Correct FLR(M) Application Dates?

I’m back to seek the wise advice of the forum…!

Looking ahead, we are trying to determine the correct date to apply for FLR(M).

After my spouse visa was approved, I arrived in the UK with my shiny BRP on October 23, 2017.

I will hit 30 months’ residency on April 23, 2020.

My BRP says “Valid Until 23/07/2020.” That’s July 23, 2020.

One UK GOV site says, “The earliest you can apply is 28 days before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.”

Does my permission to stay in the UK expire on April 23 (30 months) or July 23 (the “valid until” date)?

Which leads to the next question: What is the earliest date we can apply? Is it 28 days before April 23, 2020 or 28 days before July 23, 2020?

Thanks a million! You are always incredibly helpful.

I’m back to seek the wise advice of the forum…!

Looking ahead, we are trying to determine the correct date to apply for FLR(M).

After my spouse visa was approved, I arrived in the UK with my shiny BRP on October 23, 2017.

I will hit 30 months’ residency on April 23, 2020.

My BRP says “Valid Until 23/07/2020.” That’s July 23, 2020.

One UK GOV site says, “The earliest you can apply is 28 days before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.”

Does my permission to stay in the UK expire on April 23 (30 months) or July 23 (the “valid until” date)?

Which leads to the next question: What is the earliest date we can apply? Is it 28 days before April 23, 2020 or 28 days before July 23, 2020?

Thanks a million! You are always incredibly helpful.

You can apply 28 days before April 23, 2020 or as late as July 23, 2020.  So a nice big window.

Be cognizant that you may be reducing the window you'll have to apply for ILR if you apply really early though.

Thanks KFdancer for such a quick, clear and helpful response! Much appreciated!

The reason it's confusing is because it depends what visa you entered the UK on as to when you can apply for FLR(M).

To qualify for ILR, you have to spend 60 months in the UK on settlement visas.

If you entered the UK on a spousal visa, you will have the following visas:
- spousal visa valid 33 months
- FLR(M) visa valid 30 months
So you have 63 months in total, giving 3 months leeway to enter the UK and start your first 30 months... which means you can apply for FLR(M) up to 28 days before you reach 30 months in the UK, which may be more than 28 days before your visa expires.

But if you entered the UK on a different visa (fiance, student or work visa) and then you got married and switched to FLR(M), you will have the following visas:
- FLR(M) visa valid 30 months
- FLR(M) visa valid 30 months
So, you won't reach 30 months until your first FLR(M) visa expires, meaning you can't apply for the second FLR(M) until 28 days before 30 months, which will also be 28 days before it expires.

Thanks ksand24... you're right about it being confusing, but you guys have really helped, as always. Cheers!