FLR(M) Checklist

It's been a while since I have been on here but it is about that time I start preparing to apply for the UK Spouse Visa extension. I know that a lot of the process is pretty similar to the first time around but I just want clarification and to ensure I'm doing everything properly.

I arrived in the UK on June 22, 2019 (My passport was not stamped but I do have the boarding pass still.) and my BRP expires on March 12, 2022. (If my visa is not approved before this date, I am allowed to stay and continue working correct?) I was planning on applying the first week of February.

For the BRP appointment is there a certain timeframe I need to have it done by? Do I need to have that done before we submit the application or can it be done after?


This is the checklist I have made for myself so far after looking at other posts on here:


Applicant
- US passport, every page scanned
- Old US passport, every page scanned
(I've just renewed my passport to reflect my married name, I assume I need to include something about this in a cover letter?)
-BRP, back and front scanned


Sponsor
-UK passport, every page scanned

Other Documents
-Marriage certificate
-Signed sponsor's declaration (from online application?)
-Signed consent forms (from online application?)



Finances
We are just using my Husband's income and from what I understand this is the same as the first time round.
-6 months payslips
-6 months bank statements
-letter from employer dated and signed on headed paper stating: job title, length of time employed, current salary
(All dated within 28 days of application)

Accommodation
We had been living in an apartment for two years until the lease ended on December 3rd, 2020. I have the original lease and the end of lease paperwork if that needs to be included. But as of right now we have moved back in with my Husband's parents and they own their home.

-Letter from his parents signed and dated stating they are allowing us to live with them.
-Land registry

Is that all that is needed for this section?


Cohabitation
Feb 2020:
Letter from council replying to an inquiry (me)
Electric (Husband)
June 2020:
Water Bill (both)
(I actually made a post about this one previously, but I had them forward this to his parents address as we were staying with them at the time due to Covid. It does show that it is for the address of the apartment on there though.)
October 2020:
Electric (Both)
February 2021:
Gas (Husband)
There is somehow nothing for me this month so,
March 2021:
Council Tax (me)
July 2021:
Bank statement (both)
August 2021:
Gas (Husband)
Letter from dentist (me)
December 2021:
Water Bill (both)
and then we should be receiving a bank statement for this month (Jan 2021)

I know the spacing is not 100% as I don't have anything from October 2021, which is why I included both August (though I am not sure a letter from my dentist is considered "official") and December. and that the June 2020 one is weird with the covid situation, but should this be fine if I write a cover letter explaining those circumstances?


Please let me know anything I am missing or have messed up. Thank you in advance!

Welcome back .

I arrived in the UK on June 22, 2019 (My passport was not stamped but I do have the boarding pass still.) and my BRP expires on March 12, 2022. (If my visa is not approved before this date, I am allowed to stay and continue working correct?) I was planning on applying the first week of February.

That's correct - the only thing you need to do is submit the online application by March 12th - as long as you have a valid application pending, your immigration status will be automatically extended under Section 3C Leave while the visa is processing.

As you arrived in the UK on June 22nd 2019, you've actually been eligible to apply for FLR(M) since 24th November 2021...so you can submit the online application at any time between today and March 12th.

For the BRP appointment is there a certain timeframe I need to have it done by? Do I need to have that done before we submit the application or can it be done after?

You cannot book your biometrics appointment until after you submit the application. I believe you have about 2 months or so to attend biometrics once you have applied online.

So, the order of doing things is:
- gather up all your documents
- when you're ready to apply, fill out the online application
- submit application and pay for the visa
- you will then receive an email with a registration code for the UKVCAS website
- register with UKVCAS and book your biometrics appointment (you will likely have to pay for this as free appointments are scarce - could cost up to £130)
- upload your documents to the UKVCAS website at any time up to 2 working days before your appointment
- attend biometrics
- wait for email to say visa has been processed

Just going to rearrange your documents into the correct upload sections for the UKVCAS website:

Applicant Documents
- US passport, every page scanned (no cover letter required regarding the renewal)
- Old US passport, every page scanned
- Sponsor's Declaration signed by sponsor (part of online 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)

Proof of Identity/Travel History
-UK passport, every page scanned
-BRP, back and front scanned

