Brilliant help by all members so thank you all. I went to Cardiff PEO last week (October 2014) and would like to share my experience for others as well as outlining documents submitted.
Application was SET(O) Tier-1 Dependant to ILR for my wife, my daughter and I got ILR last year and wife was eligible since March 2014 since she landed in March 2012 so only Two years' residence was required for eligibility (I was late due to personal reasons).
Early morning appointment, went there half hour before appointment, security checks are done on entrance which I didn't know
but luckily had enough time.Staff was friendly and we were dealt with nicely.
Documents submitted:
1. Form SET (O) (version 07/2014).
2. Her previous BRP as dependant and passport.
3. My ILR BRP and passport
4. Two Passport Sized photos of my wife with her name on back.
5. Two Cover letters, one from wife requesting her ILR and from myself requesting same.
6. Marriage Certificate translated in English.
7. Her bank statements since Feb 2013.
8. Her Payslips since April 2014 (when she started working), included my own Payslips of last four months and this year’s P60.
9. Council Letters for past two and half years showing she as cohabitant.
10. Tenancy agreement for past two years of same address in joint name.
11. “To whom it may concern” letter from employer, stating my salary.
12. There was a section in SET (O) for date and place of last BRP taken, which I provided with supporting document as letter and stamp on that date.
13. Photocopies of all of above except Passport Photos.
There is a Post Office like ticketing-callout system upon entry, where we state our purpose and get a ticket number to be called later.
I submitted application at 9 am and got ticket, the receiver checked signatures of wife and recorded her mobile number, she then took form with all photocopies and put a sticky on saying photocopies. She told us to wait for Biometric information and told us the whole process could take up to two and half hours. We then sat in waiting area, our ticket was called out 10 minutes later for another room number. Biometric scans were taken there, the BRP machine wasn't accepting wife's fingerprints and after three tries the lady officer overrode defaults and accepted wife's prints, telling its acceptable.
At almost exactly 10 am our ticket was called again to another desk, and we were informed the application was successful. He then handed our documents back but kept all photocopies. Also told us about approval letter and told the BRP will reach us within seven working days. Phew!
One thing surprised me that how little time it took, I've frequently read here it takes two, two and half hours. To make sense why ours was so quick ( rather than just being lucky
or a "simpler application" ) so there were few things that I think helped me.First things first, I did not treat PEO appointment anything different than postal application. Which means, I prepared everything as if its going to post and I will not be able to make amends. PEO gives us one-day-decision facility, doesn't mean we be lenient. I actually saw during my short stay that other tickets were called more than once as they needed more documents, some token numbers were before me, still waiting.
I might be over cautious but here goes:
1. Read the forum here thoroughly specially FAQ’s, great help!
2. Cover letters with clear BRP numbers.
3. Original SET (O) was neatly filled in and held by a big paper-clip
4. Supporting documents categorised by clips and then held by another clip.
5. Take photocopies of everything.
6. Photocopies were not mixed up with originals rather they were in exact same order as original supporting documents but separate. All underneath originals (She was visibly happy to receive everything organised).
I don't mean to be condescending in any writings above. Best of luck all, now I can plan for my citizenship in a bit relaxed manner.
Regards.