Beginning to plan for my FLR (M)

Mrs Magpie!  Welcome back!

Sorry to hear that things aren't all good at the moment, I hope the situation improves.

I thought of you last summer when I went to the Lake District.  I remember thinking you were lucky enough to call that your back yard!!!   

Don't worry too much about this. Get a bill if you can, but if she won't provide it, just explain that in your application.

Thank you so much! This requirement totally caught me off guard. I’ve reached out to her and she’s cool about it. Phew! I think I panicked for nothing. Ha ha!


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Mrs Magpie!  Welcome back!

Sorry to hear that things aren't all good at the moment, I hope the situation improves.

I thought of you last summer when I went to the Lake District.  I remember thinking you were lucky enough to call that your back yard!!!   

Hi KFdancer!! Nice to hear from you! Thanks for the encouragement. I’m working diligently on removing the things from my life that cause me anxiety. It’s helping some. I’ll get there!

You’ll have to let me know next time you’re visiting the Lakes. I’ll totally meet you for a coffee! Hopefully, everything keeps going in the right direction. It’s nice to feel a bit free again. Hope you are well!


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Hi...again...

Okay, I am seriously about to lose my mind. What is it with this section on the application regarding a non applying child? Why is it so completely invasive? Have I answered something wrong that has triggered all of these questions?? I am her stepmother but she lives with her biological mother primarily. My husband (her father) and I have her every other weekend and a couple nights a week every other week for dinner. These questions are treating me as if I am her mother. The part I am on now is asking me about all the times she has traveled out of the country! I have no idea!! I've only been around for the last few years and she is 13 now. Do I seriously now have to go to her mother and ask her to gather every itinerary of my stepdaughter's travel?? I can't ask her to do this.

Can anyone give me any guidance here please? This is definitely doing my head in. 

Hi...again...

Okay, I am seriously about to lose my mind. What is it with this section on the application regarding a non applying child? Why is it so completely invasive? Have I answered something wrong that has triggered all of these questions?? I am her stepmother but she lives with her biological mother primarily. My husband (her father) and I have her every other weekend and a couple nights a week every other week for dinner. These questions are treating me as if I am her mother. The part I am on now is asking me about all the times she has traveled out of the country! I have no idea!! I've only been around for the last few years and she is 13 now. Do I seriously now have to go to her mother and ask her to gather every itinerary of my stepdaughter's travel?? I can't ask her to do this.

Can anyone give me any guidance here please? This is definitely doing my head in. 

Hmm, I don’t recall anyone else mentioning being asked questions about their child’s travel unless said child was also applying for a visa.

Just to check to make sure that you didn’t select that there were any dependent children on the application?

Someone else made the mistake a few months ago of selecting that they had a child dependent and were charged for 2 visa applications... because they had actually selected that they had a non-UK citizen child who was also applying for a visa and was being included on the application, instead of just including the child’s details on the form.


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Hmm, I don’t recall anyone else mentioning being asked questions about their child’s travel unless said child was also applying for a visa.

Just to check to make sure that you didn’t select that there were any dependent children on the application?

Someone else made the mistake a few months ago of selecting that they had a child dependent and were charged for 2 visa applications... because they had actually selected that they had a non-UK citizen child who was also applying for a visa and was being included on the application, instead of just including the child’s details on the form.


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I don't recall seeing a question that asked if there were any dependent children. The only question that came up was:
"Does 'spouse' have any other children in the UK that are not applying on this application?" I answered that question with "yes". And that's what triggered all the additional questions about his daughter.

Am I even filling out the right application? 

I don't recall seeing a question that asked if there were any dependent children. The only question that came up was:
"Does 'spouse' have any other children in the UK that are not applying on this application?" I answered that questions with "yes". And that's what triggered all the additional questions about his daughter.

Am I even filling out the right application? 

I think the dependent children option comes up at the beginning of the application, but as long as you didn’t tick anything that asks about applying with dependent children, you should be fine.

I’m not sure about the questions it usually asks about children though... I just don’t remember anyone mentioning having questions about the child’s travel.

