ILR Set(M) 5 year by post application checklist

Hello all,

I'll be applying next week for ILR using the new 5 year route by post 
Here's my checklist:

Also didn't include sponsor (my husband's birth certificate) and not sure which kids need what but included everything I have. Since they're all British and I'm not applying for them or through them hopefully it'll be OK.

ILR Application Contents

1.   Set(m) IRL Application - 59 pages
2.   Pictures - 2 of applicant, 1 of sponsor (husband)
3.   Applicant's original Passport
4.   Applicant's original BRP card
5.   Applicant's original Birth Certificate
6.   Sponsor (husband)'s Passport copy
7.   Life in the UK original pass notification letter
8.   Original bank statements for 6 months showing over £34,600 ($45,793.10)
9.   Original Correspondence letters (2 joint + 6 in applicant or sponsor's names)
10.   Marriage certificate original
11.   Sponsor's original divorce decree
12.   Our British son's original passport
13.   Our British son's original birth certificate
14.   Recent original correspondence letter for British son from GP
15.   Sponsor's British daughter's original birth certificate
16.   Sponsor's British son's original birth certificate
17.   Original accommodation letter from letting agency
18.   Tenancy agreement original

You don't need the following:
5.   Applicant's original Birth Certificate

I believe you DO need:
- sponsor's British son's original passport
- sponsor's British daughter's original passport
- recent correspondence for sponsor's British son showing his address
- recent correspondence for sponsor's British daughter showing her address
(you need to send the same documents for each child living in the UK)

I'm confused on the correspondence.

Do you have two joint and five individual items each (so 10 individual items)?

Ksand24 Oh wow the sponsor, my husband's british kids need stuff?! The divorce was not very amicable. We don't have access to any of the kid's passports or mail. I guess I'll have to put a note about that. There's no way she'd give us anything and the kids are too young to pinch anything for us

KFDancer Yes I have 2 letters in our joint names, and 4 letters in his name and 4 letters in my name. My brain is so frazzled. Do I need 2 more then?

As part of the application, you have to declare the source of the funds anyway. A letter from your father confirming that his contribution was a gift would be a good idea in addition to that.

Ksand24 Oh wow the sponsor, my husband's british kids need stuff?! The divorce was not very amicable. We don't have access to any of the kid's passports or mail. I guess I'll have to put a note about that. There's no way she'd give us anything and the kids are too young to pinch anything for us

KFDancer Yes I have 2 letters in our joint names, and 4 letters in his name and 4 letters in my name. My brain is so frazzled. Do I need 2 more then?

Yes, six items in total.  And yes, an item for the daughter.  This was my first thought when I saw the changes.

After reading this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41096675 I'm reconsidering doing the visa via post. Some people waited 3 YEARS! And even on "same day decisions" 4 months! My God, talk about inhumane. I just don't know what to do. I don't know if it's too late to do same day appointment either. This is all so stressful and being pregnant everything's already stressful

After reading this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41096675 I'm reconsidering doing the visa via post. Some people waited 3 YEARS! And even on "same day decisions" 4 months! My God, talk about inhumane. I just don't know what to do. I don't know if it's too late to do same day appointment either. This is all so stressful and being pregnant everything's already stressful

Personally, I think it's worth the extra money for a same day appointment for ILR.

But remember, those cases taking an extraordinary length of time are complicated cases, not the kind which we see on this forum. The likelihood is that they don't actually qualify in the first place for one reason or another.

And waiting 4 months for a same day decision; again because only simple applications are eligible for same day processing but they likely ignored that and applied anyway.

I wouldn't do in person because of that article.

I would do in person if you can't be without your passport for six months.  For me, applying in person was "worth it" for ILR.  I would not do in person for FLR(M) which is currently only 6 weeks.   

I think if you have the money definitely do in person ILR. It's so painful not having a passport and feeling so depressed stuck here indefinitely 6+ months.

Please add me to the ILR spreadsheet if we have one?

Type of Application: Set(M) ILR Settlement Postal Application (using savings only category)
Country applying from: UK
Nationality: US Citizen
Mailed application: 16 Oct 2017
Email acknowledgement: 24 Oct 2017
Biometrics: 28 Oct 2017

Status on tracker: Awaiting Decision

I think if you have the money definitely do in person ILR. It's so painful not having a passport and feeling so depressed stuck here indefinitely 6+ months.

Please add me to the ILR spreadsheet if we have one?

Type of Application: Set(M) ILR Settlement Postal Application (using savings only category)
Country applying from: UK
Nationality: US Citizen
Mailed application: 16 Oct 2017
Email acknowledgement: 24 Oct 2017
Biometrics: 28 Oct 2017

Status on tracker: Awaiting Decision

Oh!  I didn't know you did post, after all.  You are the first customer for the spreadsheet.

Oh!  I didn't know you did post, after all.  You are the first customer for the spreadsheet.

Yay!    Maybe some more people are watching that might like to join in? 

I received my documents and passport back today with an ILR approval. BRP is hopefully on it's way. Extremely happy and relieved to be done with this. The application was just very stressful this time and unfortunately I had some health issues and felt so depressed after that I could not go anywhere. My mother and sis were getting together in TX and I felt so left out. Hubby also went to multiple countries without me for work etc.

Now just to get citizenship out of the way! They take your passport again for a few months? I think I'll wait until next year then, when do the prices go up does anyone know?

Type of Application: Set(M) ILR Settlement Postal Application (using savings only category)
Country applying from: UK
Nationality: US Citizen
Mailed application: 16 Oct 2017
Email acknowledgement: 24 Oct 2017
Biometrics: 28 Oct 2017

Documents returned with approval 22 Dec 2017

I received my documents and passport back today with an ILR approval. BRP is hopefully on it's way. Extremely happy and relieved to be done with this. The application was just very stressful this time and unfortunately I had some health issues and felt so depressed after that I could not go anywhere. My mother and sis were getting together in TX and I felt so left out. Hubby also went to multiple countries without me for work etc.

Now just to get citizenship out of the way! They take your passport again for a few months? I think I'll wait until next year then, when do the prices go up does anyone know?

Type of Application: Set(M) ILR Settlement Postal Application (using savings only category)
Country applying from: UK
Nationality: US Citizen
Mailed application: 16 Oct 2017
Email acknowledgement: 24 Oct 2017
Biometrics: 28 Oct 2017

Documents returned with approval 22 Dec 2017

Congratulations!  You're no longer subject to immigration control!  50 BD, from posting your application to receiving your approval.  Just 10 weeks.  Not nearly as bad as I feared it would be!  I've updated the ILR spreadsheet for anybody keeping track.

For citizenship, you can use the checking service for an additional fee... you go to an appointment with all your documents and application, and they look it over.  If everything looks good, they make a certified copy of your passport, and send the application off for you.  You get to keep your passport if you use this service.  KFdancer just did it, so I'll let her tell you more accurate information.  But there's hope!

Fees increases are usually implemented in the first week of April.  However, a couple of years ago they went up a bit earlier than normal, in the middle of March, I think.

Congratulations Maryam!    That's so much quicker than I thought it took by mail.

I may have to reconsider the in person appointment that we were planning to do but having said that, our FLR took 15 weeks when everyone elses took 6, so on the other hand, maybe not!