FLR(M) Documentation & Questions

Thanks larrabee. Yeah, just very annoying that the approval email we waited a month for hasn't really settled our nerves. If the BRP arrives and the length of the visa is incorrect, do you know if we would be able to report it online, or would we have to submit an administrative review?

You just report online as mentioned. An administrative review only applies if the visa has been refused and certain conditions are met.https://www.gov.uk/ask-for-a-visa-administrative-review

Awesome, thank you - your advice really is invaluable 
In terms of the FLR(M) start date, what should it be? Is it the visa application date (18/10/21), the expiry date of the original spouse visa (01/12/21), or the date a decision is made (04/12/21)? Presumably the FLR(M) end date is then just 30 months from that date?

It should start on the date the decision is made (although sometimes it's a few days different), which will presumably have been 04/12/2021... and it will end 30 months later.

So, assuming it does start on 04/12/2021, it should be valid until 04/06/2024.

It should start on the date the decision is made (although sometimes it's a few days different), which will presumably have been 04/12/2021... and it will end 30 months later.

So, assuming it does start on 04/12/2021, it should be valid until 04/06/2024.

Great, thanks! I'll keep you both updated on the BRP situation but, in the meantime, thanks so much again for all of your help and support 

Honestly, if you meet the savings route (£62,500 held in your account in full for at least 6 months), then I would not use your employment income at all, and instead just apply under Category D: Cash Savings... it's much easier with a lot less paperwork required.

All you need to provide is:
- 7 months of bank statements
- a statement of the source of the savings (i.e. 'savings built up from income')

- If the savings are from the sale of a house, you must provide evidence of the sale and of the money going into your account
- If the savings are in the form of a gift from a friend or family member, you must provide a letter from them confirming it's a gift and does not have to be repaid

Hi there, side note hijack.

I am coming up on my renewal due by March 2022. I had planned on going the cash savings route, but think I may have moved the funds a little late for the 7 months requirement? I moved the funds from a US based stock brokerage account into my US bank account. The transfer landed on the 5th of August 2021. Current BRP expiration is 24th March 2022. Does this mean if I slip my application in sometime between 6th-24th of March I am ok on the funds time requirement?

If not, what documentation is required to show where the funds have been in my possession via that brokerage?

Many thanks in advance!

I am coming up on my renewal due by March 2022. I had planned on going the cash savings route, but think I may have moved the funds a little late for the 7 months requirement? I moved the funds from a US based stock brokerage account into my US bank account. The transfer landed on the 5th of August 2021. Current BRP expiration is 24th March 2022. Does this mean if I slip my application in sometime between 6th-24th of March I am ok on the funds time requirement?

If the money entered your account on 5th August 2021, you will reach the 6 months for the financial requirement on 5th February 2022.

You switched from a fiancé visa to FLR(M), correct?

That means the earliest date you can apply is  28 days before it expires… which is 24th February 2022.

So, you should be fine to apply on 24th February, as long as your bank statements cover every single day between 24th August and 24th February.


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If the money entered your account on 5th August 2021, you will reach the 6 months for the financial requirement on 5th February 2022.

You switched from a fiancé visa to FLR(M), correct?

That means the earliest date you can apply is  28 days before it expires… which is 24th February 2022.

So, you should be fine to apply on 24th February, as long as your bank statements cover every single day between 24th August and 24th February.

Currently in possession of an FLR(M), so this will be the first extension. At least I just squeeked the cash over in time. Only hurdle will be getting the US based bank to print some custom statements and sign each page and get them overnighted here to the UK without any hiccups.

Thanks for the clarification @ksand24 !

We received the BRP first thing this morning and, sadly, the 'Valid Until' date is as per the approval email - 20th Dec 2021. We've filled out the online form (which suggests a response can take up to 20 working days), so I guess the wait goes on! 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

We're still waiting for a response from the Home Office (which is completely understandable given that they gave a 20 working day response time (we are currently at 10) and the holidays). The paranoia is somewhat kicking in given that my wife's BRP "expired" on 20th December, and I just wanted to make sure that our timeline looked correct and that we hadn't mistimed our application or anything - the timeline is in my signature but, basically, my wife arrived in the UK on 10th March 2019 on a spouse visa, which ran until 1st December 2021 - we applied for FLR(M) on 18th October 2021. I assume that, had we applied too early, the FLR(M) would still run for 30 months, but just not take us to the 5 years needed for ILR down the road?

I do hope that it's just a genuine mistake on their part but, as you all know, it's a nerve-wracking process! 

Merry Christmas .

The paranoia is somewhat kicking in given that my wife's BRP "expired" on 20th December, and I just wanted to make sure that our timeline looked correct and that we hadn't mistimed our application or anything - the timeline is in my signature but, basically, my wife arrived in the UK on 10th March 2019 on a spouse visa, which ran until 1st December 2021 - we applied for FLR(M) on 18th October 2021.

