Applying to remain in the UK

Hello everyone,
Thanks again for all of your help over the years. It's almost time to start the process of applying for my Indefinite Leave to Remain. Still a bit too early, but had a couple questions, so might as well ask them now.
First question, I believe the last time I applied for my visa I sent in a copy of my marriage certificate along with a copy of me and my wife's birth certificates. However, I'm not 100% certain of that. So, my question is do I need to send in my original marriage and birth certificate documents or can I send in copies of them. 
Also, along with everything I have had to sent in with my past Visa applications, which I will have to review again, I believe at least a couple new items I will need to sent in with be the code number I was given when I passed the residency test and proof I have lived in the UK for at least the past 5 years.
Would any letters that were sent to me from the Home Office qualify as proof of having lived in the UK for at least the past 5 years. I have a letter that was sent to me by the Home Office dated from July of 2016 informing me that I had been approved my first 30 month Visa. I also have a letter from my surgery informing me of test results that is from the first part of the year 2016. Would both of these sources work as proof. Thank you.

First question, I believe the last time I applied for my visa I sent in a copy of my marriage certificate along with a copy of me and my wife's birth certificates. However, I'm not 100% certain of that. So, my question is do I need to send in my original marriage and birth certificate documents or can I send in copies of them. 

You need to include your original marriage certificate.

Birth certificates are not usually needed for visa applications so you likely did not need to include them for any of your previous visas.

Also, along with everything I have had to sent in with my past Visa applications, which I will have to review again, I believe at least a couple new items I will need to sent in with be the code number I was given when I passed the residency test and proof I have lived in the UK for at least the past 5 years.

You need:
- reference number for the Life in the U.K. test
- the usual cohabitation evidence of living with your spouse for the past 2.5 years (same as for FLR(M)). You need 1 document in each of your names dated every 5 months going back 2.5 years to early 2019.

Would any letters that were sent to me from the Home Office qualify as proof of having lived in the UK for at least the past 5 years. I have a letter that was sent to me by the Home Office dated from July of 2016 informing me that I had been approved my first 30 month Visa. I also have a letter from my surgery informing me of test results that is from the first part of the year 2016. Would both of these sources work as proof. Thank you.

You can use those kinds of letters but you don’t need any thing at all from 2016 to early 2019.

You only need 1 document in each of your names from each of the following months:
February 2019
July 2019
December 2019
May 2020
October 2020
March 2021
August 2021

You can use:
Tenancy agreements
Mortgage statements
Council tax bills
Bank statements
Credit card statements
Utility bills
Phone bills
TV/internet bills
TV licence
Letters from the NHS
Letters from DVLA, HMRC, DWP etc.

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Hello,
Thanks. Looks like we are going to have to order a copy of our marriage certificate. I was going through the documents and papers that was returned as part of my last visa application that was returned to me and it included a photo copy of my marriage certificate, but not the original marriage certificate. My wife is positive that I never gave it back to her and it's no where to be found so my wife is convinced they must have kept it.  Thanks again.

Hello again,
Was looking at a post for another person doing their ILR and noticed something that I may have not been aware of. Not sure if they were under difference circumstances, but it was mentioned in the post that all of their documents must be scanned in and can no longer be sent by post. The last time I applied for a visa in January of 2019, I ended up filling out the application online, but then posted all of my documents to them.
Has the procedure been changed since that time and if it was changed, about when did that occur. Or can I still post my documents in like i have in the past.
As I said, it is still a bit early to apply so haven't started the application. When I begin my online application will it mention somewhere that documents need to be scanned instead of posted. Or in my case, can I still post my documents in.
If I do need to scan in my documents, is that not only made clear on the online application, but what the process is as well. Is there a section on the online application where I can scan my documents in. If not, would it either lead or direct me to a site where I can scan my documents in.
Finally, Is there a link to an official UK document that gives guidance on the ILR process. For example, whether or not I need to scan or post documents and what documents are needed, etc.. There may be something I may not even think to ask that I should know. Thanks.

