ILR Application Procedure + Timelines - Reference Doc

Delurking to share my recent ILR booking experience--Sunday mornings not so competitive?

I travel for work and can't imagine telling clients I can't travel abroad for six months. I did my application last weekend and of course could only book a standard appointment on Saturday afternoon. So I had this intense plan to sleep on the couch next to my laptop with a 1am alarm starting Sunday, and then every night going forward until I could snag a priority spot. I was stressed and cranky all day. On a whim I checked Sunday morning around 9:45/10:00 and had the option for the priority processing, at several places in London, some even just a few days later!

So yeah, just a tip if you're like me and terrible at staying awake past 10pm as well as waking up for alarms.

Updated 25th October 2022 - Reference Doc addressing 4 areas:

1. Current ILR Application Procedure for a spouse.
2. Processing timelines.
3. Priority slot availability.
4. Application Documents required.

Any help or info to improve this doc is appreciated.

ILR APPLICATION PROCEDURE - 5 Year Route.
1) You can apply 28 days before the 5th anniversary of the date you landed.
2) Use the SET(M) form to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK as a partner of a person or parent of a child already settled in the UK.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-settle-in-the-uk-form-setm/apply-online-form-setm
3) Fill out the application form  (includes Life in the UK reference code - which looks something like this PSJ/201120/SW200JF03/C6OO212) ...
4) Submit the Application and pay the application fees - £2400
5) If Super Priority (+£800) is available (see PRIORITY SLOT AVAILABILITY below for availability times) and you choose it you will not be offered use of the app. You will instead receive an email with a registration code for the UKVCAS website, then you:
- Book Biometric Appointment on the UKVCAS website immediately.
- Upload documents to the UKVCAS website before the Biometrics appointment.
- Attend Biometrics Appointment.
- Receive Visa Approval email if criteria is met - currently within 4-5 hours of the appointment.
6) If you do not choose Super Priority one of two things will happen.
a) You receive the app invite where you can upload documents and Biometrics.
b) You don't receive the app invite so you will:
- Book Biometrics Appointment on the UKVCAS website.
- Upload documents to the UKVCAS website before the Biometrics appointment.
- Attend Biometrics Appointment.
- Wait for visa approval email.
- Then wait.  Try not to fret.  Remember this is a visa guaranteed to be approved if you meet the criteria, which you do...



PROCESSING TIMELINES
Time from completing ILR application to being granted access to the app (app is optional and not always available):  4-10 days.
Time from completing ILR application to booking a Biometric Appointment (non-Priority): 15-30 days.
Time from attending Biometrics Appointment to receiving ILR decision:
- Super Priority gives the decision shortly after Biometrics.  Currently running at 4-5 hours after Biometrics.
- Normal Non-Priority Applications - if you use the app, or attend an appointment instead of using the app, it can take 6 months from submitting the biometrics.  Normal Non-Priority Applications taking 4.5 months (July 2022).




PRIORITY SLOT AVAILABILITY
• A certain number of priority slots are released each day.  I think the person who set this up used a very simple routine which releases the appointments each day but did not account for Daylight Savings.  So the appointments become available at 1am.  If I am right this will be Midnight in Winter.
• We think it's 50 each day.   If you stay up until 1am you should get one.
• Once that is booked and paid for you make your Biometrics appointment at one of the UKVCAS centres.  These slots are available up to 28 days in advance.  Each day at 9am the newly available slots (i.e. the ones in 28 days time) are added.


Still with me?  ....

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED + CONFIRMED/APPROVED UPLOAD CATEGORIES (July 2022)
Proof of Application
- Applicant's passport.
- Any other passports held since moving to the UK.
- Signed sponsor's declaration/consent form (part of online application).
Other
- Life in the UK Test (if code not earlier uploaded in application)
- Language Test B1 (not required for applicants from the US, Canada or some other English speaking countries).
Residence in the UK
- 6/7 items of mail in each name dated every 5 months going back 2.5 years (from at least 3 different sources). Either named together or within the same calendar month.
- Lease agreement in both names or Official Copy of Title Deed if owned.
- Latest council tax bill.
- Latest mortgage statement, if you have a mortgage
- A letter dated in the last 3 months confirming each child's address (i.e. from GP or school).
Finances
- 7 months of payslips.
- 7 months of bank statements.
- Employer letter.
- If using savings - £34,600 held in an account for over 6 months and immediately available + a declaration stating source of funds and that the funds are immediately available to withdraw.
Optional but recommended:
- Job contract.
- Latest P60.
Proof of Identity / Travel History
- Applicant's BRP card.
- Sponsor's UK passport.
- Marriage certificate.
- Any divorce decrees.
If you have any children under 18 living in the UK:
- Each child's passport (if you have any children under 18 living in the UK)
- Each child's birth certificate (if you have any children under 18 living in the UK)
- No IHS Surcharge!

