FLR(M) - First extension is around the corner

Thanks @ksand24 !!

Almost there!

My wife’s BRP expires Nov 17, so earliest we can apply is today Oct 20 and we want to do it soon to avoid the IHS increase if we can. My latest payslip is from Sep 25 which I believe gives us time till Oct 23 to apply. So it’s a bit tight but should be doable. Our “plan” is to do it tomorrow (Oct 21). Just wanted to check which date is taken as the “application date” to make sure that my bank statements and payslips cover the required period. Currently I have Mar-Sep (till Sep 25)

1. Is it the date the application form is completed online or could it be later (e.g. once the biometrics are submitted)?

I believe and hope it’s the former but just checking. Also, need to make sure we have a decent enough application window for the ILR down the line.

2. So do you know potentially what date the BRP is issued from?

I’m hoping that it’s from the end date of the first BRP or maybe when the application is processed which would be a few weeks probably. Any clue?

Thank you so much. It’s almost over!

This also means that for the correspondence documents, you will need documents in each name from the following months:
Oct 2018
Feb 2019
June 2019
Oct 2019
Feb 2020
June 2020
Optional extra: Oct 2020

Here is what we have here. The stuff in brackets is what we are not sure about. So far I’m thinking of submitting the two letters we have from the GP addressed to us separately (9 Jun 2020) and then the September BT bill (22 Sep 2020). That way we will have 3 sources (bank, GP + BT) but the last period is a bit shorter.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

The other option is to wait for the BT statement which would arrive in the next few days I’d hope but we might miss our Friday “cut-off” as per my post above. It’s not the end of the world though and I’d rather we get it done right even if we have to delay the whole thing.

* (Oct 2020 - Joint Bank Statement)
* (Sep 2020 - BT bill)
* (Jun 2020 - BT bill or GP letters)
* Feb 2020 - Joint Bank Statement
* (Mar 2020 - Council Tax 2020/2021)
* Oct 2019 - Joint Bank Statement
* Jun 2019 - Joint Bank Statement
* Feb 2019 - Joint Bank Statement
* Oct 2018 - Joint Bank Statement

I would go with:

Oct 2018
1. Joint: Bank Statement (Source 1)

Spacing: 4 months

Feb 2019
2. Joint: Bank Statement

Spacing: 4 months

June 2019
3. Joint: Bank Statement

Spacing: 4 months

Oct 2019
4. Joint: Bank Statement

Spacing: 4 months

Feb 2020
5. Joint: Bank Statement

Spacing: 4 months

Jun 2020
6. Applicant: GP letter (Source 2)
6. Sponsor: BT bill (Source 3) - if it’s joint, just use it for one of you that month

Spacing: 4 months

Oct 2020
7. Joint: Bank Statement

That way you have your 3 sources AND 4-month spacing between all the documents .


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Thanks @ksand24 ! Application submitted!!

We are now playing the biometrics game and losing. Seems that all slots are booked out in London. Is it a matter of trying our luck at midnight?

What happens now in terms of our ability to travel?
Is it possible to get back to US after the biometrics are taken while the application is being processed? Would it cause any issues getting back in the country with an expired BRP?

Thanks @ksand24 ! Application submitted!!

We are now playing the biometrics game and losing. Seems that all slots are booked out in London. Is it a matter of trying our luck at midnight?

Great news .

Not sure about the appointments - it’s worth having a look here to see when they release them:
https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message-detail?flashmessageId=74833

What happens now in terms of our ability to travel?
Is it possible to get back to US after the biometrics are taken while the application is being processed? Would it cause any issues getting back in the country with an expired BRP?

You should not attempt to travel now that you have applied as you may not be allowed back in... and you definitely won’t be able to travel once the BRP has expired.

This is because once your visa expires, your immigration status only remains valid under Section 3C Leave while you remain INSIDE the UK. As soon as you leave, your 3C Leave becomes invalid and you lose your right to live in the UK, which means you will not be allowed to return and your FLR(M) application cannot be granted as you will no longer be resident in the UK.


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Thanks for the confirmation. I guess we will have to stay put for the time being.

On the bright side, we managed to book the biometrics. If anyone else is reading this and is as desperate as us for the first available slot, it seems that the new times get released sometime between 00:15 and 05:00. It’ probably makes sense to wake up early rather than stay late.

About to upload the documents on the portal which we've grouped as per the UKVAS categories (feel free to correct).
We submitted the online application on Oct 22. So all of the below documents are relevant to that date.

I don't have to submit more recent payslips and statements correct?
Can I please get a last check before we upload them?

As usual, thank you everyone for helping us out. It means a lot to have a second pair of eyes and an expert opinion.

Mandatory documents

Proof of Identity/Travel History

• Applicant’s BRP
• Sponsor’s UK passport (all pages)

Proof of Application

• Signed spouse declaration
• Signed consent for verification checks - Description doesn't explicitly mention this by I assume this is where it goes?
• Part 1 - Signed by applicant
• Part 2-3 - Signed by sponsor (as we hold a joint account)
• Applicant’s US passport (2019-2029)
• Applicant’s old US passport (2009-2019) - Is this required?

