ILR application fee 2018+ published somewhere?

ILR from April 6, 2019 is expected to be £3,250!

I was just reading another thread and saw KFdancer's mention of the 2019 ILR application fee.  As I am now 10 months away from being eligible to apply for ILR (counting the minutes!), I took an interest in what the fees were looking like these days and anticipating how much I needed to save by next year.  So after this year's fee was announced in early April, I did some research on the history, and my findings were shocking:

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) visa application fee (standard service, not priority/premium), by year:

2007: £750
2008: £750 (no increase)
2009: £820 (9.3% increase)
2010: £840 (2.4% increase)
2011: £972 (8.6% increase)
2012: £991 (2% increase)
2013: £1051 (6% increase)
2014: £1093 (4% increase)
2015: £1500 (37% increase)
2016: £1875 (25% increase)
2017: £2297 (22.5% increase)

The £3250 amount that others have cited for 2019 is in line with recent increases, but I was wondering where the figure came from.  Was it published somewhere?  Is this official, or speculation similar to my own?  Either way, I have already started saving, with a target of £3000 by May (my five-year visa anniversary is 5 June, 2018, and my current visa expires on 6 July, 2018).

The £3,250 figure has been officially announced by the government as being the maximum they can charge by 2019/2020.

It may well increase even higher than this in the years following. 

See here for the article published about it in 2016:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-immigration-and-nationality-fees-for-2016-to-2017

And for the official government legislation on the proposed fee increases:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2016/9780111142691/article/4


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Yes the £3,250 is a published maximum fee they can (and will likely) charge as of April 2019.

My speculation is that in April 2018, the fee will be £2,750.

Thanks ksand24 and KFdancer.  It's reassuring to know that my savings plan will be sufficient, but a bit disappointing to learn that I'm going to end up using most of it.

My speculation is that in April 2018, the fee will be £2,750.

That's what I had anticipated, based on the past three years' increases, as well.  I just hoped I would be proven wrong.  At least I'll be ready for it, with a little buffer in case it's even higher (!!).

Thanks ksand24 and KFdancer.  It's reassuring to know that my savings plan will be sufficient, but a bit disappointing to learn that I'm going to end up using most of it.

That's what I had anticipated, based on the past three years' increases, as well.  I just hoped I would be proven wrong.  At least I'll be ready for it, with a little buffer in case it's even higher (!!).

I hear you.  I finally qualify for ILR and citizenship in September.  I budgeted £5k (including in person as ILR can take six months).  I won't get much change!

Wait, what?  ILR is a slower application?  But... why?!  It's not the same as ticking all the boxes like FLR has been?  *fret*

I'm so sad that I missed the old rules by just a few months.  But James and I had only just started dating, and it was WAY too soon to make it official.  I mean, it turns out it would have been fine, because the more we know each other, the more we realize we were perfect for each other.  But at the time, we didn't know that yet.  If we had started only 5 months sooner, we would have saved soooo much money and I would have citizenship (and a lot less stress!) already. 

Wait, what?  ILR is a slower application?  But... why?!  It's not the same as ticking all the boxes like FLR has been?  *fret*

I'm so sad that I missed the old rules by just a few months.  But James and I had only just started dating, and it was WAY too soon to make it official.  I mean, it turns out it would have been fine, because the more we know each other, the more we realize we were perfect for each other.  But at the time, we didn't know that yet.  If we had started only 5 months sooner, we would have saved soooo much money and I would have citizenship (and a lot less stress!) already. 

I've been here almost eight years...     I'm ready to be done.

Currently FLR is processed in 8 weeks and ILR in six months.  Unlikely to change between now and when we apply, but may.

That's disheartening.  I must now re-examine my finances and see if premium is something I can afford.  And James will have to take a vacation day for the appointment.

My first FLR(M) was granted on 5 June, 2013, and my current visa expires on 6 July, 2018.  When can I apply for ILR?  If I apply by post, is it up to 28 days before 5 June, or 28 days before 6 July, or any time between those two dates?  And if we do premium, when can I make my appointment?  Same?

You can apply 28 days prior to June 5.  Same for post or in person.  They do offer Saturday appointments if that helps.  There is also the Settlement Checking Service which is another option.

So the Settlement Checking Service is reliable?  That is something I can afford, and I like the peace of mind it will give while I wait for six months for an official decision.  I know we'll meet the requirements, and I haven't messed up an application, yet, but for £125, it's worth the extra set of eyes.

Oh yes, it is very good!

Is there any reason to choose premium over SCS, other than to get it done in a hurry?  The price difference is significant, and we're already poor.  I have now convinced myself that the six month wait is a good thing... it gives me time to save up for my citizenship application.  (Trying to remain debt-free-if-you-ignore-the-mortgage while jumping through these visa hurdles is hard!)

If we've successfully navigated a fiancee visa application and two FLR(M)s with only this forum for guidance, do I need to worry about ILR?  They use the same level of scrutiny in this application, right?  I really thought this one was going to be "easy", now that we're experts.   

Oh!  I assume you've done your LiUK.  I haven't yet (I'm studying now, and intend to take it in September).  Does it suck, or is it easy if you study the practice tests?  I have the Android app, and do random tests periodically.  I expect to be scoring nearly perfectly on those random tests by the time I book my real one.  That should be sufficient, right?

If you use the checking service, you'll hold onto your passport (but can't travel).  If you don't need to travel while processing, save the money!

Yeah, I took the test a few months ago.  Definitely get the book and read it.  I was NOT as prepared as I coulda/woulda/shoulda been and was LUCKY to pass.  It's only easy if you know the answers.     The app is a good measure but wouldn't prepare you for the test 100%.

How did your timeline work?  You've been in the UK for 8 years, but you're only just coming up for ILR?  That sounds like an expensive story.

So, another question... my husband hates his job.  Like, really hates it.  He's stayed in it for all these years because he has a permanent full-time contract that more than meets the income requirement, so it keeps our paperwork simple.  But we're counting down the minutes 'til he can quit.  Would it be wrong for him to take a lower-paid job, like, the day after we post our application?  Or should he wait until my ILR is granted, just to be safe?

I was on a Tier 2 visa (work) when I met and married my husband.  We married after the July 2012 change though, so here we are!  When we married it reset the clock to ILR.

He can change jobs at any time.  He just needs to be able to tick the box that he has earned £18,600 in the past 12 months and that the employment is continuing.  Him taking a lower paying job (below the threshold) would be risky but would likely go unnoticed.