, and that means the 7 months of payslips will be for January-July. If we use my job for Finances on this application, my January payslip from my new role is quite small (I was only worked a few days before it was issued), and then I also have a January payslip from my old role.

Sounds like it will be easier to use your spouse's financial documents and not yours, since they have been at their job for several years.

Also, if I’m reading previous community advice correctly, if we use my finances, because of my job change, I think it means I'd have to submit 12 months of payslips/bank statements, rather than 7, and potentially 2 HR letters, and 2 P60s to cover the entire year and both roles? Would it also be worth including a cover letter to explain all this?

If you use your spouse's income, you should just leave your employment details out of the application completely. That way you won't need to include any documents for your employment or a letter of explanation.

You would simply provide:
- 7 months of your spouse's payslips
- 7 months of your spouse's bank statements
- letter from your spouse's employer
- spouse's latest P60
- spouse's job contract

And that's all.

Since my spouse’s job/finances are more straightforward, my first thought was to just go with my their payslips/HR/bank statements on this. However, on the other hand, I’m wondering if it maybe makes the application stronger if we use mine and I can then show that I have held continuous employment, as this application is a bit more focused on “me” individually more so than me as “spouse”?

It doesn't make a difference whose income you use, as long as that income meets the requirements. If your spouse's income is more straightforward, the best thing to do is use theirs and not yours.

It's a tick-box visa... all they will care about is whether or not the financial evidence provided meets the requirements... they don't care if it's your employment or your spouse's, as long as they can tick the box.

Thank you so much for your help here! For ease, I think we will use my spouse’s information for my application! 

I have a related question about Finance documents— do the payslips and bank statements still need to be printed, physically verified (stamped and signed by the bank and HR) and then scanned before uploading, or is it ok to just download them from the bank’s/work’s websites and upload those “digital” copies to the application?

Thank you!

I have a related question about Finance documents— do the payslips and bank statements still need to be printed, physically verified (stamped and signed by the bank and HR) and then scanned before uploading, or is it ok to just download them from the bank’s/work’s websites and upload those “digital” copies to the application?

The bank statements either need to be:
- original statements that have been issued by the bank and mailed to you (or printed by the bank in-branch)
or
- statements downloaded from online banking and printed out, which have either been stamped by the bank on every page, or are accompanied by a letter from the bank confirming their authenticity (then they need to be scanned and uploaded)

The payslips can either be:
- original paper payslips printed and issued by the employer
or
- downloaded digital payslips which are accompanied by a letter from the employer confirming their authenticity

The information Ksand has given you is to be found here.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence