Applying for first spouse visa extension

Hello everyone,
I'm back again, it is that time again, my wife's first visa extension is on the horizon, her visa runs out towards December 2020 time, I remember speaking to my solicitor who did the initial paperwork for me. He said to get my wife to take the A2 English test in April and then look to start getting the paperwork together.

She has passed her A2 test with flying colours. So now I need to kick myself up the butt and start doing my bit!
I have a few questions;

• So what are the requirements this time round?
• What is the application process?
• Where can I access the application to see what I need to fill out.
• What evidence do I need to put forward/collect?
• With COVID19 are there are any changes that have been announced?

I want to start preparing so I don't miss anything out so I can get the application submitted whenever it needs to be submitted and hope all goes through smoothly.

I look forward to hearing the excellent advice & guidance that you get on here.

Thank you,
Jav

Welcome back .

• So what are the requirements this time round?

The earliest she can apply online for the visa is 28 days before she reaches 30 months in the UK and the latest is the expiry date of her current BRP.

The requirements are essentially the same as the first visa:
- financial requirement
- accommodation requirement
- relationship requirement

The exact documents you need to provide will depend on your personal circumstances.

The main difference is that for the relationship requirement, instead of providing evidence of regular communication, you provide evidence of living together for the last 2 years before applying for FLR(M)

You need to provide 6 official documents in each name (either joint or separately addressed), spread evenly over the last 2 years (1 document in each name every 4 months), from at least 3 official sources.

So, say you apply in December 2020, you would need 1 document in each name from each of the following months:
Dec 2018
Apr 2019
Aug 2019
Dec 2019
Apr 2020
Aug 2020
Optional extra: Dec 2020

If you apply in a different month, you just adjust the dates of the documents accordingly.

• What is the application process?

- gather all your supporting documents
- fill out the online application
- submit the online application and pay for the visa (if you want to use the 24-hour Super Priority service, and it is being offered, you pay for it here as well)
- register an account on the UKVCAS website (you will get an electronic code by email)
- book a biometrics appointment, selecting any paid services you want
- upload your supporting documents to the UKVCAS website (unless you are paying for them to scan and upload the documents for you
- attend your biometrics appointment
- wait for the visa to be processed

At the moment, all the UKVCAS centres are closed because of the virus, so all you can do right now is submit the online application and then wait until the centres reopen to book biometrics, but hopefully they will be open again by the time you apply.

• Where can I access the application to see what I need to fill out.

See here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-as-a-partner-or-dependent-child-form-flrm

• What evidence do I need to put forward/collect?

As mentioned above, it’s basically all the same documents as last time, just updated, plus the 6 items of correspondence for the relationship evidence.

If you can tell us which financial category you meet and what your accommodation situation is, we can tell you what documents you need.

• With COVID19 are there are any changes that have been announced?

Other than the UKVCAS centres being closed as biometrics not being available, not really. People whose visas expire between Jan and May 2020 can extend to May 31st, but that won’t apply to you.

Right now all we can do is wait to see what happens and keep an eye out for updates.

See here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/list]

I see from your previous posts that your wife’s visa was approved in December 2017, which means it should expire in September 2020 (33 months after the date in Dec 2017 it was issued).

Assuming she arrived in the UK in December 2017, she will reach 30 months in the UK in June 2020... so she could apply for her FLR(M) 28 days before that date in June, so sometime in May.

If she arrived in the UK in Jan 2018, she will reach 30 months in July 2020, so she could apply sometime in June.

The latest she can apply online is the expiry date of her BRP, which should be sometime in September 2020.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for all that information - let me go through that over the weekend or later tonight and I can get a list of my requirements & situation on here so it makes it easier for you to point me in the correct direction. I'll also get her BRP expiry date and date of entry to the country for reference.

I'm working from home at the moment so not free at the moment - I've got a website transfer happening that is not going too well at the moment.

I see from your previous posts that your wife’s visa was approved in December 2017, which means it should expire in September 2020 (33 months after the date in Dec 2017 it was issued).

Assuming she arrived in the UK in December 2017, she will reach 30 months in the UK in June 2020... so she could apply for her FLR(M) 28 days before that date in June, so sometime in May.

If she arrived in the UK in Jan 2018, she will reach 30 months in July 2020, so she could apply sometime in June.

The latest she can apply online is the expiry date of her BRP, which should be sometime in September 2020.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right, apologies for not getting back to you on this sooner. I've got a cold and really bad headache (thankfully non coronavirus related)


BRP
My wife's BRP expires on 24/08/2020

UK Entry Clearance
Valid from: 24/11/2017
Valid until: 24/12/2017
Immigration stamp: 17/12/2017 (Date of entry into the UK)

Financial
I meet the requirements which I believe is set at £18,600? I currently earn well over that amount, so that requirement is met comfortably. So the evidence that I need to provide are the following;

• 6 months wage slips
• 6 months bank statements reflecting the monthly wage going in
• Letter of employment

Wife's status
So the wife is a housewife and is not working. We have one child who is fast approaching 2 years old come end of August. We are currently still living with my parents rent free. So the evidence that I need to provide on her behalf will be;

• A2 Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Letters in her name (bank statement, hospital letters, any utility bills - what other supporting documents can I supply for this?)
• Passport
• Passport for my son (I need to apply for this, I've been super lazy & this is the kick up the backside that I need)
• My son's birth certificate
• Residency letter (from homeowner) - stating the we live here and rent-free, the usual. 