To check, this is the application link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-as-a-partner-or-dependent-child-form-flrm/apply-online-form-flr-m


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I think the dependent children option comes up at the beginning of the application, but as long as you didn’t tick anything that asks about applying with dependent children, you should be fine.

I’m not sure about the questions it usually asks about children though... I just don’t remember anyone mentioning having questions about the child’s travel.

To check, this is the application link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-as-a-partner-or-dependent-child-form-flrm/apply-online-form-flr-m


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Yes, that's the link I used. I'm pretty sure that I never ticked "dependent children" but now I'm paranoid that I've done something wrong. Should I start another application to be sure? And I have no way of accessing all the times that my stepdaughter has travelled out of the country. There's no way around not answering the question. I just don't even know how to proceed at this point.

Yes, that's the link I used. I'm pretty sure that I never ticked "dependent children" but now I'm paranoid that I've done something wrong. Should I start another application to be sure? And I have no way of accessing all the times that my stepdaughter has travelled out of the country. There's no way around not answering the question. I just don't even know how to proceed at this point.

If you can't go back to check previous responses you could start another application, sometimes people do that for various reasons.
But if you still can't get past that question, just note in the application or in a letter that you can't obtain this information.

But before you do all that, just ask her mother as she was helpful with the bills. It may be that the daughter doesn't have an extensive travel history, she may not even have been abroad.

If you can't go back to check previous responses you could start another application, sometimes people do that for various reasons.
But if you still can't get past that question, just note in the application or in a letter that you can't obtain this information.

But before you do all that, just ask her mother as she was helpful with the bills. It may be that the daughter doesn't have an extensive travel history, she may not even have been abroad.

So, I have decided that I will just list on the application the two instances where my stepdaughter has traveled out of the country with us. And then I will write a letter saying that I don't have access to all of her previous international travel and the dates because it is difficult to get information from her mother. I do know that she has been out of the country several times... like to Turkey, Greece, and France. But that's all I know really.

I just can't believe they need to know all of this when it really isn't or shouldn't be relevant to my application. Ugh. Thanks for the advice!

Could you please review my updated FLR-M checklist? Thanks!

Application Documents
- applicant US Passport (scan of all pages)
- completed application
- Part 1 Consent to Checks form signed by applicant (part of online application)
- Part 2 Consent to Checks form signed by sponsor (part of online application)
- signed Sponsor’s declaration (part of online application)
- IHS reference number/surcharge paid


Proof of Identity/Travel History
- Applicant’s BRP – front and back
- sponsor’s U.K. passport (scan of all pages)

Financial Documentation
Spouse’s paper payslips:
May 2021 – 21st, 14th, 7th
April 2021 – 30th, 23rd, 16th, 9th, 2nd
March 2021 – 26th, 19th, 12th, 5th
February 2021 – 26th, 19th, 12th, 5th
January 2021 – 29th, 22nd, 15th, 8th
December 2020 – 18th, 11th, 4th
November 2020 – 27th, 20th, 13th, 6th

-Spouse’s bank account transaction details 1st Dec 2020 – 28th May 2021 (These are a continuous print out from the bank with each page stamped by the bank)
- Spouse’s bank statement 1st November – 30th November 2020 (This is a statement the bank had to order and they have also stamped each page.)
 
Mandatory employer letter dated 28th May 2021, stating ALL of the following:
- current employment and salary
- length of employment
- length of time earning current salary
- type of employment
- previous salary as spouse received a pay raise on 3rd May 2021 (date noted in letter)

Optional but recommended:
- Spouse’s P60 tax year to 5 April 2021
- Job contract

Residence in the U.K.
Proof of Accommodation
- Land Registry document
- latest mortgage statement (if you have a mortgage) - Do not have a mortgage
-Council Tax Bill 2021/2022

