ILR - Timing Question - HELP!

Hi all

I have a very basic question - trying to avoid a heart attack here.

My wife's FLR(M) was granted on 20th July 2020. Her BRP is valid until March 2023, and in our head we had planned to submit ILR in line with the BRP dates.

My wife initially entered the UK on 20th July 2017. Please tell me that we have not messed this up by being overdue?!!!

HELP!

Not at all, she can apply anytime between now and the expiry of her BRP.  It's a good thing, means you guys can control when to send the application and how long she can't travel for while waiting for it to be processed.  It's a good thing!  Yes, she could have applied already, but she's in no way late. 

Not at all, she can apply anytime between now and the expiry of her BRP.  It's a good thing, means you guys can control when to send the application and how long she can't travel for while waiting for it to be processed.  It's a good thing!  Yes, she could have applied already, but she's in no way late. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I'm just starting all the prep now and I see a lot of people refer to applying from just before 5 years and literally had my heart in my mouth, panic stations kicked in thinking she's overstayed and what not! OK so we'll focus on the dates on the BRP as originally planned.

Just the kick up the butt I needed to ensure everything is in order. We have a holiday over the new year so plan is to have everything ready and come and submit by mid- January.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I'm just starting all the prep now and I see a lot of people refer to applying from just before 5 years and literally had my heart in my mouth, panic stations kicked in thinking she's overstayed and what not! OK so we'll focus on the dates on the BRP as originally planned.

Just the kick up the butt I needed to ensure everything is in order. We have a holiday over the new year so plan is to have everything ready and come and submit by mid- January.

MBMoffat has created a helpful working document under the thread, 'ILR Application Procedure + Timelines, reference document' If you scroll to the end of the thread there is the most up to date version with details of guidance received here and timelines for those of us who have been completing ILR recently.

Best of luck with it.

Em

MBMoffat has created a helpful working document under the thread, 'ILR Application Procedure + Timelines, reference document' If you scroll to the end of the thread there is the most up to date version with details of guidance received here and timelines for those of us who have been completing ILR recently.

Best of luck with it.

Em

Thank you, my main worry was that we've left it too late but we're going to apply a month before the BRP is due to expire.
That thread by MBMoffat has pretty much what I need from a checklist perspective so I will be following that for updates and using it as a guideline.

All the best to you as well!

Thank you, my main worry was that we've left it too late but we're going to apply a month before the BRP is due to expire.
That thread by MBMoffat has pretty much what I need from a checklist perspective so I will be following that for updates and using it as a guideline.

All the best to you as well!

Just bear in mind though, that the earlier she applies for ILR, the sooner she will be:
- free from immigration restrictions
- eligible to claim UK government benefits
- eligible to apply for UK citizenship.

Assuming she wants to, she can apply for UK citizenship as soon as her ILR is granted, so if you did apply earlier, she could gain her citizenship several months earlier than if you waited.


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On the flip side, if you know she won't need to travel for at least 6 months, you can apply using standard processing which saves £800. 

It is six months though....  I was too scared to wait that long.   

Hello Tazzy!, I remember you from that crazy summer of 2017 when UKVI moved from Manila to Sheffield and we all got stuck. 54 Business days etc....

Two things:
1) I suggest it would be a good idea to put the application in sooner rather than later just like Ksand advises.
2) Even if you wait to apply I very strongly recommend you get the Life in the UK test out of the way right now. I have 2 friends who left it late and got themselves in a right old state.  There is no pressure if you do it early - it's the only part that is a bit outside your control.

all the best,

Matt

Just bear in mind though, that the earlier she applies for ILR, the sooner she will be:
- free from immigration restrictions
- eligible to claim UK government benefits
- eligible to apply for UK citizenship.

Assuming she wants to, she can apply for UK citizenship as soon as her ILR is granted, so if you did apply earlier, she could gain her citizenship several months earlier than if you waited.


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Thanks Ksand! Hope you're well! Believe it or not she has no interest in citizenship whatsoever. As she has US citizenship along with Bangladesh citizenship right now she's not interested in getting UK citizenship and passport.

Obviously if the political climate changes then we may need to apply.

