FLR vs getting married...

Hi,

I just was looking on the IND website and found out that the fees for FLR have increased again.  I need to apply for FLR as an UP as my work permit  expired at the end of July. (I'm on matty leave now).  My other half and I are getting married next year and the frugal part of me is wanting to just get married now and apply for my ILR to avoid having to pay out a huge chunk of change again in a years time.  Would I need to get any sort of approval to get married here, or could we just do it on our own?  I've been here for 4.5 years and just want to be done with the hassle of permits, visas, waivers etc.  Any advice?

Thanks

if you've been here for 4.5 year on a continus work permit, you can apply for a ILR.  after that you do NOT need to apply for an approval of marriage licence or anything.  you can get married, get benefits, do what you will.  (I will be in your same boat in 2 years time).

but before you rush down to croydon or birmingham or antoher PEO you should get someone else on their board to say grace... anyone wanna say grace.

Which is it?  Has your Work Permit actually expired, or are you on maternity leave?  Because if your work permit is expired, I think you only have 28 days to find another employer to sponsor you or you have to leave.  If your work permit has expired, I don't think you can apply for ILR.

Garry - can you help here?!

My work permit was for a temporary position that ended the last day of July.  My residence permit in my passport is valid through November 2005.  I don't have a permanent position currently or I would file for my ILR and be done with it. My paid matty leave ends the end of September and I wanted to just go back to do bank shifts (Im a nurse by trade) but need either FLR or ILR to do so.  I just feel that I've gotten myself into a pickle here by not being prompt getting my leave sorted out.  I'll just blame it on 'baby brain'.  Don't think IND will buy that one though!

Garry - can you help here?!

Kathleen, what type of residence permit is in your passport? And do you have any amendments from WPUK not in your passport?

Hi Garry,

It's a limited leave to remain obtained with my work permit.  I'm not sure about any ammendments, so the answer is probably no.  It just says limited leave to remain in the UK, no recourse to public funds able to work as authorised by the sec of state.  Am I buggered?

Hi Garry,

It's a limited leave to remain obtained with my work permit.  I'm not sure about any ammendments, so the answer is probably no.  It just says limited leave to remain in the UK, no recourse to public funds able to work as authorised by the sec of state.  Am I buggered?

There are worse situations to be in.  I would need to swot up on how maternity leave affects the employment picture, and I can't get to my references until later today.  Otherwise the general situation reverts to what Peedal said earlier.  It's opportune to call Work Permits and double check your grace period.  But don't do anything until you report back what they said. 

I'm back 

But can't figure it out yet.  I don't understand how you can be on leave from a temporary contract that already ended.  Paid leave at that, as you mentioned.  But it doesn't make sense that it is "leave" if the contract ended already.    

Unless your residence permit was issued by the NHS?