FLR (M) Visa Application Documents - Need Clarity

Hello,

I am going through the printed FLRM application and just to be clear:

1. I need to send in (or bring) my husband's passport (he has ILR) or copies of every single page?
2. Which copies of bills do I need to send it? My name is only on the utility bill and it hasn't been switched to my new surname. The only application that has my surname on it is my passport as we just got married last month.
3. Our finances and everything else should be fine - we had no problems with the Marriage Vis and right now, he is the only one working of course until I get this visa to work.

Thank you for your kind help as always.

Hello,

I am going through the printed FLRM application and just to be clear:

1. I need to send in (or bring) my husband's passport (he has ILR) or copies of every single page?
2. Which copies of bills do I need to send it? My name is only on the utility bill and it hasn't been switched to my new surname. The only application that has my surname on it is my passport as we just got married last month.
3. Our finances and everything else should be fine - we had no problems with the Marriage Vis and right now, he is the only one working of course until I get this visa to work.

Thank you for your kind help as always.

Are you going for an in-person appointment or are you sending in your application? If the former, your husband should attend and take his passport with him and if the latter, you need a copy of every single page.

You are supposed to send 6 items in joint names or for each piece of mail that you don't have jointly, you can substitute one piece in each of your names. This should be spaced evenly. Because it's your first FLR, you should send as much as you do have and write a letter to explain why you don't have enough.
The instructions are in the form itself p63/4, I've copied them below. You're on paper right? Don't use the online form.
Post your list anyway, when you're ready so we can check it over, if you like.

And get your name on everything else asap! 

.Six items of correspondence addressed to you and your partner at the same address as evidence that you have been living together since your last grant of leave in this category, or from the date you  rst started living together up to a maximum of two years. See Note 11.
 
Note 11 The items of correspondence should be addressed to you jointly or in both your names. Examples of acceptable items are listed below. The documents provided must be originals.
Photocopies are not acceptable.
The dates of the items of correspondence should be spread evenly over the whole period you are relying on. They should be from at least 3 di erent sources. If you do not have enough items in your joint names, you may also provide items addressed to each of you individually if they show the same address for both of you.
For example - Four items of correspondence in joint names to the same address and two items addressed to each partner at the address. In total eight items would need to be submitted.
If you and your partner have no bills or correspondence in joint names, you will need to submit twelve items (six each) of correspondence, evidencing that you reside together at the same address.
If you and your partner lived with relatives or friends for some or all of the period you are relying on, please provide a letter from the relative(s) and/or friend(s) con rming this.
If you did not live together for any part of the period you are relying on, tell us the reasons for this and whether you stayed in contact with each other during this time, and provide any relevant supporting evidence.
Please give an explanation on a separate sheet if you cannot provide six items; if the items are not addressed to both of you; or if they do not cover the period you are relying on.
FLR(M) Version 04/2018
Page 63 of 79
Examples of acceptable items of correspondence
• Letters or other documents from government departments or agencies, for example HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, DVLA, TV Licensing.
• Letters or other documents from your GP, a hospital or other local health service about medical treatments, appointments, home visits or other medical matters
• Bank statements/letters
• Building society savings books/letters
• Council tax bills or statements
• Electricity and/or gas bills or statements
• Water rates bills or statements
• Mortgage statements/agreement
• Tenancy agreement(s)
• Telephone bills or statements

Thank you so much.

Yes, I have the online form. I will go through it all this weekend with him and make sure, then post the list on here.

But when I look at the application, it seems the correspondence is for refugee or humanitarian status?  Is that true? As stated before, he is the ILR but no UK passport - he is South African on the ancestral visa and has lived here for 7 years.

I have personal letters and my student loan addressed to me at this address, but otherwise, nothing else (except one utility bill) as I haven't lived here long with him (5 months now).  We did long distance until February and then I moved here on the marriage visa, and then we married in May.

Sorry I have the paper form! That's what I meant.

Thank you so much.

Yes, I have the online form. I will go through it all this weekend with him and make sure, then post the list on here.

But when I look at the application, it seems the correspondence is for refugee or humanitarian status?  Is that true? As stated before, he is the ILR but no UK passport - he is South African on the ancestral visa and has lived here for 7 years.

I have personal letters and my student loan addressed to me at this address, but otherwise, nothing else (except one utility bill) as I haven't lived here long with him (5 months now).  We did long distance until February and then I moved here on the marriage visa, and then we married in May.

It's ok, it reads like that but if you look closely it says "a partner of a settled person OR...." so that is the list you have to follow.

.[b]If your application is as the partner of a settled person or person who is in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection

If you've been here since February they will expect more than 2 things as you have had plenty of time to get your name on other items. Council tax, bank statements US/UK, NHS letters, utility bills etc. I say this more for others who are reading this because obviously you only have what you have.  But do you have time to get on anything else before you have to apply?
I have never seen anyone refused for that but you should do all you can to make your application as solid as possible.

Sorry I have the paper form! That's what I meant.

Good!   

Thank you!

It makes sense but I haven't opened up a bank account due to not working yet... I will see what I can do and hopefully add my name to a few things before I apply.  NHS - I honestly haven't done this yet. Is it just online? 

Sorry - so new to this. Thanks!

Thank you!

It makes sense but I haven't opened up a bank account due to not working yet... I will see what I can do and hopefully add my name to a few things before I apply.  NHS - I honestly haven't done this yet. Is it just online? 

Sorry - so new to this. Thanks!

It's fine! 

You can change your address to your UK one with your US bank and credit cards and you don't need to be working to open a UK bank account.

Does your husband have a GP? If so, call the practice and find out what they need you to do, it's usually not online. If he doesn't have one, you will need to find a practice which is accepting new patients.
You can also look into applying for your NI number and a provisional driving license while you're getting that stuff done! 

National Insurance Number- https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

Driving licence  https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence

Find a GP https://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/LocationSearch/4

You have been a massive help. Thank you so much!

You have been a massive help. Thank you so much!

 

Just FYI, I can only get the National Insurance number once I get the work permit  - I just called 

Sorry, just another thing - the IHS surchage website seems to be down. I can get to the payment part but then it doesn't go through successfully.

Is there a number to call? I am bit worried timing wise now as I would like to either go in person or via post to have it back by mid September.  I just read that appointments could be 45 days out....

Thank you so much.

Just FYI, I can only get the National Insurance number once I get the work permit  - I just called 

Sorry, we could have told you that - as you are on a fiance visa, you cannot work yet, therefore you cannot apply for an NI number (because you have to show proof of right to work to get one).

You are not getting a work permit though - you are getting an FLR(M) spousal visa, which allows work. A work permit is a work visa where you are sponsored for a job by a UK company and you get your visa through them.

Sorry, just another thing - the IHS surchage website seems to be down. I can get to the payment part but then it doesn't go through successfully.

Is there a number to call? I am bit worried timing wise now as I would like to either go in person or via post to have it back by mid September.  I just read that appointments could be 45 days out....

Thank you so much.

No, there's no number. It has to be done online,

If you apply in person, I think you are prompted to pay the IHS surcharge as part of your appointment booking.

If you apply by post, you just have to pay before you mail it to Durham.

Is there any particular reason why you need the application processed by mid-September if you apply by post?

Unless you need to travel urgently or you need the visa to show a future employer and the deadline is September, as long as you get it in the mail before the expiry date of your visa, you'll be fine - your fiance visa is simply extended while the FLR(M) is being processed.

I see, thanks!

Well the IHS website is not processing the fee for some reason - I hope it works soon because I would like to see which appointments are available. The sooner the better because I would like to apply for jobs and we are traveling to the USA September 22... hence needing it before then.