Anything else?
I can't think of anything else that I need to supply. I would be eternally grateful if anyone can let me know what else I can provide.

So any documents, well the last document needs to be 28 days old doesn't it, prior to the application being submitted. So I know there has been a slight change around proof of relationship, what else has changed? Any documentation/evidence does that need to be for 6 months?

@ksand24 you've listed dates around some documents, I think it was every 4 months? Well, do I need to provide evidence that the wife has lived at the mentioned address for 2 years?

I'm going to sign up the website where the application is filled out in my wife's name and have a look and what they are requesting and familiarize myself with the application process.

Here we go again! 

Thanks,
Jav

Right, apologies for not getting back to you on this sooner. I've got a cold and really bad headache (thankfully non coronavirus related)

Sorry to hear that, but glad it's not virus-related.

BRP
My wife's BRP expires on 24/08/2020

UK Entry Clearance
Valid from: 24/11/2017
Valid until: 24/12/2017
Immigration stamp: 17/12/2017 (Date of entry into the UK)

Okay, if she arrived on 17th December 2017, she will reach 30 months in the UK on 17th May 2017.

That means the earliest date she could apply for FLR(M) was 19th April 2020, and the latest date is 24th August 2020 (her visa expiry date).

Financial
I meet the requirements which I believe is set at £18,600? I currently earn well over that amount, so that requirement is met comfortably. So the evidence that I need to provide are the following;
[/font]

• 6 months wage slips
• 6 months bank statements reflecting the monthly wage going in
• Letter of employment

Yes, that's correct, though it's recommended to also include your original job contract and latest P60 as well, because they can ask to see them.

You will likely want/need to include 7 months of payslips and bank statements, just to make sure that every single day of the 6 months is covered explicitly.

The latest payslip, bank statement, and the employer letter must be dated no more than 28 days before the date you submit the online application.

So the wife is a housewife and is not working. We have one child who is fast approaching 2 years old come end of August. We are currently still living with my parents rent free. So the evidence that I need to provide on her behalf will be;
[/font]

• A2 Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Letters in her name (bank statement, hospital letters, any utility bills - what other supporting documents can I supply for this?)
• Passport
• Passport for my son (I need to apply for this, I've been super lazy & this is the kick up the backside that I need)
• My son's birth certificate
• Residency letter (from homeowner) - stating the we live here and rent-free, the usual. 

Anything else?
I can't think of anything else that I need to supply. I would be eternally grateful if anyone can let me know what else I can provide.

Okay, you have several different document sections all rolled into one here.

Let's sort all your documents out.

You need:

Application documents
- her passport
- her BRP card
- your UK passport
- A2 Certificate

Child's documents
- his passport
- his birth certificate
- a letter dated in the last 3 months confirming his address (i.e. from his GP)

Financial documents
- 6 FULL months wage slips (i.e. 7 months worth)
- 6 FULL months bank statements reflecting the monthly wage going in (i.e. 7 months worth)
- Letter of employment
- job contract
- P60

Accommodation documents
- your parents' Land Registry document
- your parents' latest mortgage statement (if they have a mortgage)
- their latest council tax bill (2020/2021)
- a letter from them confirming the property details, giving all 3 of you permission to live, there and stating the total number of people + living rooms and bedrooms, to show it is not overcrowded

Relationship documents
- marriage certificate
Evidence of cohabitation
- 6 documents in each name showing you both live at the same address, spread evenly over the last 2 years
- this means 1 document in each name (either joint or separately addressed) dated every 4 months
- so this might be 6 jointly-addressed documents, or 12 separately-addressed documents, or a combination of both
- they must be from at least 3 different official sources (i.e. council tax bills, water bills, electricity bills, phone bills, TV/Internet bills, bank statements, letters from HMRC, DVLA, NHS etc.)[/list]

Okay, that has made me feel loads better now.


I have a structure now to work to and can start gathering that evidence. This will then show where I am lacking in evidence and get that sorted out promptly.

Okay, if she arrived on 17th December 2017, she will reach 30 months in the UK on 17th May 2017.That means the earliest date she could apply for FLR(M) was 19th April 2020, and the latest date is 24th August 2020 (her visa expiry date).

Do you mean 17th May 2020 and not 17th May 2017?
So do I need to submit my application on 24th August 2020 or before that?


Starting tomorrow I can start planning now and if I hit any problems or have any questions, I'll be sure to give you a nudge on this.


The land registry document, could I not use the one previously for when I applied for a spouse visa? If not, where is the best place to get this from? I think you should be able to get this for a couple of quid, but I want to make sure I am getting this from a proper website.