That's all good - nothing to worry about with your dates.

You've been eligible to apply since13th August 2021, so your timeline of applying in October was completely fine.

I assume that, had we applied too early, the FLR(M) would still run for 30 months, but just not take us to the 5 years needed for ILR down the road?

Yes, FLR(M) is a standard 30-month visa, which should normally start from the date the visa decision is made.

I do hope that it's just a genuine mistake on their part but, as you all know, it's a nerve-wracking process! 

Sorry it's such a long wait. I'm sure it'll just be a simple correction to the visa.

Sometimes mistakes do get made, but UKVI are pretty good at correcting them - it's probably just a case of someone typing the BRP validity date incorrectly into the system.

Sorry it's such a long wait. I'm sure it'll just be a simple correction to the visa.

Sometimes mistakes do get made, but UKVI are pretty good at correcting them - it's probably just a case of someone typing the BRP validity date incorrectly into the system.

Thanks ksand24, that's a relief - it was just really weird that the visa was approved but for such a short period, which now means my wife has technically remained in the country beyond her leave to remain (according to her current BRP anyway). Have you heard of things like this happening to other people? I tried to search online but could only find one or two examples.

Thanks ksand24, that's a relief - it was just really weird that the visa was approved but for such a short period, which now means my wife has technically remained in the country beyond her leave to remain (according to her current BRP anyway). Have you heard of things like this happening to other people? I tried to search online but could only find one or two examples.

We have seen a few instances of visas being issued for incorrect lengths of time before, for example, only being valid for 24 months instead of 30 months.

I have to say though that this is the first time I’ve seen one only be made valid for a few days.

In all the other cases, the issue was resolved pretty easily and the BRPs were re-issued for the correct length of time.


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We have seen a few instances of visas being issued for incorrect lengths of time before, for example, only being valid for 24 months instead of 30 months.

I have to say though that this is the first time I’ve seen one only be made valid for a few days.

In all the other cases, the issue was resolved pretty easily and the BRPs were re-issued for the correct length of time.

That's a relief! I know I asked about administrative reviews before and you seemed to think that one wouldn't be required, but it does suggest on the website that an administrative review may be required if you are unhappy with the amount of leave given. Do you know if those cases you mentioned were resolved via the "report a problem with your BRP" online form, or via administrative reviews?

That's a relief! I know I asked about administrative reviews before and you seemed to think that one wouldn't be required, but it does suggest on the website that an administrative review may be required if you are unhappy with the amount of leave given. Do you know if those cases you mentioned were resolved via the "report a problem with your BRP" online form, or via administrative reviews?

No, I don't believe an administrative review will apply in your situation. All of the cases I mentioned were resolved using the "report a problem with your BRP" online form.

I have only ever seen Administrative Reviews requested when a visa has been refused and the applicant has appealed the decision rather than reapplying or leaving the country.

Not to mention that an administrative review must be lodged within 14 days of receiving the visa decision (it will be rejected after this period), it can take several months to be decided, and it costs £80.... whereas, you can submit the 'problem with your BRP' online form at any time during your visa validity (i.e. some people haven't realised their visa was wrong until a year or so after they received it), it should only take a few weeks to be resolved, and it should be free of charge.

No, I don't believe an administrative review will apply in your situation. All of the cases I mentioned were resolved using the "report a problem with your BRP" online form.

I have only ever seen Administrative Reviews requested when a visa has been refused and the applicant has appealed the decision rather than reapplying or leaving the country.

Not to mention that an administrative review must be lodged within 14 days of receiving the visa decision (it will be rejected after this period), it can take several months to be decided, and it costs £80.... whereas, you can submit the 'problem with your BRP' online form at any time during your visa validity (i.e. some people haven't realised their visa was wrong until a year or so after they received it), it should only take a few weeks to be resolved, and it should be free of charge.

Thanks ksand24 - the reason I ask is because the Home Office website says the following: "If your application was granted but you’re unhappy with the amount or conditions of your leave, you must email the Home Office within 14 days of getting your biometric residence permit".

We decided to both submit the online form and email the email address provided (admin.review.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk) on the day we received the BRP, so hopefully we have all bases covered. There was also a section on the "report a problem with your BRP" online form for potential mistakes in the length of the visa (which is what we selected), so it all seems a little unclear as to which route we will actually need to go down. In addition to what you said above, it should take ~20 working days via the form vs up to 6 months via an administrative review.

I'll be sure to write back if/when we hear more - thanks once again, and a Happy New Year to you and your family

I'll be sure to write back if/when we hear more - thanks once again, and a Happy New Year to you and your family

You've done everything exactly as you should have, so all you can do now is wait for them to respond .

As you said, you're only at 10 working days, and it's the holidays, so it may take a bit longer than normal. Looks like you should reach 20 working days on 12th January, so while I understand the worry, you've done all you can now.