Finances
We are just using my Husband's income and from what I understand this is the same as the first time round.
- 6 months payslips - send 7 months of payslips to make sure every single day of the 6 months is covered
- 6 months bank statements send 7 months of bank statements to make sure every single day of the 6 months is covered
-letter from employer dated and signed on headed paper stating: job title, length of time employed, current salary
Optional but recommended:
- job contract
- latest P60 from May 2021

Residence in the UK
Accommodation - you only need evidence of where you CURRENTLY live to show where you will be living AFTER the visa has been granted, so your previous tenancy agreement is not needed
- Letter from his parents signed and dated stating they are allowing us to live with them.
- Land registry
- Parents' latest mortgage statement
- Parents' latest council tax bill
Cohabitation
Feb 2020:
1.  Applicant: Letter from council replying to an inquiry (me) (Source 1)
1. Sponsor: Electric (Husband) (Source 2)
June 2020:
2. Joint: Water Bill (both) (Source 3) - the address itself is not relevant, only that both your names are shown on it along with an address
October 2020:
3. Joint: Electric (Both)
February 2021:
4. Applicant: March Council tax (Source 4) - you must include an explanation in a letter for why it is from March and not Feb
4. Sponsor: Gas (Husband) (Source 5)
July 2021:
5. Bank statement (both) (Source 6) - you will need to explain in a letter why you do not have anything from June
October 2021:
6. If you don't have anything from September or November, I would include the December water bill and explain in the letter why you don't have anything from October
February 2022:
7. Whatever the most recent piece of mail you have received is before you apply

Other
-Marriage certificate

I know the spacing is not 100% as I don't have anything from October 2021, which is why I included both August (though I am not sure a letter from my dentist is considered "official") and December. and that the June 2020 one is weird with the covid situation, but should this be fine if I write a cover letter explaining those circumstances?

Don't include anything from August as that is too close to July, so does not help anything (but yes, a letter from your dentist is official).

If you absolutely have no mail at all in either of your names from September, October or November, then I would include the December bill and explain it in a letter.

Thanks for your help as always!

One more question, what sort of documentation can I provide to my workplace to show my right to work if there is a period of time after my BRP expiry that my application is being processed? I received a letter today about this stating "We will only be able to continue to employ you if your produce to us the relevant acceptable document(s) from List A or List B listed on the government website, proving your continued right to work in the UK after that date ("a right to work document")
And looking at these lists I can't see any that apply?

Thank Again!

One more question, what sort of documentation can I provide to my workplace to show my right to work if there is a period of time after my BRP expiry that my application is being processed? I received a letter today about this stating "We will only be able to continue to employ you if your produce to us the relevant acceptable document(s) from List A or List B listed on the government website, proving your continued right to work in the UK after that date ("a right to work document")
And looking at these lists I can't see any that apply?

Your employer can check your right to work using this webpage, where, if they can't check documents from List A or List B (because you don't have a valid BRP) they can check using a Share Code... which you need to get, and then share with them:
https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work

Or if you don't have a Share Code, they can can use the Employer Checking Service, for which they just need your FLR(M) application reference number:
https://www.gov.uk/employee-immigration-employment-status

Also, there's this tool, which is a series of questions, one of which is that if you don't currently have a valid BRP, whether or not you have a visa application pending... and if you do, it says you have the right to work:
https://www.gov.uk/legal-right-work-uk

Also, the information about Section 3C Leave, which extends your right to work while waiting for the visa to be processed, is here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1027247/3C_and_3D_leave.pdf

I'm getting all the last things together to submit I just have a few more questions!

As I mentioned previously there was a period at the beginning of the first lockdown where we stayed with my husband's parents and one of our items of correspondence is from this time period. Should his parents mention in their letter something about us staying with them during this time? Should they also mention that we were staying with them sort of part-time for the few months before our lease ending in December as we were beginning to move out and were back and forth, because that is also where my husband's six months payslips are also all addressed to.

I also am having a look through all my paper work to see if their is anything I can use so there is not such a large gap toward the end of 2021, are letters from work (payslips, letters about benefits, etc) considered an acceptable source?