Hello again,
Was looking at a post for another person doing their ILR and noticed something that I may have not been aware of. Not sure if they were under difference circumstances, but it was mentioned in the post that all of their documents must be scanned in and can no longer be sent by post. The last time I applied for a visa in January of 2019, I ended up filling out the application online, but then posted all of my documents to them.
Has the procedure been changed since that time and if it was changed, about when did that occur. Or can I still post my documents in like i have in the past.
As I said, it is still a bit early to apply so haven't started the application. When I begin my online application will it mention somewhere that documents need to be scanned instead of posted. Or in my case, can I still post my documents in.
If I do need to scan in my documents, is that not only made clear on the online application, but what the process is as well. Is there a section on the online application where I can scan my documents in. If not, would it either lead or direct me to a site where I can scan my documents in.
Finally, Is there a link to an official UK document that gives guidance on the ILR process. For example, whether or not I need to scan or post documents and what documents are needed, etc.. There may be something I may not even think to ask that I should know. Thanks.

It's all scanned now, although the same rules about documents being originals/stamped/posted to you still apply.

You can do it yourself at home ,which some people prefer, or you can pay a bit extra to have them do it at your biometric appointment, which others find more convenient.

Thanks for confirming that everything needs to be scanned in now. Crazy busy past few days so haven't been able to do much with getting things organized, but once again thanks to everyone here for your help. Your help and assistance have been of great help to me.

Hello everyone,
Thought I would start to figure out the documents I needed today  for my ILR so I can get started on that this week.
I will start off with what ksand24 has already mentioned in a previous post as a starting point.

A. Original marriage certificate.
B Reference number for the Life in the U.K. test
C. The usual cohabitation evidence of living with your spouse for the past 2.5 years (same as for FLR(M)). You need 1 document in each of your names dated every 5 months going back 2.5 years to early 2019.
You only need 1 document in each of your names from each of the following months:
February 2019
July 2019
December 2019
May 2020
October 2020
March 2021
August 2021

Since we don't have enough documents in both our names together, I believe what we did last time was have one document with our address in my name, then another documents with our address in my wives names from the same dates. I.E. a bank statement for example.
For the finical requirements we included...
D. My wives past 6 months original pay slips
E. My wives Original P60
F. Letter from employer
G. Past 6 months of bank statements

Think for at least one or both of the past Visas we also included
H. Original signed job offer. 
I. Land registry
J. Mortgage statement
K. Photocopy of her passport photo page
L, Divorce papers
M. Letter of sponsorship


My documents
N. Passport
O. Photos for visa (which not be necessary again)
P. Birth certificate

My wife also has a daughters from her previous marriage, do we need to add any documents for her.

Of the above list of items and documents, is there anything I really don't need to add. And on the other hand, anything that I am missing that I will need to add as well. Thank you.

Have a question about my wives bank statements. Can she log into her bank account and then download her bank statements onto my laptop, which I will then scan/download into the UKVCAS site. Or does my wife need to get the bank statements sent by her bank. This is for the financial requirements portion of documents I will need. Thank you.

Have a question about my wives bank statements. Can she log into her bank account and then download her bank statements onto my laptop, which I will then scan/download into the UKVCAS site. Or does my wife need to get the bank statements sent by her bank. This is for the financial requirements portion of documents I will need. Thank you.

The bank statements must either:
- be official statements printed by the bank on official stationery, usually received in the mail
Or
- be online statements that have been printed at home AND either stamped by the bank on EVERY PAGE or accompanied by a letter from the bank confirming their authenticity


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Thanks. I seem to recall having to go to the bank last time, but it had slipped my mind and wanted to make sure that was correct.

Hello everyone,
Have a quick timeline process question. I would like to get started on my application this week but am still working on getting my documents together. The plan is to scan the documents from home.
Once I do complete my application and hit submit to send it over, when do I start to scan my documents that I need to send from home. Do I need to wait till I get my biometrics letter in the mail?  Do I even have to wait for a letter anymore. Is it all done online now?
If it's all done online now when I  finish my application will I be given information on where to go (website) to scan my documents, which I can immediately do when I am ready. And is there a deadline in which I will need to finish scanning all of my documents and send over to UKVCAS. Do I need to have them all scanned in by the time of my Biometrics appointment.
As always, thank you for your help.

