Just like to post my experience as my other half had the ILR approved today
Category: SET(M)
Number of dependents 0
Total cost £1493
PEO branch Liverpool
I booked for an early appointment on the experience of others of this forums and it was a good choice. Appointment was at 08:30AM. The appointment times IMO are irrelevant as they don't make much of a difference. Its on a first come, first serve basis as we had the first appointment but the second ticket in queue so were served second.
Set off early this morning (which is a one hour drive) at 6am so I could avoid the rush hour traffic taking into consideration this was just after a bank holiday weekend. Arrived at 7am. I parked on Pall Mall (not the car park), opposite the Mercedes showroom as along most of this road, it was free parking. Even at this time , most of the spaces had gone but managed to find one, saved paying £10-£15 NCP parking and even the local £5 all day parking. Where I park was just under a 10 minute walk to the premium service centre.
Liverpool PEO doesn't open until 08:30am. The Gov website states 8am opening time. Security wouldn't allow entrance until 08:30 when we arrived at 8am so had to wait for half an hour outside. So the info on the gov website is incorrect. If your PEO appointment is at Liverpool, do not arrive before 08:30am. Nobody else was being admitted either.
08:30am - Security check in
08:40am - Ticket taken (second in line)
09:00am - Documents checked and submitted
09:35am - Call for Biometrics
09:45am - Biometrics done and waiting period
11:15am - Call for documents and approval
Documents submitted:
1. Appointment Booking
2. Payment Confirmation
3. Completed form SET(M)
4. Passports (mine and spouse) & Photos
5. Decree Absolute
6. Accommodation Letter
7. Employment details, P60 and last 4 months Pay Slips with Bank Statements (Jan 2015 - Apr 2015)
8. LIUK Pass Notification
9. English B1 (Cambridge ESOL SfL Entry 3)
10. Cohabitation Documents (last 2 years spread over 3-4 months)
Keep the file as simple as possible and do not overwhelm it with too many documents. Submit only what is essential.
I also submitted photocopies of all documents and these were all taken from me. I kept an additional folder with everything else and other documents just in case they had asked but never submitted these. I used a flexible ring binder and used section dividers to separate my documents with a contents page at the beginning. I also electronically typed the application form and this was not an issue. I was called over to clarify couple of points on the application form and these were explained, as a result, I feel the PEO is a better option as to the convenience of clarifying any information with the case worker over a postal application.
Paid only £1493. I booked before the fee increase to avoid paying the £407 fee hike with a view of re-schedule and this was not an issue. There was no mention of paying the old fee.
In total, taken 3 hrs and 15 minutes since entering building. Ours was the first approval of the day even though out ticket was second in line. Better to go for early appointment time as you get done quicker as then you are not joining the queue to other people waiting for their documents submission and biometrics.
Just a word of advice, I had my other half take the LIUK within six months of her arriving in the UK (on a 2 year spouse visa) as well doing the English B1 test in late 2014. The LIUK does not expire and can be used indefinitely and its best it this is cleared long before you apply for ILR. Even take it 5 years beforehand, its one tick box done. I've read about too many people who have left this till the last minute (I cannot comprehend WHY?) and then the stress of not clearing the test either due to not passing first time, not getting to the test centre on time, not having the right documents, not getting booking date etc...) and then having to apply for an extension in order to clear the test. It's an expensive mistake to make and even more expensive when you factor in the health surcharge. If you have a few years left, please do test the LIUK done NOW.
Overall the PEO was a good experience. I have been previously married so have gone through the process before, however, used a postal application last time round. The PEO in my opinion is definitely worth the extra £400 (actually worked out cheaper than the postal application as I would have paid £1500 with the new fees).
