How much documentation is needed when you apply for ILR on a KOL Spousal Visa?

I was just wondering how much and what kind of documentation is needed when applying for ILR after taking the Life in the UK Test on a Spousal Visa with KOL (REQ).

As I understand it you can fly to the UK, take the test, come back to the USA and bypass the Spousal Visa and apply for ILR straightaway. How can you show any documentation with joint names in the UK for ILR if you are not living there?  Can proof of us having lived together outside the UK for 10yrs help with the application for ILR inside the UK.  Just wondering how much of my US paperwork to bring with us when we move.

It seems to me that if you can apply from the US for ILR with no UK Documentation then I should be able to do same once I hit UK soil after DH passes the test which he will take within a couple of weeks of landing.  He already has the study guides, CD etc and has the information down.

So back to my original question, what documentation will we need when we aply for the ILR from the UK with a KOL (REQ) on the Spousal Visa?  Are we going to need all that paperwork with our joint names on UK Bills, bank statements etc.... it is going to take months to get all that paperwork together.  I can't say how long it will take to get a house/flat rental, get a mobile phone (if we even want one or bother), bills go hand in hand with renting a place.  The only paperwork we could possibly have sooner would be a joint bank account.  So how is the paperwork thing done for those with KOL?

I looked at the UKBA website but am having difficulty finding info for applying for ILR w/KOL (REQ) as all the info is pointing to someone who has been there 2 yrs and gathered the requested documents over the 2 yr period.  If someone can point me to a website link that will answer my questions that would be really helpful or just answer me on here, either way I just want to be prepared.  SET(M) application clearly states they want paperwork over 2 yrs, which form needs to be filled out for someone with a KOL(REQ) stamp on their Spousal Visa?

Thanks for all your input everyone.

With 30 views........Is there not anyone out there that has applied for ILR on a Spousal Visa with KOL (REQ) shortly after arriving in the UK who can tell me what the process is, what to expect and need?

No one has answered because, I expect, most people in the UK are doing something else at 7-11pm.

I think you need to look at the documents needed for the leave to remain application before you jump into the ILR.  That will be the easy bit.

Vicky

Okay now I am confused............... I thought my DH could apply for ILR straightaway in the UK because he has already been issued his Spousal Visa with KOL (REQ). 

What is the Leave to remain that he needs to do before ILR?

The Visa in his US Passport says "Multiple Entries - SETTLEMENT SPOUSE/CP (KOL REQ) - No recourse to public funds - Valid until 2/7/2011"

Sorry, I meant 'leave to enter', and it wasn't apparrant that he already had this.

There is no need for him to go back to the US.  Just get him to take the test and apply on SET (M).  No further evidence of cohabitation is needed.

Vicky

Sorry Vicky, I have a tendency to babble on........

The SET(M) application clearly states that they require 6 docs over 2 yrs.  Will they recognise the fact that he has the Spousal Visa with KOL REQ.  So you are saying I don't have to prove anything more. He can take the test within a couple of weeks of landing and then we can apply straightaway with ILR SET(M) App.

I can be very literal at times and when I saw the application and read what it was saying I saw that there was no provision for  KOL REQ on Spousal visas.  So what do I have to include with the App other than Passports, photos etc..

Hi Alsatianx2,

I had my Spousal Visa w/ KOL Stamp and after being in the UK for 5 months was granted my ILR after applying in person in March '09 (KOL Test passed end of January '09).

Here is what happened in my in person appointment (Liverpool)
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=51667.msg735187#msg735187

Please do not assume however that because no paperwork was reviewed at my appointment that this is always the case.

Because I applied after being here for 5 months we already had a new bank account, house rental agreement, pay slips for each of us and several pieces of mail such as water/electric/council tax, etc...  I had all of this in my folder but none of it was ever even looked at.

They only asked to see my Passport, DH's Passport, the KOL pass certificate, one passport photo of Andy and two for me.  They took the application (SET M) off me but only ever checked to make sure it was signed by both of us.

Hope this helps. 

I read your post from before, congrats on it being so easy.

If I don't manage to rent a place as quick as I hope to (most docs regarding renting is what we will need), do you think the joint bank account will be okay as the only piece of paper I have or should we really wait until we rent and get a few pieces of papers together.

I know for a fact that DH is going to want his own space pretty darn quick, he hasn't lived with his parents since he was 18 and he is now 44 so you can imagine what is going through his mind regarding living with mine.  It's great that my family adore him and vice versa, in fact if he had to choose between living with his or mine he would choose mine every time. 

I think we will just rent real quick, get some paperwork together and then get an appointment in Croydon, drive up, visit with high school friends and make a trip of it......Thanks.

To be honest the prices have already gone up as of April of this year and I do not believe that this big change up that is in the works is some months away.. so I would not see the harm in waiting a couple of months to at least get something together.

But then others have said that since we have 'proven' our relationship already (hence getting the KOL Stamp) they only really want you to pass the KOL Test.

So really I think it is whatever you feel more comfortable with.  Just do not wait so long that these changes that are coming will effect you.  We wanted to get mine out of the way because of the prices going up in April and we had the money now and figured if we waited something (who knows what) could have happened to where we would have had to spend that money and then we would have been in a pickle if we did not have the funds to get the ILR and then they do away with them, we would have been kicking ourselves! 

Not flying back until November 6th so I can't do it any quicker.  I looking at next Jan, but we know about the changes and are expecting the worse, we'll wait and see.  We are putting the money aside to cover all unexpected costs.

We are putting the money aside to cover all unexpected costs.

Very good idea!  Good luck with everything! 

You will still have to prove maintenence and accommodation, just not the two years cohabitation.

Vicky

You will still have to prove maintenence and accommodation, just not the two years cohabitation.

Vicky

Maintenance and Accommodation won't be a problem as his Spousal Visa was based on my parents having the room for us in their paid off house or we will be renting our own place and the maintenance wasn't an issue for his Spousal Visa as he has a pension that is paid out monthly for the rest of his life.  After doing our budget for the Spousal Visa we showed approx GBP 700 left over each month (not including our savings) and I was being pretty Liberal with my estimates and rounding up which Dad said more than covered our expected bills once we rent our own place.  The only bill I didn't estimate was a Cell Phone as we don't care for them too much. 

I didn't even show my CV or what job I might even apply for as my husband's pension can more than support us according to the UK Guidelines. 

Surely if nothing has changed from when we applied for the Spousal Visa then it should be pretty straightforward don't you think.  The only change I can envision is us renting our own place and our savings being less because of buying a used car outright.

Totally straight forward.

Vicky

Thanks Vicky...........you are always up so late, you must be a night owl like me 

I think we can safely put this topic to bed, I have the answers I need and as usual you are a wealth of knowledge.

One day there should be a big party where all of us UK-Yankee people who have been helped by you, Garry and some of the others on here (who are a wealth of knowledge) can say a big THANK-YOU.  I know if it wasn't for y'all on here this process would have been a lot more stressful, a lot more worrisome and no doubt longer.