Fiance visa/ILR app clarification

Hi everyone,
I came over in July 2017 on a fiance visa. We were married October 2017 and I received my first FLR-M in Jan 2018. Currently on my 2nd FLR-m and my BRP expires in April 2023.

My question is--when can I apply for ILR? My understanding is that it's 5 years after entering the country even if it was on a fiance visa. Is that correct? So that would be July 2022 or is it 5 years from when I received my first FLR-M?

If it is 2022 i just need to start planning and preparing soon.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,
I came over in July 2017 on a fiance visa. We were married October 2017 and I received my first FLR-M in Jan 2018. Currently on my 2nd FLR-m and my BRP expires in April 2023.

My question is--when can I apply for ILR? My understanding is that it's 5 years after entering the country even if it was on a fiance visa. Is that correct? So that would be July 2022 or is it 5 years from when I received my first FLR-M?

It's 5 years from when your first FLR(M) started - time spent on a fiance visa does not count towards ILR, so your 5-year clock started on the date your first FLR(M) was issued.

The earliest date you can apply for ILR is 28 days before you reach 5 years on FLR(M). Normally you won't reach 5 years on FLR(M) until your second FLR(M) expires, but it sounds like yours took a while to be issued, and so you have an extra couple of months on your current visa, taking you to April 2023 instead of January 2023.

So, in your case, you will reach 5 years on FLR(M) in January 2023, so you should be able to apply from sometime in December 2022 (depending on the date in January 2018 your BRP was valid from). You have from that date in December until your BRP expiry date in April 2023 to submit your online application.

Thanks Ksand,

I just found the exact dates for my old brp.

So my first BRP has an issue date of 25-01.2018 and had an expiry date of 19.08.2020. My second BRP has an issue date of 12.03. 2021 and an expiry date of 24.04.2023.

I think I found the problem. I got the letter of visa approval for my second FLR-M on 12 Oct 2020. However, there was an issue with my first BRP--they put the wrong expiry date. The first one I was sent had an issue date of 12.10.2020 and an expiry of 21.2.2023. They then contacted me and said that they had the wrong expiry date, it should be April 2023. So I had to send the old one back and they reissued it, but with a new issue date of 12.3.2021 and an expiry date of 23.4.2021. Does that makes sense?  Because I didn't have my old, incorrect BRP I didn't notice the new issue date until now. So how will this affect my ILR application?

I would just include whatever document that shows you applied before the first BRP expires (email confirmation or letter that your application had been received).

Ok, thanks.

I have a payment receipt that says what visa I applied for and the date. Plus I have the original letter of approval dated Oct 2020. So, to be clear, as my first BRP was issued 25.01.2018--that is the date I'm going off of for my 5 years? I'm just worried that all these wonky BRP dates will screw them up and make them think I'm applying early.

Ok, thanks.

I have a payment receipt that says what visa I applied for and the date. Plus I have the original letter of approval dated Oct 2020. So, to be clear, as my first BRP was issued 25.01.2018--that is the date I'm going off of for my 5 years? I'm just worried that all these wonky BRP dates will screw them up and make them think I'm applying early.

Yes, your 5 years is measured from your first BRP.  I also came in as a fiance and switched to FLR(M) after we married.  You can see my timeline in my signature.  I applied in the 28 days before reaching 5 years after getting my first BRP.

Your timeline:
25/1/2018
 add five years
25/1/2023
  you can apply from 28 days before 5 years
28/12/2022
  you must apply before your current visa expires
24/4/2023

So your ILR application window is between 28 December 2022 and 24 April 2023.

I'm just worried that all these wonky BRP dates will screw them up and make them think I'm applying early.

I doubt that will happen as they have your immigration history, including all your entry dates and exit dates to/from the UK.