My ILR thread

I can't believe I've been living here nearly 5 years already! It will be 5 years on the 30th, so I've been eligible to to apply since the 2nd. I took and passed my Life in the UK test on the 16th of November. Getting our employer letters was easy this time around. My husband works at the same company as I do now, and we were given our letters the same day we asked HR for them. I was asked if I needed mine stamped, but it doesn't say I do in the requirements. I think she may have confused it with a professional reference, as she kept referring to it as a "reference." It still states everything it needs to (i.e. my role, when I started working for the company, I'm on a permanent contract, my salary and how long I've been on that salary, etc.) and my husband's says the same. Can I confirm they don't need to be stamped?

I plan to apply for the priority route that I believe costs £500 for an answer in around 2 weeks. (It's fine if the holidays slow that down, as I don't need to travel any time soon and will need to save up again for citizenship.) Most of our mail from the last 2.5 years is already organised in a file as was suggested on this forum years ago. We also of course have our marriage certificate, tenancy agreement, etc. I just want to confirm I'm not forgetting anything and that the letters from our employer don't need to be stamped. Thank you in advance!

I was asked if I needed mine stamped, but it doesn't say I do in the requirements. I think she may have confused it with a professional reference, as she kept referring to it as a "reference." It still states everything it needs to (i.e. my role, when I started working for the company, I'm on a permanent contract, my salary and how long I've been on that salary, etc.) and my husband's says the same. Can I confirm they don't need to be stamped?

No, your employer letters do not need to be stamped.

The only documents that need to be stamped are online bank statements that you have printed at home (which need to be stamped to confirm authenticity).

I plan to apply for the priority route that I believe costs £500 for an answer in around 2 weeks. (It's fine if the holidays slow that down, as I don't need to travel any time soon and will need to save up again for citizenship.)

Unfortunately, the £500 priority service is not available to people applying for ILR under the spousal route (SET(M)).

This means that your only options for processing are:

- standard processing (£0 extra):  decision may take up to 6 months
or
- £1000 Super Priority processing: decision should be issued by the end of the next working day after your biometrics appointment

See here for the visas eligible for each service: https://www.gov.uk/faster-decision-visa-settlement/eligible-visas-when-applying-inside-the-uk

No, your employer letters do not need to be stamped.

The only documents that need to be stamped are online bank statements that you have printed at home (which need to be stamped to confirm authenticity).

Unfortunately, the £500 priority service is not available to people applying for ILR under the spousal route (SET(M)).

This means that your only options for processing are:

- standard processing (£0 extra):  decision may take up to 6 months
or
- £1000 Super Priority processing: decision should be issued by the end of the next working day after your biometrics appointment

See here for the visas eligible for each service: https://www.gov.uk/faster-decision-visa-settlement/eligible-visas-when-applying-inside-the-uk

Thanks, ksand24. I guess I will do standard processing then and hope it takes less than 6 months. 

So, I have uploaded our employer letters, payslips, bank statements, P60s and chose the "finances" category. I'm confused about what category to put for my passport. The categories are: Proof of Application, Educational/Qualifications, Sponsor/Employer, Medical Information, Life Event/Official Documents, Evidence of Life in the UK/Proof of Activity in the UK, Finances and Other.

I am guessing my passport either goes in Proof of Application, Life Event/Official Documents (along with marriage certificate?) or maybe other. I'm really not sure. Evidence of Life in the UK seems like it would be the category when I upload our various pieces of mail.

Can anyone help with this? Thanks again in advance.

So I asked the above question on r/ukvisa, and they said the categories aren't important and to just choose the best one. I uploaded all passports/my expired BRP to Life Event/Official Documents, our post covering the past 2.5 years to "Evidence of Life in the UK/Proof of Activity in the UK", my spouse's consent form to "Other", and all the financial stuff (employer letters, payslips, bank statements, P60, employment contract) to Finances.

I just had my appointment in Wandsworth Town today, and it went really smoothly even though I went to the wrong part of the building at first.  My appointment was for 11:30, but I ended up being finished before 11:30. Now I just have to wait for an answer. I hope to get an answer this spring rather than summer, as I'm keen to apply for citizenship.