Hello Tazzy!, I remember you from that crazy summer of 2017 when UKVI moved from Manila to Sheffield and we all got stuck. 54 Business days etc....

Two things:
1) I suggest it would be a good idea to put the application in sooner rather than later just like Ksand advises.
2) Even if you wait to apply I very strongly recommend you get the Life in the UK test out of the way right now. I have 2 friends who left it late and got themselves in a right old state.  There is no pressure if you do it early - it's the only part that is a bit outside your control.

all the best,

Matt

Hi Matt,

Long time no speak! Hope you're well

We've got the Life in the UK test booked for the 20th. Wife is currently studying using the handbook, we'll probably need to order some practice tests and answers and hope she nails it the first time.

I'll be following your thread religiously, thank you for putting it together!

Hi Matt,

Long time no speak! Hope you're well

We've got the Life in the UK test booked for the 20th. Wife is currently studying using the handbook, we'll probably need to order some practice tests and answers and hope she nails it the first time.

I'll be following your thread religiously, thank you for putting it together!

There are lots of practice tests available for free online.

Thanks Ksand! Hope you're well! Believe it or not she has no interest in citizenship whatsoever. As she has US citizenship along with Bangladesh citizenship right now she's not interested in getting UK citizenship and passport.

Obviously if the political climate changes then we may need to apply.

Keep it in the back of both your heads that’ll you’ll still need to keep on top of immigration updates and future “hoops to jump through”.

The risk we see frequently is someone returning to their home country for what is supposed to be a brief trip, but takes them out of the U.K. for too long, this invalidating the ILR and having to start the process over.

It’s absolutely okay to never take the step to citizenship, a friend of mine has been here well over 30 years and won’t ever become British. But there can be future hurdles.

Dear all,

My wife just sat and passed the Life in the UK Test this weekend gone. 

As per your suggestions, I think we might just go ahead and submit our ILR application a bit earlier (finances permitting).  I'm slowly starting to put the documents together and we're thinking of doing it in early to mid November (with October being the last payslip used).

I've got a few questions just to confirm I'm on the right track

Q1) For the finances, I would be using April - October 2022 pay slips and corresponding bank statements to make up 7 months. Would that suffice? If I've got all the documents ready by e.g. 10th of November.

Q2) For the residence in the UK to show cohabitation, I just wanted to check my dates are correct. If we applied in early to Mid November would we be OK reaching back 2.5 years from October 2022? So October 2022, May 2022, December 2021, July 2021, February 2021, September 2020. Would I need to go further? I might be completely off here so if anyone would be kind enough to correct it that would be much appreciated.

Q3) My employer is 100% remote so all docs have been signed using docusign and all pay slips are online (downloaded PDFs). If this is all noted in the employer verification letter, would I still need to print off and scan it back in or am I OK to upload it straight?

TIA!
 

My wife just sat and passed the Life in the UK Test this weekend gone. 

Congratulations to her .

Q1) For the finances, I would be using April - October 2022 pay slips and corresponding bank statements to make up 7 months. Would that suffice? If I've got all the documents ready by e.g. 10th of November.

Yes, that should be fine.

The October payslip just needs to be dated no more than 28 days before the date you submit the online application, and the first payslip (April) needs to cover the first day of the 6 months.

Q2) For the residence in the UK to show cohabitation, I just wanted to check my dates are correct. If we applied in early to Mid November would we be OK reaching back 2.5 years from October 2022? So October 2022, May 2022, December 2021, July 2021, February 2021, September 2020. Would I need to go further? I might be completely off here so if anyone would be kind enough to correct it that would be much appreciated.

You should cover the entire 2.5 years, so you’ll need to go back to April 2020 so that the beginning of the 2.5 years is covered too… otherwise you’re only showing 2 years and 1 month (Sept 2020 to Oct 2022).

So you’ll want:
April 2020
September 2020
February 2021
July 2021
December 2021
May 2022
October 2022

Q3) My employer is 100% remote so all docs have been signed using docusign and all pay slips are online (downloaded PDFs). If this is all noted in the employer verification letter, would I still need to print off and scan it back in or am I OK to upload it straight?

You should be okay to upload it straight as it is.


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My wife just sat and passed the Life in the UK Test this weekend gone. 

Congratulations!