If you have paid for UKVCAS Document Checking (£48) you will receive the following email before Biometrics:
Thank you for uploading your supporting documents to the UK Visas and Citizenship Application Service website. We have now completed the following checks of the files that were available as of (today's date).
• Checked for the presence of all mandatory documents
• Checked that all documents are legible
• Checked that all documents been uploaded to the correct category
• Checked for any obvious missing pages
• Checked that all uploaded documents are in either English or Welsh language, or have an accompanying English or Welsh translation.
No action required: Following a review of supporting documents available, we can confirm that:
• Mandatory documents are present in all required categories
• All documents are legible
• All documents have been uploaded to the correct category
• There are no obvious missing pages in any of the documents
• All documents are in either English or Welsh language, or are accompanied with an English or Welsh translation that obviously relates to the original






.

Mbmoffat - Quick question on the document upload. How long do you have to upload all the PDF's once you've submitted?

Our plan is to go the super priority route.

I believe the deadling is 24 hours before your Biometric Appointment but I would get them in as soon as poss! 
Hopefully Ksand or one of the other specialists will verify.
 
Good luck,

Matt

I believe the deadling is 24 hours before your Biometric Appointment but I would get them in as soon as poss! 
Hopefully Ksand or one of the other specialists will verify.
 
Good luck,

Matt

The deadline is 48 hours before your appointment… in order for them to be able to check the documents before you attend.

While you can still upload documents after the 48 hour deadline but before the appointment, the ‘submit documents’ button will disappear 48 hours before the appointment, so any documents uploaded after that will not be transmitted through the system until after you have attended the appointment… which could slow down the processing time (especially if you are using Super Priority).

From the UKVCAS FAQ (https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/faq):




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Updated 25th October 2022 - Reference Doc addressing 4 areas:

1. Current ILR Application Procedure for a spouse.
2. Processing timelines.
3. Priority slot availability.
4. Application Documents required.

Any help or info to improve this doc is appreciated.

ILR APPLICATION PROCEDURE - 5 Year Route.
1) You can apply 28 days before the 5th anniversary of the date you landed.
2) Use the SET(M) form to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK as a partner of a person or parent of a child already settled in the UK.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-settle-in-the-uk-form-setm/apply-online-form-setm
3) Fill out the application form  (includes Life in the UK reference code - which looks something like this PSJ/201120/SW200JF03/C6OO212) ...
4) Submit the Application and pay the application fees - £2400
5) If Super Priority (+£800) is available (see PRIORITY SLOT AVAILABILITY below for availability times) and you choose it you will not be offered use of the app. You will instead receive an email with a registration code for the UKVCAS website, then you:
- Book Biometric Appointment on the UKVCAS website immediately.
- Upload documents to the UKVCAS website before the Biometrics appointment.
- Attend Biometrics Appointment.
- Receive Visa Approval email if criteria is met - currently within 4-5 hours of the appointment.
6) If you do not choose Super Priority one of two things will happen.
a) You receive the app invite where you can upload documents and Biometrics.
b) You don't receive the app invite so you will:
- Book Biometrics Appointment on the UKVCAS website.
- Upload documents to the UKVCAS website before the Biometrics appointment.
- Attend Biometrics Appointment.
- Wait for visa approval email.
- Then wait.  Try not to fret.  Remember this is a visa guaranteed to be approved if you meet the criteria, which you do...



PROCESSING TIMELINES
Time from completing ILR application to being granted access to the app (app is optional and not always available):  4-10 days.
Time from completing ILR application to booking a Biometric Appointment (non-Priority): 15-30 days.
Time from attending Biometrics Appointment to receiving ILR decision:
- Super Priority gives the decision shortly after Biometrics.  Currently running at 4-5 hours after Biometrics.
- Normal Non-Priority Applications - if you use the app, or attend an appointment instead of using the app, it can take 6 months from submitting the biometrics.  Normal Non-Priority Applications taking 4.5 months (July 2022).




PRIORITY SLOT AVAILABILITY
• A certain number of priority slots are released each day.  I think the person who set this up used a very simple routine which releases the appointments each day but did not account for Daylight Savings.  So the appointments become available at 1am.  If I am right this will be Midnight in Winter.
• We think it's 50 each day.   If you stay up until 1am you should get one.
• Once that is booked and paid for you make your Biometrics appointment at one of the UKVCAS centres.  These slots are available up to 28 days in advance.  Each day at 9am the newly available slots (i.e. the ones in 28 days time) are added.


Still with me?  ....

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED + CONFIRMED/APPROVED UPLOAD CATEGORIES (July 2022)
Proof of Application
- Applicant's passport.
- Any other passports held since moving to the UK.
- Signed sponsor's declaration/consent form (part of online application).
Other
- Life in the UK Test (if code not earlier uploaded in application)
- Language Test B1 (not required for applicants from the US, Canada or some other English speaking countries).
Residence in the UK
- 6/7 items of mail in each name dated every 5 months going back 2.5 years (from at least 3 different sources). Either named together or within the same calendar month.
- Lease agreement in both names or Official Copy of Title Deed if owned.
- Latest council tax bill.
- Latest mortgage statement, if you have a mortgage
- A letter dated in the last 3 months confirming each child's address (i.e. from GP or school).
Finances
- 7 months of payslips.
- 7 months of bank statements.
- Employer letter.
- If using savings - £34,600 held in an account for over 6 months and immediately available + a declaration stating source of funds and that the funds are immediately available to withdraw.
Optional but recommended:
- Job contract.
- Latest P60.
Proof of Identity / Travel History
- Applicant's BRP card.
- Sponsor's UK passport.
- Marriage certificate.
- Any divorce decrees.
If you have any children under 18 living in the UK:
- Each child's passport (if you have any children under 18 living in the UK)
- Each child's birth certificate (if you have any children under 18 living in the UK)
- No IHS Surcharge!

