Further Leave to Remain process

Hi, back again!  Hard to believe it's been 2 years but it's time for me to start getting ready to apply for my further leave to remain.

So first off, we're wondering what our window is for applying.  I arrived in the UK on December 22nd of 2017, and my BRP has an issue date of December 2, 2017 with an expiry date of September 8, 2020.  What is the earliest and latest date we can submit our application?  And am I allowed to travel out of the UK while the application is being processed?

That's all I'll ask for now, but I will have many more questions as the weeks pass.  The main reason for asking this question now is we're looking at booking a Summer vacation and the only time off I have from work is at the end of July into the first part of August.

Thanks in advance!

Jeremy

Welcome back .

So first off, we're wondering what our window is for applying.  I arrived in the UK on December 22nd of 2017, and my BRP has an issue date of December 2, 2017 with an expiry date of September 8, 2020.  What is the earliest and latest date we can submit our application?  And am I allowed to travel out of the UK while the application is being processed?

The earliest date you can apply is 28 days before you reach 30 months (2.5 years in the UK). The latest date is the expiry date of your BRP.

So, if you entered the UK on December 2nd 2017, you will reach 30 months on June 2nd 2020. 28 days before this is May 5th 2020... so your window to apply is May 5th to September 8th 2020.

In terms of applying, you just need to have submitted the online application between those dates. You do not have to have attended biometrics or have the visa processed by then. If your BRP expires before you get the FLR(M), your spousal visa will simply be extended under 3C leave while it is processing. Processing times are generally about 8 weeks.

You cannot travel while the visa is being processed, but you have a couple of options:
- apply in May or June before you go on holiday... if you don't think there will be enough time to get the visa using standard processing (8 weeks), you can pay £800 extra for a premium appointment which should give a decision within 24 hours and the BRP will be mailed within 7-10 working days.
or
- apply after you get back from your holiday in August... as long as the application is submitted before September 8th, you will be fine.

And actually, the later you apply, the more time you will have to apply for ILR at the end of 2022... because the visa will be issued later, and therefore will expire later.

For example, if you applied in mid-May 2020 and used premium processing, it would be issued mid-May 2020, and would expire mid-November 2020... which only would give you a window of a few days to apply for ILR (as the earliest you can apply is 28 days before December 2nd 2022, which is November 4th).

But if you applied mid-August 2020, and used standard processing the visa would likely be issued in mid-October 2020, and would be valid until mid-April 2023... which would give you a window of just over 5 months to apply for ILR (November 4th 2022 up until the visa expiry in April 2023).

Excellent, thank you for the information!

So another area of worry for my wife is the aspect of the documentation proving that we've lived together.  What pieces of mail are best for this?  And how many different items should we provide?  Just so we can plan ahead because she's already worried about it lol.

Excellent, thank you for the information!

So another area of worry for my wife is the aspect of the documentation proving that we've lived together.  What pieces of mail are best for this?  And how many different items should we provide?  Just so we can plan ahead because she's already worried about it lol.

Hi Jeremy! 

It's 6 joint or up to 12 individual pieces or a combination of both. They should be from the most recent 2 years when you apply and spaced evenly. They must be original, sent to you through the mail and they need to be from 3 or more sources.

Examples of acceptable items of correspondence
• letters or other documents from government departments or agencies, for example HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, DVLA, TV Licensing
• letters or other documents from your GP, a hospital or other local health service about medical treatments, appointments, home visits or other medical matters
• bank statements/letters
• building society savings books/letters
• council tax bills or statements
• electricity and/or gas bills or statements
• water rates bills or statements
• mortgage statements/agreement
• tenancy agreement(s)
• telephone bills or statements