Evidence of Cohabitation
May 2019 – BT (spouse); EE (mine)
Sep 2019 – NatWest joint bank account statement (20 Aug 2019 – 20 Sep 2019)
Jan 2020 – Shell Energy (spouse); EE (mine)
May 2020 – NatWest joint bank account statement (20 Apr 2020 – 20 May 2020)
Sep 2020 – BT (spouse); NatWest bank statement (mine)
Jan 2021 – Shell Energy (spouse); NatWest bank statement (mine)
May 2021 – NatWest joint bank account statement (20 Apr 2021 – 20 May 2021)

Other
- Marriage certificate
- Applicant Divorce document/settlement agreement
- sponsor Divorce decree absolute

- letter of explanation regarding my husband’s daughter, my relationship to her (i.e. no legal parental responsibility), and the unknown international travel she has taken with her mother

You don’t need the ‘completed application’ in your list as the application is transmitted online.

You don’t mention whether your letter explains this, but you are missing the following mandatory documents:
- stepdaughter’s passport
- stepdaughter’s birth certificate
- letter dated in the last 3 months confirming stepdaughter’s address (usually from her school or GP)
- evidence of where stepdaughter’s mother lives

If these are not included, UKVI will contact you after you have applied asking you to submit them... so if you absolutely cannot provide any of them, the reason for this must be included in the letter.


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You don’t need the ‘completed application’ in your list as the application is transmitted online.

You don’t mention whether your letter explains this, but you are missing the following mandatory documents:
- stepdaughter’s passport
- stepdaughter’s birth certificate
- letter dated in the last 3 months confirming stepdaughter’s address (usually from her school or GP)
- evidence of where stepdaughter’s mother lives

If these are not included, UKVI will contact you after you have applied asking you to submit them... so if you absolutely cannot provide any of them, the reason for this must be included in the letter.


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Oh sheesh! I forgot to add my stepdaughter's documents to my checklist. So I have:
- a copy of her birth certificate
- a copy of the photo & information page from her passport
- a copy of her mother's recent council tax bill

I'll have to see about getting a recent letter that has been sent from my stepdaughter's school or GP. We will be seeing her this evening so I can ask her for it.

I still can't believe that they require all of this info regarding my stepdaughter. It's weird. But I've been over and over the application and don't see where anything was answered incorrectly. It was almost as if they were referring to her as my daughter. I mentioned in several of the comment sections that she is NOT my daughter and that I have no legal parental responsibility for her. There was even a question that asked if I were to return to my country of origin with my child, would she know anyone there and what would be her relationship to them? I responded that she wouldn't be going there if I went back because she is not my child and that she'd be staying here with her biological and legal parents. Whew!

I do love her like she's my own though! <3

Thanks, ksand24!! 

I still can't believe that they require all of this info regarding my stepdaughter. It's weird. But I've been over and over the application and don't see where anything was answered incorrectly. It was almost as if they were referring to her as my daughter. I mentioned in several of the comment sections that she is NOT my daughter and that I have no legal parental responsibility for her. There was even a question that asked if I were to return to my country of origin with my child, would she know anyone there and what would be her relationship to them? I responded that she wouldn't be going there if I went back because she is not my child and that she'd be staying here with her biological and legal parents. Whew!

I do love her like she's my own though! <3

Thanks, ksand24!! 

They ask for information about children that you and/or your partner have because, if your visa falls for refusal and they have to look to see whether you qualify to stay in the UK on the 10-year path to ILR under Article 8, the main factor that will allow you to stay in the UK is if you have any UK citizen children living in the UK whose lives will be seriously disrupted if you were forced to return to live in the US.


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They ask for information about children that you and/or your partner have because, if your visa falls for refusal and they have to look to see whether you qualify to stay in the UK on the 10-year path to ILR under Article 8, the main factor that will allow you to stay in the UK is if you have any UK citizen children living in the UK whose lives will be seriously disrupted if you were forced to return to live in the US.


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Yes, that makes sense. But I also feel like they should maybe pose the question to ask if I have any legal rights to her. If I answer "no", then no need for the rest. Overall, I do feel like the online FLR-M application was pretty straightforward. Like, not too painful. That was the worst part really.