ILR - okay where do we start?

I’ve been laying off the site for some time now. Been dealing with a long term mental health issue.

But now I’m completely lost! So many options etc it’s difficult for me to know where to begin?
1) Are things electronic now?
2) Can you still do in person appointments?
3) Where do I begin to start the application process?
4) Me and the wife have been renting on a sort of rolling unofficial lease. What do we do with this? The lease expired and our landlord said he’s happy for us living here for as long as we need

Thanks

So, after a little google I’ve began the application online. I presume this is correct?

It asks for National ID. Any valid national ID issued by non-UK governments. Does social security card count or do I just say ‘No’?

Further, on the passport page it asks for issuing body. Do I put United States of America or ‘United States Department of State’?

Anybody?

Hi Ben,

I think that putting either down is fine. I can't find it, but I think we were asked this once, and we put down United States Department of State.

I don't have an answer for the national ID, but I would think that would be OK - a US driver's license might do it too.

It is all done online now, I think too, but I've not actually done it - around a year from now we'll be doing our ILR online with the new system.

It also asks for friends back in USA, location, your relationship to them, and how you keep in contact?

What is the point of this? Relationship? Erm, friend.

I’ve been laying off the site for some time now. Been dealing with a long term mental health issue.

But now I’m completely lost! So many options etc it’s difficult for me to know where to begin?
1) Are things electronic now?
2) Can you still do in person appointments?
3) Where do I begin to start the application process?
4) Me and the wife have been renting on a sort of rolling unofficial lease. What do we do with this? The lease expired and our landlord said he’s happy for us living here for as long as we need

Thanks

1)  Yes, it's on the UKVI website,.  You have to scan and upload all your documents at the end of the form.  You can save and leave the application at any time
2)  Yes.  We didn't pay priority but we had to go to an appointment, for biomentrics, where it was advised we took all our documents.  There is still the option of priority appoinment for an extra £800
3)  https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/set-m

So, after a little google I’ve began the application online. I presume this is correct?

It asks for National ID. Any valid national ID issued by non-UK governments. Does social security card count or do I just say ‘No’?

Further, on the passport page it asks for issuing body. Do I put United States of America or ‘United States Department of State’?

1. I just said 'No.'
2. I put US Dept of State.

At which point is the Biometrics performed? We did our biometrics at FLR(M) as we had an in-person appointment. We'll mist likely do the same type of appointment but just wondering if anything has changed?

Hi Ben - would strongly suggest you take a look at some recent posts (since the very end of last year/beginning of this year) from others who posted about applying for ILR (myself included) strictly because I think it'll give you answers to most of your questions and future questions that come up.

So, after a little google I’ve began the application online. I presume this is correct?

It asks for National ID. Any valid national ID issued by non-UK governments. Does social security card count or do I just say ‘No’?

Further, on the passport page it asks for issuing body. Do I put United States of America or ‘United States Department of State’?

1. I put "no" because I don't have any national ID to provide outside of my passport - which, iirc, is what they were looking for. (my ILR got approved so assuming this wasn't an issue) I think some countries require you to have a national ID card (I believe, for example, my Turkish friend has one) but the US doesn't really have a  "national ID" - outside of, I suppose, SSN (as we have state IDs and my understanding was that those don't count).

2. I put United States Department of State (as that is exactly what's listed on the "issuing body" part of my passport....but you could easily just put USA or United States and I don't think it'd be a showstopper.

It also asks for friends back in USA, location, your relationship to them, and how you keep in contact?

What is the point of this? Relationship? Erm, friend.

This is actually why I had recommended you read other people's post on their experience/questions for ILR as there are a few different ways you can do this. it doesn't seem that there's a right/wrong way to do it as they make parts of the application far too open for interpretation.

I just started listing all the people I kept in contact with/visited when I was home from the most important to the least important and left enough character space to write something along the lines of "there are more but there isn't enough space to provide all the info".

I can't say what the point of it is, unfortunately. I guess just to see how strong your ties are back home and if it could post any conflicts for whatever reason? Similar to why they ask you what type of ties you have to communities back in your home country (as they are probably looking to see if you're involved with any groups that could be considered radical and post a conflict to approving your application)

At which point is the Biometrics performed? We did our biometrics at FLR(M) as we had an in-person appointment. We'll mist likely do the same type of appointment but just wondering if anything has changed?

When you attend your appointment - which you book AFTER you submit your application. It will have changed in that you don't get to opt into an appointment by paying for a different type of processing. With the new process, you HAVE to submit your biometrics at an appointment. You will be prompted to book said appointment once you complete your application and pay the fee/select processing type.

Hi Kiss of Death,

I have tried looking but couldn't find much info with regards to certain questions and the process etc.

I'll delve a bit deeper

Hi Kiss of Death,

I have tried looking but couldn't find much info with regards to certain questions and the process etc.

I'll delve a bit deeper

If it helps, here's a link to some of my topics where I have questions and one where I share the process for me (to give you a better understanding). Mine was done at the beginning of this year which was under the new process and very little will have changed I imagine.

https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=94752.msg1251975#msg1251975 - This one might be less relevant but sharing anyways just in case

https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=94754.msg1252005#msg1252005 - here's document check thread that also has some questions that might help

https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=95610.msg1267081#msg1267081 - Final check and an explanation of my experience (gives timelines).


Also, here is a link to this post that really helped me too https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=95321.msg1267500#msg1267500

Thanks KoD.

Just so I am clear. What is the process?

Submit online application.
Arrange Biometrics
Submit Docs
Await decision

?

Thanks KoD.

Just so I am clear. What is the process?

Submit online application.
Arrange Biometrics
Submit Docs
Await decision

?

Nope, new process works slightly differently as nothing is sent in the post (this is covered in my post and the post that helped me out that I linked). New process is more like this :

- Submit online application & select processing type/pay fees (can't remember if you also select any services you want at this point or if it's when you book your appointment).

- Book appointment @ Sopra Steria (3rd party)

- Upload documents ahead of attending your appointment (OR you can pay for services - as mentioned above -  one of which is a service where they will do your document uploading. For me, it was a waste of money but if you don't have a scanner and/or are time poor, it might be worth it for you.)

- Attend your appointment with all documents just in case you need to provide them (which is rare as they typically only want to re-scan your passport). They take your biometrics (it lasts about an hour give or take depending on how busy it is) and you see somebody at a desk who formally goes through the docs you've uploaded. Then they will formally submit your application to UKVI to process (processing wait time will begin now/next working day)

- Wait for "decision made" email. You don't submit anything in the post and you keep all your documents.