Hello everyone,
Have a quick timeline process question. I would like to get started on my application this week but am still working on getting my documents together. The plan is to scan the documents from home.
Once I do complete my application and hit submit to send it over, when do I start to scan my documents that I need to send from home. Do I need to wait till I get my biometrics letter in the mail?  Do I even have to wait for a letter anymore. Is it all done online now?

Everything is online. Nothing is done in the mail.

The process is:
- get all your documents together and check and double-check they are all in order
- when you are completely ready with all your documents, submit online application and pay for the visa
- wait for an email with a registration code for the UKVCAS website
- register an account on the UKVCAS website
- book biometrics on the UKVCAS website
- upload your documents to the UKVCAS website at any time before your biometrics appointment (or you can add ‘document scanning’ to your appointment for £50 and take your documents with you to the appointment to be scanned)
- attend biometrics
- wait for an email to tell you the visa has been decided
- receive new BRP in the post

You can start scanning the documents into your computer at any time... you could start right now if you wanted, so that you have them scanned and ready to upload once you have submitted the application... which can save you some time later.


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Thanks. That does really help give me an good idea of what to do and expect. I did start my application before seeing your message. However, I can continue and try to finish it once I have my documents in order. I will probably  need some of those documents to answer questions I haven't gotten to yet anyway.
I was pretty sure I would have questions about my application along the way, so before I stop for today I do have one new (for me) and somewhat confusing question.
There is already a question about family from my County which I have answered. And a question about any friends I may have from my country of birth. But then it asks the following:

"Are you part of any social groups or do you have other cultural ties in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years?"
If I answer no, I get the following
Explain why not
This could include reasons you or your family would not be able to integrate into any of these countries

If I answer yes, I get the following,
Provide details
List the social networks or connections, where they are located and your involvement with them

Honestly I can't think of any social networks or connections other than my family living in the USA. However, I have already answered that question, so not really sure how to answer this. My wife also isn't sure how i should answer this question, so thought I would ask her. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Thanks. That does really help give me an good idea of what to do and expect. I did start my application before seeing your message. However, I can continue and try to finish it once I have my documents in order. I will probably  need some of those documents to answer questions I haven't gotten to yet anyway.

You can start filling out your application whenever, just don’t submit it until you have all your documents ready. The date you submit and pay for the visa is your official application date so all your documents need to be dated before that date.

I was pretty sure I would have questions about my application along the way, so before I stop for today I do have one new (for me) and somewhat confusing question.
There is already a question about family from my County which I have answered. And a question about any friends I may have from my country of birth. But then it asks the following:

"Are you part of any social groups or do you have other cultural ties in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years?"
If I answer no, I get the following
Explain why not
This could include reasons you or your family would not be able to integrate into any of these countries

If I answer yes, I get the following,
Provide details
List the social networks or connections, where they are located and your involvement with them

Honestly I can't think of any social networks or connections other than my family living in the USA. However, I have already answered that question, so not really sure how to answer this. My wife also isn't sure how i should answer this question, so thought I would ask her. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

By social networks they generally mean actual organisations that you are a member of/take part in in the US that might be able to offer you help and support in the case that your visa is refused and you have to return to live in the US.

For example:
- church groups
- local community groups
- cultural/ethnic societies
- sororities/fraternities
- clubs/societies for hobbies

There’s no right or wrong answer here - just put the truth. So if you don’t have any social or cultural ties, then tick No, and give your reasons why not... it may just be as simple as that you no longer live in the US so are not in contact with any ties anymore.

They will only look at your answer to this question (and the one about family/friends) if your visa falls for refusal and they need to look at whether you qualify to be put on the 10-year path to ILR under Article 8: Right to Family Life in the UK. In which case they will look to see whether you have anywhere to go or any family/friends/communities to help you reintegrate back into life in the US.


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Thanks  ksand24,
Your answer helps makes sense of that question. And yes, I will hold off completing and submitting my application till I have all my documents scanned and ready to go. Might do a few more application questions if I can, but I already am pretty sure there are documents I am going to need to answer a question or two. Thanks again.