If you have paid for UKVCAS Document Checking (£48) you will receive the following email before Biometrics:
Thank you for uploading your supporting documents to the UK Visas and Citizenship Application Service website. We have now completed the following checks of the files that were available as of (today's date).
• Checked for the presence of all mandatory documents
• Checked that all documents are legible
• Checked that all documents been uploaded to the correct category
• Checked for any obvious missing pages
• Checked that all uploaded documents are in either English or Welsh language, or have an accompanying English or Welsh translation.
No action required: Following a review of supporting documents available, we can confirm that:
• Mandatory documents are present in all required categories
• All documents are legible
• All documents have been uploaded to the correct category
• There are no obvious missing pages in any of the documents
• All documents are in either English or Welsh language, or are accompanied with an English or Welsh translation that obviously relates to the original



.

Mbmoffat just submitted and will begin the upload process shortly. One thing I wanted to check having seen all the optional categories, are you sure that my employment related stuff goes under Finances and not Sponsor/Employment? It just threw me off but with the label it seems the most logical place to put it but if that's worked for you I'll just follow that.

Appointment booked for the 30th fingers crossed.

For a spousal FLR or ILR applications, all financial requirement documents should go in the ‘Finances’ section.

The Employment/Sponsor section should not be used, as it would be for a Skilled Worker visa, where the employer is the sponsor.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi everyone!  Just thinking ahead to when we apply for ILR and working out likely timings / when we will be able to go abroad.

Assuming we can secure a super priority appointment, how soon do these tend to be available?  I.e. could it be within a week or two from us submitting the form online?

Thanks

Hi everyone!  Just thinking ahead to when we apply for ILR and working out likely timings / when we will be able to go abroad.

Assuming we can secure a super priority appointment, how soon do these tend to be available?  I.e. could it be within a week or two from us submitting the form online?

Thanks

I’d say 2-3 weeks is normal. Sometimes there’s one available straight away, normally a bit of a wait.

Just wanted to pop on to say that I submitted by online ILR application just now and to confirm that priority slots appeared bang on 1am.

I haven't booked my biometrics appointment yet as I am very pregnant, and the only available date could have me theoretically trying to attend one day postpartum.

I'll let y'all know how long it took to get a decision once I've submitted my fingerprints (I've got till Dec 14th to attend).

Had my biometrics appointment today and received my positive decision email exactly 5 hours later! Will update when my BRP arrives

Oh, and because I've seen queries on other threads, I thought I'd add that I booked a free biometric appointment (after paying the £800 for priority processing there wasn't a cat's chance in hell I was going to shell out even more money just for the privilege of giving my fingerprints *again*)

Had my biometrics appointment today and received my positive decision email exactly 5 hours later! Will update when my BRP arrives

Oh, and because I've seen queries on other threads, I thought I'd add that I booked a free biometric appointment (after paying the £800 for priority processing there wasn't a cat's chance in hell I was going to shell out even more money just for the privilege of giving my fingerprints *again*)

Congratulations!!!

Thank you so much for this thread. I last used this forum back in 2020 for my husband’s FLR M application and now it’s nearly time for his ILR. Will probably start my own thread sometime soon but will definitely be checking and rechecking the immensely valuable posts here.

Thank you to all members for creating such a supportive and helpful forum.

Had my biometrics appointment today and received my positive decision email exactly 5 hours later! Will update when my BRP arrives

Oh, and because I've seen queries on other threads, I thought I'd add that I booked a free biometric appointment (after paying the £800 for priority processing there wasn't a cat's chance in hell I was going to shell out even more money just for the privilege of giving my fingerprints *again*)

My BRP arrived today! It was supposed to come yesterday, but they "attempted" a delivery at 05:30??? And by attempted, they didn't even knock on the door. I know so because I was awake feeding Baby
But I have it now and am filling out the citizenship application!

So approved on Friday, delivery attempted on BD3, delivered BD4.

My BRP arrived today! It was supposed to come yesterday, but they "attempted" a delivery at 05:30??? And by attempted, they didn't even knock on the door. I know so because I was awake feeding Baby
But I have it now and am filling out the citizenship application!

So approved on Friday, delivery attempted on BD3, delivered BD4.

That's awesome! Congrats!!.... We've jsust done Citizenship so it is quite fresh in my head....

Mbmoffat - after uploading your docs did you get any confirmation email? I did click submitted afterwards.

Our appointment is on 30th November. I did select the document checking service so I'd have thought they'd get in touch at some point confirming receipt?