Quick Q: When can you phone to book ILR appointment?

Hi all.  Does anyone know how far in advance you can phone to book an appointment for an ILR application?

I would like to make an appointment for my ILR application on June 21 ideally.  I just called today and was told that I can't make an appointment until June 2, as my current spouse settlement visa does not expire until June 30.  I knew that I could not actually HAVE an appointment until June 2, but I assumed that I could book one before then.  It just occured to me that maybe I misunderstood the woman on the phone, and she was actually trying to say that I could not make the application before June 2, not that I could not book the appointment before then.  I'm hoping this is the case, as I will be out of the country June 2-21 (was hoping to visit the Croydon PEO on the way back from Heathrow, as it is sort of on our way home).

Thanks!

You should be able to call quite early.  My appointment was 9 September, which was the first day I was eligible to apply (FLR expired 7 Oct).  I called about two weeks before that to set the appointment.

OK, I just called them again.  (Got through on the first try this time-- yippee!)  It turns out that I did misunderstand the woman-- she was saying that I couldn't have an appointment before June 2, not that I couldn't BOOK one before then.  However, I still can not book an apointment for June 21.  Currently they are only accepting appointments through June 5 (2 weeks).  I asked the guy if that means they only accept appointments 2 weeks before the date.  He said yes, but then he said no, that I should try calling next week, but he was not sure that I would actually be able to book an appointment for the 21st next week.  Does anyone know how this works?  I seem to remember that the UK embassy in NY had a website with a calendar that showed which dates they were currently booking for appointments, but I see no such system on the Home Office website.  It's not a crucial issue, but it would be nice not to waste too much time trying to get through if I can't make the appointment anyway!

I just looked back at my ILR post....apparently I made my appointment in "early August", so that would've been at least 3 weeks ahead of time, and certainly at least 3 weeks before I was allowed to apply.  My appointment was with the Liverpool PEO, though, so they might be clearer with the procedures....just sounds like you're not getting the brightest sparks on the other end of the line. 

Just called again.  This time they said that I can not book an appointment until June 5th!  (And I made sure that I was understanding correctly this time.)  I get a different story every time I call!

I think I will try again later and see if I get a different person who thinks I can make the appointment now. 

Sigh.  Sometimes I feel like they make this process exra onerous just to test how much you really want to live here.

I phoned 2 more times this week and was told both times to call back on June 5 (28 days before my 2 year anniversary of entering the UK).  This doesn't make any sense because I would be elligible to apply on June 5, so surely I should be able to make a appointment beforehand!  I was convinced that some of the IND representatives do not know the policy, so I kept calling hoping to get someone better informed.

Today I finally got a straight answer:  For Croydon right now, they can not book appointments more than 2 weeks in advance.  Their (computer presumably) system only gives them the next 2 weeks.

I don't know if the 28 days thing is also correct policy (today is 28 days before my visa expires, so that may have been relevant).  But even if it is, I told these other people I spoke to that I wanted an appointment on June 21, so if they were on the ball, they should have told me to call back on June 7, not June 5.

Sigh.  2 weeks is not very far in advance to book this kind of appointment-- just adds to the anxiety.  (Not to mention that I will be traveling then-- who wants to spend their vacation trying to get through to the IND?!)  But at least I know the rules now.

(Not to mention that I will be traveling then-- who wants to spend their vacation trying to get through to the IND?!)  But at least I know the rules now.

Is there someone who could make the call for you?  I was only asked for my name and my birthdate when I called...surely anyone could give them that info?

I called today (13 June) and the first day I am eligible for an appt is 19 June (which is the day that I booked it for), and which is 28 days prior to the expiration of my visa. I called last week or the week before and was told that I had to wait until at least 30 days prior to the expiration of my visa before I could book an appt.