Optional documents

Finances

• Electronic Payslips - Mar-Sep (latest is Sep 25) - This is okay given the application date right?
• Electronic P60 - 2019/2020
• Employer Letter re Electronic Payslips/P60s* (Oct 22)
• Bank Statements - Mar-Oct (issued on Oct 22)**
• Latest Council Tax Bill 2020-2021

Sponsor/Employment

• Letter of employment (Oct 16)
• Original Job Contract (Jul 2011)

Residence in the UK

• Tenancy Agreement 2020-2021
• Evidence of cohabitation
• Oct 2020 - Bank Statement
• Jun 2020 - BT (Sponsor) + GP (Applicant)
• Feb 2020 - Bank Statement
• Oct 2019 - Bank Statement
• Jun 2019 - Bank Statement
• Feb 2019 - Bank Statement
• Oct 2018 - Bank Statement

Life Events

• Marriage certificate

* My employer is only issuing electronic payslips and due to COVID they can only verify them by email if required.
** My bank issued the statements in one of their branches but there is nothing that distinguishes them from a printout at home as far as I can tell. In fact it's worse as it's a B/W copy but at least it's on official letterhead. They said that they no longer certify/stamp copies and issued a "standard visa letter" to go along with the statements which just confirms that I'm an account holder and my balance. I've decided to scan this as a bundle (Mar-Oct) with the letter as not sure if there's anything else it could be done here. I hope that's okay.

Cheers

About to upload the documents on the portal which we've grouped as per the UKVAS categories (feel free to correct).
We submitted the online application on Oct 22. So all of the below documents are relevant to that date.

I don't have to submit more recent payslips and statements correct? 

No, the date you submit the online application is your official application date, so all of your documents must be dated no later than Oct 22nd.

As usual, thank you everyone for helping us out. It means a lot to have a second pair of eyes and an expert opinion.

In regards to your documents, I'm not sure why you have Mandatory and Optional sections, because ALL of the documents are mandatory.

Mandatory documents

Proof of Application

• Applicant’s US passport (2019-2029)
• Applicant’s old US passport (2009-2019) - Is this required? - yes, it is - you must include all passports held since arriving in the UK
• Signed spouse declaration
• Signed consent for verification checks - Description doesn't explicitly mention this by I assume this is where it goes? Yes.
• Part 1 - Signed by applicant
• Part 2 ONLY - Signed by sponsor (as we hold a joint account)Part 3 should not be signed by anyone as you are not allowed to use third party financial support

Proof of Identity/Travel History

• Applicant’s BRP
• Sponsor’s UK passport (all pages)

Finances
Mandatory

• Electronic Payslips - Mar-Sep (latest is Sep 25) - This is okay given the application date right? Yes, this is okay
• Bank Statements - Mar-Oct (issued on Oct 22)**
• Letter of employment (Oct 16)
• Employer Letter re Electronic Payslips/P60s* (Oct 22)

Optional but recommended

• Original Job Contract (Jul 2011)
• Electronic P60 - 2019/2020

Residence in the UK
Accommodation

• Tenancy Agreement 2020-2021
• Latest Council Tax Bill 2020-2021

Evidence of cohabitation

• Oct 2020 - Bank Statement
• Jun 2020 - BT (Sponsor) + GP (Applicant)
• Feb 2020 - Bank Statement
• Oct 2019 - Bank Statement
• Jun 2019 - Bank Statement
• Feb 2019 - Bank Statement
• Oct 2018 - Bank Statement

Other

• Marriage certificate

And if applicable:

• Any divorce decrees
• If either of you have any children: their passports, birth certificates and a letter confirming their address dated in the last 3 months

Sections you leave blank:
Sponsor/Employment
Life Events
Educational
Medical

* My employer is only issuing electronic payslips and due to COVID they can only verify them by email if required.

It is an absolute requirement that each electronic payslip be verified by the employer. This is normally included in the mandatory employer letter, but can be a separate letter.

The letter should confirm the following for each payslip
- pay date
- pay period
- gross pay
- net pay
- date paid into bank account
- an explanation for any discrepancies between the payslip date/amount and the bank deposit date/amount

** My bank issued the statements in one of their branches but there is nothing that distinguishes them from a printout at home as far as I can tell. In fact it's worse as it's a B/W copy but at least it's on official letterhead. They said that they no longer certify/stamp copies and issued a "standard visa letter" to go along with the statements which just confirms that I'm an account holder and my balance. I've decided to scan this as a bundle (Mar-Oct) with the letter as not sure if there's anything else it could be done here. I hope that's okay.

Each bank statement should be scanned and uploaded separately, with the filename containing the month and year of each statement.

For example:
Bank_Statement_March_2020.pdf[/list][/list][/list][/list][/list]

It is an absolute requirement that each electronic payslip be verified by the employer. This is normally included in the mandatory employer letter, but can be a separate letter.

Ok might have dropped the ball on this one HR refused to do anything outside of their "standard template" here (so annoying). So they issued 2 letters - one confirming my position, salary, dates, etc. and one confirming that the payslips are electronic and due to COVID they can only be verified over email should anyone contact them (they have provided an email). Not sure what other options are there to be honest apart from cross our fingers now I guess. Any thoughts?

In regards to your documents, I'm not sure why you have Mandatory and Optional sections, because ALL of the documents are mandatory.

Yea my bad. I just copied what was on the UKVAS screen and their categorization.

Applicant’s old US passport (2009-2019) - Is this required? - yes, it is - you must include all passports held since arriving in the UK

Thanks. Btw that really wasn't mentioned anywhere as far as I could tell and we would've missed it if it wasn't for your posts on the forum.

Part 2 ONLY - Signed by sponsor (as we hold a joint account)Part 3 should not be signed by anyone as you are not allowed to use third party financial support

Ah thanks!