Spouse/ILR/ILE and document ??'s

Hi all 

I was reading here a couple weeks ago and it was posted that in-person ILRs were costing the same or close to mail-in ones. Is that right or am I remembering it wrong? Assuming for a second it is right, is it possible for me to come into the country, take/pass my KOL and file in person for ILR while I'm there (I qualify under the 4 year rule)? If so, would my husband need to be with me?

Documentation question, our bank statements look AWFUL at the moment and I'd really rather include only the next 3 as our finances are improving, would that hurt my application much? Also, do I need checking account statements or is savings what they're after?

As always TIA! 

If you haven't gotten your spousal visa yet, then when you apply ask for KoL...(Knowledge of Life) endorsement. This means as soon as you enter the UK you can take the Life in the UK test, and if you pass it, apply straight away for ILR.

Documents for the spousal visa...hmmm lol we just went through this last week.
Rental agreement/mortgage papers (UK) Also a letter from the landlord stating you can live at the residence.
UK spouses bank statements (3-6 months)
Either their birth certificate, and a copy of their information page out of their pass port..or their actual passport.
3 months wage slips..or if a new job a letter from their employer stating their wages and job information.
Sponsor letter from UK spouse.

You will need your passport
2 passport photo's
finance information, like banking statements, savings etc.
driving record if any tickets
Marriage certificate
Proof of living as man an wife for 4 yrs outside the UK. (like bills in both names covering 4 yrs..like 2 per yr...or official IRS transcripts)
Your qualifications and/or CV
Proof of continued contact if you have been separated for more than like 3 months. (like phone records, emails or chat sessions)


I may not have gotten this list 100% right, but this is what we submitted for my wife's application last week, and she receive ILE.

I do wish you the best of luck. It is a very stressful process. Just remember if you are in the US, and don't want to wait for weeks..then you have the option of paying an extra $300 to have it expedited.

Good luck

I was reading here a couple weeks ago and it was posted that in-person ILRs were costing the same or close to mail-in ones. Is that right or am I remembering it wrong? Assuming for a second it is right, is it possible for me to come into the country, take/pass my KOL and file in person for ILR while I'm there (I qualify under the 4 year rule)? If so, would my husband need to be with me?

Do you mean come in as a visitor, take the test and apply for ILR, or are you talking about after you have moved to the UK on a spousal visa? You can only file for ILR in the UK if you already live in the UK on a different visa and have met the requirements for ILR (i.e. you have a spousal visa with KOL Req'd, or you have lived in the UK for 2 years as a spouse or 5 years on a work permit), so you cannot get ILR if you are just a visitor.

So you have two options:

1) Enter the UK as a visitor, take the KOL, fly back to the US and apply for a spousal visa requesting ILE based on the fact that you have already passed the KOL test. Then you can move to the UK with your husband and not have to worry about any more immigration issues (apart from qualifying for UK citizenship later down the line).

or

2) Apply for a spousal visa in the US,  move to the UK with your husband, take the KOL test when you're ready and then apply for ILR (either in person or by mail) once you are living in the UK.

Do you mean come in as a visitor, take the test and apply for ILR, or are you talking about after you have moved to the UK on a spousal visa? You can only file for ILR in the UK if you already live in the UK on a different visa and have met the requirements for ILR (i.e. you have a spousal visa with KOL Req'd, or you have lived in the UK for 2 years as a spouse or 5 years on a work permit), so you cannot get ILR if you are just a visitor.

So you have two options:

1) Enter the UK as a visitor, take the KOL, fly back to the US and apply for a spousal visa requesting ILE based on the fact that you have already passed the KOL test. Then you can move to the UK with your husband and not have to worry about any more immigration issues (apart from qualifying for UK citizenship later down the line).

or

2) Apply for a spousal visa in the US,  move to the UK with your husband, take the KOL test when you're ready and then apply for ILR (either in person or by mail) once you are living in the UK.

Thanks, that was exactly what I was wondering about. For some reason I thought I may be able to skip the spouse visa w/out having lived there if I applied in person for ILR but of course I can't do it quite that way. I am currently planning to come to the UK just to take the test and then file for ILE from the US. Thanks again!

If anyone has any input on my second question about bank statements that would be great! Savings or checking or both? And is 3 months really acceptable?

Thanks again 

If anyone has any input on my second question about bank statements that would be great! Savings or checking or both? And is 3 months really acceptable?

You need to include a minimum of 3 months of bank statements - there's no way around that, but you don't have to send more (i.e. 6 months) if you don't want to. As long as you have the latest 3 months (right up to your application date), you should be fine.

Obviously it depends on your finances, but I would say it's best to include evidence of any and all the money you have available to you for moving to and living in the UK... so I would probably include both checking and savings.