Some preliminary questions--FLR(M) later this year

Hi everyone,

I am applying for FLR(M) later this year and have a few questions. It's months out but I don't want to be scrambling around at the last minute.

1. I arrived on 15 February 2017. Can anyone confirm which date I can apply from?  BRP doesn't expire until October.

2. I have kept every bill, statement, etc that has arrived ever because of this. It is still 6 pieces of mail to prove we live together, evenly spaced? Is that if they are joint mail? So if something is to just me we need 12 pieces of mail?

3. We get paid into our own personal accounts and then transfer money to a joint account.  I think we will likely use only my husband's income because I have 2 jobs and my pay changes every month.  I make the amount but it's just less hassle to go with his regular paycheck. In that case, are my personal statements acceptable as mail? Are our joint statements acceptable as mail to both of us, since the payslip will be matched to my husband's personal bank account?

4. I've seen a lot of changes but can't keep up. Do we now need to go in person for these appointments rather than just mailing?  Or is that just a premium option?

5. Can someone pour me a drink to get me through this? 

Hey,

1. I arrived on 15 February 2017. Can anyone confirm which date I can apply from?  BRP doesn't expire until October.

You can apply up to 28 days before you reach 30 months (2.5 years) in the UK. So, if you entered on 15th February 2017, you will reach 30 months on 15th August 2019... which means you can apply from 18th July 2019 onwards.

2. I have kept every bill, statement, etc that has arrived ever because of this. It is still 6 pieces of mail to prove we live together, evenly spaced? Is that if they are joint mail? So if something is to just me we need 12 pieces of mail?

Yes, to all of that.

It is:
- 6 items of mail in each name (so, 6 joint, or 12 separate, or a combination of both, giving 6 each)
- from at least 3 different official sources
- spread evenly over the final 2 years before applying (i.e. July 2017 to July 2019)... which is 1 in each name every 4 months
- if they are separately addressed for a particular period, they should be dated as close to each other as possible (i.e. both dated mid-July)

3. We get paid into our own personal accounts and then transfer money to a joint account.  I think we will likely use only my husband's income because I have 2 jobs and my pay changes every month.  I make the amount but it's just less hassle to go with his regular paycheck. In that case, are my personal statements acceptable as mail? Are our joint statements acceptable as mail to both of us, since the payslip will be matched to my husband's personal bank account?

You can use either of your bank statements towards the 6 items of mail, and yes, joint statements are acceptable.

4. I've seen a lot of changes but can't keep up. Do we now need to go in person for these appointments rather than just mailing?  Or is that just a premium option?

You have to pay £610 extra for a premium appointment, which gives a decision within 24 hours. If you don't want to pay the extra £610, you can apply by post.

5. Can someone pour me a drink to get me through this? 

I'm pouring a virtual drink for you .

Thanks so much!!  I'm so nervous but I'm gonna do it all with UK Yankee board hand holding this time because last time I didn't find you guys until after I had applied and realized I had missed a trick.

ksand, I have a follow up question to 1, then. I will be in America for a couple weeks in July (I'm in my best friend's wedding so the date isn't able to change). If I come back after 18 July, I won't have any problem coming in, right? Because I will still have a few months of validity on my BRP?  I want to get it sorted ASAP but her wedding is 13 July so I can't get it before I go.

Thanks so much!!  I'm so nervous but I'm gonna do it all with UK Yankee board hand holding this time because last time I didn't find you guys until after I had applied and realized I had missed a trick.

Stick with us, and we'll help you through it .

ksand, I have a follow up question to 1, then. I will be in America for a couple weeks in July (I'm in my best friend's wedding so the date isn't able to change). If I come back after 18 July, I won't have any problem coming in, right? Because I will still have a few months of validity on my BRP?  I want to get it sorted ASAP but her wedding is 13 July so I can't get it before I go.

Nope, no issues at all, because you have until the October visa expiry date to apply.

July 18th is simply the earliest date you are eligible to submit your application... but as long as you get the application submitted before your visa expires, the date you actually apply is irrelevant.

The only time you might have a problem coming back in is if you tried to re-enter in October, in the last few days before your visa expires, because the immigration officer might be concerned that you won't have enough time to get the application in before expiry.

Hi again ksand and other helpful pals, thought I would bump this thread as we are gearing up to do this in the next couple of weeks.

In April it seemed the current fees did not go up, just the NHS fee last year--does anyone know the current FLRM fee? I am thinking we do want to do the priority fee if that's still £610.

If we do the priority fee, is that where we submit everything online, pay, and choose an appointment online? How far in advance are appointments? And is the appointment where they do biometrics etc? Is there another step I am missing?

We live in Kent so are closest to London (or is it Croydon?) for an in person appointment, but have budgeted some travel money in case the appointments there are sold out but there are other suitable ones elsewhere in the country. Does anyone know where the locations of the various centres are?

I'm sure I'll be back to ask more questions before applying including making sure I have all of the correct documents in order ahead of submitting. These are just a few things I've been wondering about recently!

I’m just a few months behind you and have all the same questions so hope you don’t mind me peeping in on you! 

(Can’t remember if there’s a good way to save a post either if someone wouldn’t mind reminding me! How did the time fly by so fast?? Can’t believe it’s so close to renewal)

Hi again ksand and other helpful pals, thought I would bump this thread as we are gearing up to do this in the next couple of weeks.

In April it seemed the current fees did not go up, just the NHS fee last year--does anyone know the current FLRM fee? I am thinking we do want to do the priority fee if that's still £610.

If we do the priority fee, is that where we submit everything online, pay, and choose an appointment online? How far in advance are appointments? And is the appointment where they do biometrics etc? Is there another step I am missing?

We live in Kent so are closest to London (or is it Croydon?) for an in person appointment, but have budgeted some travel money in case the appointments there are sold out but there are other suitable ones elsewhere in the country. Does anyone know where the locations of the various centres are?

I'm sure I'll be back to ask more questions before applying including making sure I have all of the correct documents in order ahead of submitting. These are just a few things I've been wondering about recently!

It has alllllll changed so so so much.  No more in person appointments.  There is a Super service that you are *supposed* to have an answer within 24 hours for £800 but it can be a bit hit and miss. 

The FLR(M) application is £1,033.

It has alllllll changed so so so much.  No more in person appointments.  There is a Super service that you are *supposed* to have an answer within 24 hours for £800 but it can be a bit hit and miss. 

The FLR(M) application is £1,033.

Thank you! I meant the Super Service--is that where you just drop off  your docs in person and do biometrics? Or is it something else? I've noticed there are some different types of service centers but I can't really tell what's different about them.

Thank you! I meant the Super Service--is that where you just drop off  your docs in person and do biometrics? Or is it something else? I've noticed there are some different types of service centers but I can't really tell what's different about them.

Is this any help?

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services/detail

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services

Is this any help?

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services/detail

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services

Thank you so much!! I couldn't seem to click around and find the right pages.

I didn't realize there was an appendix during my first visa app and they had to email and request it--I know I'm lucky they did, so I am super super anxious to get it right for the renewal.