NARIC..... I'll have to request it now and given I likely won't be able to get an appointment until sometime in February, it looks like I'll have enough time to get it the standard way but it'll be dated after my application date.... since it's not a financial document, I'm hoping that's fine but does anyone know if this will be an issue?...
It should be okay - as long as you have it, I don't think the date will be an issue, especially in Covid times as they are being a bit more lenient with the documents as it's more difficult to get them at the moment.
You can always choose to book your biometrics for a later date as well, if you need to.
The important thing is that your online application is submitted before your current BRP expires - so it doesn't matter too much when you attend biometrics... some people had to wait up to 6 months from applying before they could even book biometrics last year because all the UKVCAS centres were closed from March to June/July/August.
It looks like I'll also need to request the Medium of instruction letter from my uni in the US to confirm all the courses were taught entirely in English. I thought the UK had the list of all the accredited US universities, and that's why I didn't need anything other than the official transcript / diploma with the apostile so far.... strange that I need this letter on the medium of instruction & the NARIC letter now in my 3rd time getting a UK visa....(the last spouse visa renewal was in Aug'18 - so it was after 2016....)
I suppose there is no way out of this?...
No, unfortunately, you must provide the NARIC certificate now.
Note that the NARIC letter is ONLY required for ILR and citizenship, and NOT for the spousal visa and FLR(M), which is why your official transcript was fine in 2018, but it's not now.