Add-on of unused validity? FLR(M) application

I'm pretty sure I understand the timing for the earliest date I can apply for my first FLR(M), but I'm not certain I can count on unused visa validity being added with the visa extension. I've seen others worry about running into a vacuum for ILR - but I've only seen it stated that validity is "usually" added on.

Spouse visa start date: 18 December 2015
First UK entry on visa: 19 December 2015
30-month anniversary of entry: 19 June 2018
28 days earlier (the earliest day I can apply for FLR(M)): 22 May 2018

Although I could wait until September when my visa is close to expiring, for sanity's sake I'm planning to apply ASAP at a premium centre. Will the ~4 months of remaining validity be added on to the end? If not...assuming FLR is granted for 2.5 years from May, I'll run out of visa validity in November 2020 just before the date I can apply for ILR, which I believe is 28 days prior to my 5-year anniversary of entry.

I think it's a common question but I've not found an answer that gives me confidence.

The guidance states that your new FLR(M) visa will be made valid from the expiry date of your previous visa, so you should get the extra time.

However, I don’t think anyone has mentioned recently whether this has actually been the case or not.

If you apply on May 22nd, however, it should not expire before you qualify for ILR because UKVI shouldn’t let that happen. At the earliest, the FLR(M) should start on June 19th. At the latest it should start in September.

Either way, I wouldn’t worry about it. If you want to apply in May, then go ahead and apply. If you want to wait until September, then wait.

The only thing to consider is that the IHS surcharge will double from £500 to £1,000 at some point this year, but we don’t know when that will be, so I would apply earlier rather than later, to potentially save yourself £500.

Is there a particular reason why you want to apply in person? FLR(M) applications are only taking about 5-8 weeks by post (and they haven’t taken longer than 8 weeks for a few years now), so unless you need to travel urgently, I would probably save the £600 for in person and apply by post. That will also guarantee extra time on your visa because it won’t start until it has been issued at the earliest. So even if you apply in May, if it’s not issued until July, your FLR(M) will be valid until at least Jan 2021.



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Thanks very much, this is helpful. Sounds like there is risk, so I'll need to take that into account. The reason I'm wanting to apply for same-day service - regardless of the sticker shock - is because on average I need to travel internationally for my job every 4-5 weeks, sometimes on short notice, so my passport needs to stay handy.

I'll need to decide if I can handle waiting until closer to September - we've been waiting to move to a new home but holding off until the extension is approved, just in case.