And lastly the thing that has me a nervous wreck today... We have been emailing with his HR getting them to draft up an employer letter for us, it states everything it needs to except how long he has been paid his current wage. When we asked them to add this they said no, stating they are only permitted to use current salary. I was worried this would be the case as they wouldn't include it when we applied for the first visa. Last time around I ended up submitting the letter as is and of course we were approved but that is not stopping me from worrying about it this time. Any advice about this?

I'm jumping in on this as I'm about to start the same process.

The online application has me a bit confused. I am applying via the "Family route" if I'm on a spousal visa, correct? As my first extension...

I also just had a baby a month ago, and it asks if I'm including my children on my application. Because she was born here and is a British citizen, do I need to include her?

First off, thanks Britty for your comprehensive list of everything you're including, it's a very useful guide for me and my documents.

Second, thanks to all for your help!

I'm jumping in on this as I'm about to start the same process.

Happy to answer your questions in here, but it's probably easiest if you start a new thread for your own application, and that way we can answer all your questions in there rather than on someone else's thread... it just means there'll be no confusion over different people's personal situations and their application circumstances .

The online application has me a bit confused. I am applying via the "Family route" if I'm on a spousal visa, correct? As my first extension...

Yes, it's a Family visa. This is your second application under the Partner route (the fiance or spousal visa was your first application), but your first extension.

I also just had a baby a month ago, and it asks if I'm including my children on my application. Because she was born here and is a British citizen, do I need to include her?

You are not including any DEPENDANT children, so you tick NO if it asks if you are including anyone else on the application form.

However, when it asks if you and/or your partner have any children who are NOT applying for visas, you must include ALL children under 18 that you and your partner have, either together or from another relationship.

This is because if your application falls for refusal and they need to look to see if you qualify to be granted leave outside the rules based on Article 8 on the 10-year path to ILR, pretty much the only reason they will let you stay is if you have a UK citizen child living in the UK.

You will need to include her details on the application form and also provide the following documents, if you have them (as she is only a month old, you may not be able to get them all yet - if not, you'll just need to explain in a letter why you cannot provide them):
- your daughter's birth certificate
- your daughter's passport (if she has one)
- a letter dated in the last 3 months confirming your daughter's address (i.e. from the hospital or GP)

Thank y’all for this. I’ll be getting my ducks in a row later this year.

Okay working on filling out the application!

One of the questions is:



At any time have you ever had any of the following, in the UK or in another country?
(Required)
Only select one answer at a time. If you need to give more than one answer, you can do so on another page.

-A criminal conviction

-A penalty for a driving offence, for example disqualification for speeding or no motor insurance

-An arrest or charge for which you are currently on, or awaiting trial

-A caution, warning, reprimand or other out-of-court penalty

-A civil court judgment against you, for example for non payment of debt, bankruptcy proceedings or anti-social behaviour

-A civil penalty issued under UK immigration law

-No, I have never had any of these




I had two speeding tickets when I lived in the US, where I just had to pay the fine. Nothing happened to my license and I did not have to attend court. I'm just making sure with the wording "disqualification for speeding" is that something I need to state?


If I do click on it, the next page says:
What was your driving offence?
(Required)

-Disqualification for speeding

-No insurance

-Something else
Give more detail, for example, the fine or points on your licence

And then it asks for the date of the offence.


Assuming I do state that I have had two speeding tickets, I do not remember when they were and I have no record of them. I only remember one was in 2016 and one was in 2018, I can't even recall an exact month anymore.

'Disqualification from speeding' means you were subject to a driving ban (disqualification) and you lost your licence for a period of time as specified by the court. Whereas, a fine is just considered a 'fixed penalty notice'.

Having said that, though, for the sake of being transparent, we normally recommend listing all speeding tickets (especially as there is an option for listing a fine and/or points on the licence on the application form) and including a copy of your US driving record and any paperwork you have from the speeding tickets, to show that they were only fixed penalty notices and not a disqualification.

If you can't remember the exact dates, then give your best estimate, and you can always include a note in a cover letter stating that you aren't sure of the dates.

Awesome, Thank you!



Sorry but I am being a worry worm and have another question.