I was meant to signup to the application website and have a look through that but have got side-tracked haha! I can't be letting that happen and need to focus on this, the sooner it's out the way, the better. I feel like this time round it's not going to be as stressful. Quickly touches the wood!


Thank you as always.
 

Do you mean 17th May 2020 and not 17th May 2017?
So do I need to submit my application on 24th August 2020 or before that?

Sorry, yes - 2020... that was me typing too fast.

The ABSOLUTE LATEST you can submit your application is 24th August 2020. I would NOT advise leaving it that late.

You can submit the online application on any day between TODAY and 24th August.

So, when you're ready, and you have all your documents in order and have checked they meet all the requirements, you can submit the application.

The land registry document, could I not use the one previously for when I applied for a spouse visa? If not, where is the best place to get this from? I think you should be able to get this for a couple of quid, but I want to make sure I am getting this from a proper website.

You can use the original one from before, but you may want to get a new one showing that they still own it in 2020.

You can download an official copy from the Land Registry website for £3:
https://eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/eservices/FindAProperty/view/QuickEnquiryInit.do?_ga=2.159058233.2003636700.1588523926-1140672851.1579372608

I was meant to signup to the application website and have a look through that but have got side-tracked haha! I can't be letting that happen and need to focus on this, the sooner it's out the way, the better. I feel like this time round it's not going to be as stressful. Quickly touches the wood!

The only thing to be aware of is that the online application can be a bit confusing and it may not tell you ALL of the documents you need to include (it can be very vague sometimes), so make sure you double-check it all here on the forum as well.

I'm definitely going to triple check it with you experienced individuals on here before clicking any submit button. I have seen a few people mention that the application process is very confusing. That is my cue to take a look at the application form and jot down some notes and any questions that I may have.

I appreciate the support as always. You absolute legend. 

What's the link to the application form? I don't think it is this one because this is for uploading documents/evidence: https://auth.ukvcas.co.uk/Account/Login

Found it: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/family-routes?_ga=2.236172290.225527785.1588524299-406527076.1588524299

Right I have now submitted the application for a British passport for my son (first time passport)

They have asked the following;

Grandparents’ documents

Send all of the following for both maternal grandparents: full birth or adoption certificate

• grandfather’s marriage certificate to your grandmother (if this applies)

• And all of the following for both paternal grandparents: full birth or adoption certificate

• grandfather’s marriage certificate to your grandmother (if this applies)

My parents don't have a birth certificate but they do have the marriage certificate, both in English & Urdu.

Should I only send this to them and some cover note to let them know there isn't a birth certificate.

Thanks,
Javed

Land Registry

When I have gone to the official site to get a copy of the land registry, two options appear, one when the property was on leasehold and another when it was freehold. The property is freehold and not leasehold.

Which one do I pick from here?


And out of these which one do I need to purchase?

Hi,

Having just bought one of these myself I can confirm its the title register option you need for the second part.

For the first part it should most likely be the freehold option if the people you live with own the freehold. That should have their names as the owners. If it turns out not to have their names because the change from leasehold to freehold has not been updated by land registry then I think you'd have to try the leasehold option for a further £3 and see if that has their names on it.

Hi,

Having just bought one of these myself I can confirm its the title register option you need for the second part.

For the first part it should most likely be the freehold option if the people you live with own the freehold. That should have their names as the owners. If it turns out not to have their names because the change from leasehold to freehold has not been updated by land registry then I think you'd have to try the leasehold option for a further £3 and see if that has their names on it.

I've just checked the old documents from when I applied for the spouse visa to get her into the UK and the land registry document shows leasehold with the names on it. I'm just going to reuse that document from my last application as no details have changed since, save that £3 and put it towards the other fees that need to be paid as part of the FLR(M) application.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Hello @ksand24

I hope you are doing well. I've been going through the application the past 2 weeks or so & found it to be confusing! Oh and you can't even download the application for you to review, I've also noticed today that you can't even go back and edit any answers that you've given, that's just silly if you ask me. Anyway I have copied and pasted the questions and answers to a Word document and formatted this. I'll post the contents of it here. It might be too long for a post so I will get this added to Google Docs and the link for this is below.

GOOGLE DOC

I think the non-applying children section of the application was quite confusing, questions on would the child be affected if the application was to be refused, I think I could strengthen my replies there. Anyway, take a look and let me know if that looks fine, it does to me. I just need to get the supporting documents together.

My aim is to get the application submitted before the start of August 2020. I want this out of the way, I remember the stress of this in bringing her to this country ha-ha! Before you know it I will be doing this again 2.5 years time.

When it asks to list the members of the family, I have done this for my wife just sticking to her mother/father/brothers and sisters. I've not added in any uncles/aunties/relatives, otherwise the list would be endless. The same goes when it asks about my son's family here in the UK, I've just mentioned his grandparents and uncle that lives with us on the mentioned home address on the application. Here, I've not listed everyone as the list would be ridiculously endless.

If you have any questions regarding some answers, feel free to dive in and let me know what needs amending (providing the application online allows me to)

Thanks as always for the support on here.

PS -  I've taken out the names, date of births and any other sensitive information.

Thanks,
J