Applying Online Only?

Thanks to a thread on here, I noticed there was a brand new form to print before I send off my FLR(M). Typical.

Anyways, having a look here: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse I have noticed that the option to apply by post is gone. It says: "In the UK: You must apply online if you meet all of the following requirements." It only says to apply by post if you cannot pay the fee.

It also doesn't mention the IHS charge, so I am unsure if it will just ask me to do it as part of my online application.

Is that the end of applying by post for FLR(M) now?

Edited to add:

I found the answer to my own question about it being the end of the FLR(M) postal application as long as you can pay the fee. The FLR(M) PDF itself says:
This form is for use only if you are requesting a fee waiver for yourself or any dependent
children that are applying with you. You must complete the separate fee waiver request
form with details of everyone, including yourself, who is requesting a fee waiver. You
must also provide payment for anyone not requesting a fee waiver. Please note that fee
waivers are applied to individual applicants and to the whole of the fee for that applicant.
You cannot request, for instance, for a part of the fee per person to be waived. Further
information can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-rights-based-andother-specified-applications-appendix-1-request-for-fee-waiver
If you are not requesting a fee waiver you must apply online at: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/family-routes.

Yeah, as of a few days ago, the regular FLR(M) form and the ILR SET(M) form have been changed to online only and they have removed the paper forms from the site.


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The IHS surcharge should be prompted during the online application, and you will pay the visa fee as well. If you wish to book an in-person appointment, this will also be part of the online form. You’ll get your biometrics letter when you submit it as well.

If applying by post, I believe you will have 15 working days to mail your application and documents to UKVI, and also 15 working days to submit your biometrics at a Post Office.


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How frustrating. I guess I will just have to try my hand at the online form and hope for the best.

(Apologies for the other thread about this. I didn't see it mentioned right away so thought I'd start a new one to discuss).

I’m in the same boat as you. Was just preparing my form to send in and now I see I must do it online. So annoyed. How has it been doing the online form? I feel like I will have a million questions and nobody will be able to answer them. A bit freaked out now.

I’m in the same boat as you. Was just preparing my form to send in and now I see I must do it online. So annoyed. How has it been doing the online form? I feel like I will have a million questions and nobody will be able to answer them. A bit freaked out now.

I have no idea yet as I am just waiting or my stepson's passport info then can start. I assume it asks the same questions (hopefully! As I have already filled out the form so it will help having that as a guide, the way I see it!) but we will see :-) Will keep you updated, Jackie!

From what we have seen through other people on the forum filling it out, the questions on the online form are a little different/more ambiguous than the paper form.

Things like, the paper form only asking you to list absences from the UK of more than 6 months, while the online form asks for ALL absences from the UK, regardless of length. So, that could mean the difference between leaving the question blank on the paper form, to listing a number of trips on the online form.

There are a few other differences to the online form from the paper form. I've finished it now, and I realised that not only do I need all this information about UK-born step-children, including birth certificates from both parents for my stepson but I also need letters acknowledging that I see the child and a letter addressed to his mother at her address. Very frustrating, especially for those who may not have such amicable relationships. It does not ask for the child's passport (but we're sending it anyways).

It has a document checklist that you not only have to confirm you will provide whilst doing the questions, but you also need to confirm you will send everything towards the end of the application, and again as a print out you must tick off that you have provided everything. This includes 12 months of bank statements and payslips (and we were applying in category A so normally it would be only 6 months but it says 12 months this time - typical after we only got 6 months' worth of each).

The document checklist specifically says you don't need passport sized photos or originals of anything but passports as copies are fine (surprised by this one). You also print off your letter there and then for biometrics at the post office, which I will do tomorrow. So no more waiting around to be invited to do it.

The online form also still has bugs, which is very disheartening. I have documented everything just in case.

I realise the paper form is different for what it asks,, and I seem to be sending A LOT this time around compared to other times, but I thought I would share my experience (so far) with the online form for anyone else about to do it.

There are a few other differences to the online form from the paper form. I've finished it now, and I realised that not only do I need all this information about UK-born step-children, including birth certificates from both parents for my stepson but I also need letters acknowledging that I see the child and a letter addressed to his mother at her address. Very frustrating, especially for those who may not have such amicable relationships. It does not ask for the child's passport (but we're sending it anyways).

Just because the form says you need those things, it doesn't mean you actually need them.

They haven't suddenly changed all the document requirements in the last 13 days... they've just designed a bad form with incorrect information on it.

The documents required are exactly the same as the last time you applied for FLR(M), except that now instead of only sending your stepson's birth certificate, you have to send:
- stepson's birth certificate
- stepson's passport
- letter showing his address

Not all of the documents they mention on the online form will apply to you.

It may be that you have never met the child and have no relationship with them, in which case, you can't send anything stating you see the child... because you don't.

t has a document checklist that you not only have to confirm you will provide whilst doing the questions, but you also need to confirm you will send everything towards the end of the application, and again as a print out you must tick off that you have provided everything. This includes 12 months of bank statements and payslips (and we were applying in category A so normally it would be only 6 months but it says 12 months this time - typical after we only got 6 months' worth of each).

If you are Category A, you DO NOT need 12 months of payslips and bank statements, because 12 months is for Category B only.  You only need 6 months... and this is explicitly stated in all the official guidance, and in the guidance they use to make the visa decision.

They have not changed the requirements for the financial categories... they are exactly the same now as they were in 2012 when they were first introduced - it's the online form that is giving you incorrect information. If you had applied 2 weeks ago, you would not have needed them, and you don't need them now.

If you send 12 months, they will only look at the most recent 6 months and ignore the rest... and sending 12 months may in fact confuse the person processing the application, because they may think you are applying under Category B.

The document checklist specifically says you don't need passport sized photos or originals of anything but passports as copies are fine (surprised by this one).

I would definitely send originals, plus copies, plus 2 passport photos of the applicant and 1 passport photo of the sponsor.

These are all listed as required documents on the paper form which is still available (for people applying for a fee waiver).

You also print off your letter there and then for biometrics at the post office, which I will do tomorrow. So no more waiting around to be invited to do it.

The biometrics letter being available immediately is pretty much the only good thing about the online form.

I realise the paper form is different for what it asks,, and I seem to be sending A LOT this time around compared to other times, but I thought I would share my experience (so far) with the online form for anyone else about to do it.

DO NOT send the extra things that the online form is asking for. They are not required and do not apply to you.

It's confusing for me as someone who has done this twice already, so must be really confusing for someone who doesn't have this advice to do otherwise because it makes it seem like that is what you definitely need.

It also says "As of 5th November 2018, you no longer have to send in passport photos or originals" and with it being very specific, it just adds to the confusion.

I am taking your advice though. I have originals and copies of everything to send. I won't pick up the letter and piece of mail from my stepson's mother (I have the one for him though), and I will ad the passport photos.

Thanks!