Do you and your partner have any shared financial responsibilities?
(Required)
For example, council tax, utility bills, mortgage or rent, childcare costs, loan payments



We did split our bills while we were renting, i.e the rent and utilities, but as we have moved back in with his parents and have not paid these since December I am unsure if I should include these as they are not current. We also do pay rent to his parents but again I am unsure if this should be included as it is not anything official.

It's completely up to you how you want to answer this. There is no requirement at all to have shared responsibilities, so there's no right or wrong answer and it will have no bearing on your application.

Generally, I tend to think of shared financial responsibilities as things like official loans that you will both be liable for if you miss payments... like mortgages, business loans, car loans etc., however, as they mention things like council tax, rent, utility bills, most people just put down whatever they both contribute to as part of their monthly household expenses.

If you don't have anything at all that you both contribute to, then you can tick No.

If you both contribute rent to his parents, but don't pay any utility bills, then you can tick Yes, and list the rent.

Okay just reviewing it all and would like to check I've answered these few correctly:

Application

If you legally changed your name, when did you do this (if applicable)? 
I put my wedding date, but should I put when I had my name for SSN updated or when I had my passport updated instead?

When did you last travel to the country where you were born and/or any other country whose nationality you hold?
I actually have not been outside of the UK since moving here June 22, 2019. So I put June 21, 2019- the date my flight out of the US was.

Financial:
What do they earn?
-The same amount continuously, above the financial requirement amount

-The same amount continuously, below the financial requirement amount

-Not the same amount continuously, above the financial requirement amount

-Not the same amount continuously, below the financial requirement amount


My Husband is non-salaried/paid hourly, so I chose "Not the same amount continuously, above the financial requirement" Am I correct?

What is their annual income before tax for this employment in GBP (£)?
I put 29116.84, which I got by adding the 6 most recent payslips and then dividing that number by 6, and then finally multiplying that by 12. Is that the correct answer to put here?



Thank you for all you do on here Ksands, you have been such a help during such a stressful process for all of us!!

Application

If you legally changed your name, when did you do this (if applicable)? 
I put my wedding date, but should I put when I had my name for SSN updated or when I had my passport updated instead?

I'm not completely sure, but I think it's your wedding date?

When did you last travel to the country where you were born and/or any other country whose nationality you hold?
I actually have not been outside of the UK since moving here June 22, 2019. So I put June 21, 2019- the date my flight out of the US was.

Sounds good to me.

Financial:
What do they earn?
-The same amount continuously, above the financial requirement amount

-The same amount continuously, below the financial requirement amount

-Not the same amount continuously, above the financial requirement amount

-Not the same amount continuously, below the financial requirement amount


My Husband is non-salaried/paid hourly, so I chose "Not the same amount continuously, above the financial requirement" Am I correct?

When you choose that option, does it tell you to include 6 months or 12 months of payslips/bank statements?

There used to be a bug in the application where if you ticked 'not the same amount continuously, above the financial requirement', it would automatically default to Category B and tell you to include 12 months of payslips/bank statements, when you should be Category A with 6 months.

I have a feeling this may have been fixed now though.

So, if it still tells you to include 6 months, then you're fine, but if it says 12 months, you'll need to change your answer to "The same amount continuously, above the financial requirement amount" so that it gives you the correct document list.

What is their annual income before tax for this employment in GBP (£)?
I put 29116.84, which I got by adding the 6 most recent payslips and then dividing that number by 6, and then finally multiplying that by 12. Is that the correct answer to put here?

What does his employer letter state his annual income is? That's the amount you should put, as they will check it against what the letter says.

If the employer letter only states the hourly wage plus his contracted weekly hours, then you work it out as:

Hourly wage x Weekly contracted hours x 52 weeks = Total annual income

The last 6 months of income on the payslips is calculated as an average of what he actually earned in that time period, rather than what he is contracted to earn each year... but on the application you want to put what he is expected to earn each year in the future, as they will want to make sure that this amount is at least £18,600.

Essentially the financial requirement has 2 components:
- he must have earned an average annual income of at least £18,600 for the last 6 months (last 6 months of payslips)
and
- he must show he will continue to earn at least £18,600 per year in the future (the employer letter/job contract)