ILR Spouse 5yr visa application - Document Checklist

Hi All,

Just quickly wanted to ask first of all if I’m in trouble now for submitting the ILR application now when the extended spouse visa expiring on 2nd June? My wife’s completed 5yrs and due to monetary and personal issues I have not been able to get this done any quicker.

Mega Thanks..

You are not required to apply for ILR at the earliest. You can apply for ILR whenever you want, as long as you apply before visa expiry.

Thank you very much for your response Zimba. So what I understand is that I can apply for ILR “anytime within 28 days before visa expires” which is what you are confirming I believe?

The other concern which I tried to show in my original question was, since her visa is expiring in 15 days or so, how will she be able to stay in UK and I’m pretty sure certainly can’t travel.

No. Her visa expiry has NO relevance to her ILR qualifying period or when she becomes eligible for ILR. Do not confuse yourself

Please read this post as I explained everything there: Applicants can benefit from the date of the ILR decision

Many thanks Zimba, you're amazing!

So now i will be starting application hoping i can get it submitted before her Spouse FLR visa expires on 2nd June!

I will now create another topic with everything related to the actual application.

thanks again!

Hi All,

I am about to start application for my wife who has completed her 5yrs + 3months using Application form SET(M).

Are the document requirements going to be similar as Spouse FLR which i used before, please see my documents checklist which i used for FLR below:

Documents (took pictures with phone) Uploaded with Categories:

• Proof of Identity / Travel History

Applicant: BRP Front & Back
Sponsor: Passport - All pages

• Proof of Application

Applicant: Passport - All pages
Spouse Declaration

• Other

Checklist
Cover Letters
Signed Declarations, excluding spouse declaration
Photos (since Applicant doesn't have enough documents to cover 2yr subsisting relationship. I will also be including a cover letter to explain situation)

• Residence in the UK

Sponsor: 2x Utility, 2x NHS and 2x HMRC documents
Applicant: same as above and explain the gap with cover letter as i dont have enough documents to cover 2yr of subsistence relationship
Sponsor: Latest Mortgage statement
Sponsor: Utility bills (applicant doesn't have any bills in her name)
Sponsor: Council Tax
No Objection letter
Do i need to add evaluation to show no. of bedrooms?

• Finances

6months Bank statements (Unstamped)
P60

• Proof of Business

Since my business was almost dormant with no funds and since my salary is sufficient to satisfy this requirement, I will be adding this point in the cover letter mentioning my company name still.

• Life Events

Marriage Certificate (translated)

• Sponsors / Employment

(Applicant never had a job)
Sponsor: 6months Payslips
Sponsor: Company letter confirming employment status and other points requested
Sponsor: Employment signed contract
Sponsor: Company Employment offer letter

Educational
English B1 Cert
Like In UK Test

Now that the BRPs have expired and everything gone to eVISA, how will i be completing the sections requiring details of the BRP please.

If the above checklist doesnt look right can someone please link me the best checklist to use. I have seen few but none that were made to sticky post for SET(M).

Weblink removed by moderator

Again MASSIVE thanks for assisting with this, love you all.

Hi Guys,

I am at the question in the application where i am mentioning time spent outside the country. We travelled outside UK in 2020 but its not accepting the time mentioned from 2020. It has accepted our travels from 2023 and 2024, does it mean it doesnt need to consider any travels so far back and hence not accepting entry for our travel in 2020 ?

thanks

The evidence from the FLR time is the pretty much the same for the ILR, which looks good to me.

ReVerie wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 2:00 am

Hi Guys,

I am at the question in the application where i am mentioning time spent outside the country. We travelled outside UK in 2020 but its not accepting the time mentioned from 2020. It has accepted our travels from 2023 and 2024, does it mean it doesnt need to consider any travels so far back and hence not accepting entry for our travel in 2020 ?

thanks

The family route has no absence limits, so your absences are quite irrelevant

amazing, Many thanks Zimba as usual.
It was actually my fault, i was entering the wrong month!

Hi All/Zimba,

I have just completed and submitted the visa application and have the UKVI reference number now. I will be uploading the necessary documents now and then booking TLS appointment for the Biometrics.

I just have few questions now please.

1. I understand that now that that application has been submitted, i can ignore the fact that her FLR visa is expiring on 2nd June as the section 3C will kick in now ? or its not fully submitted until the TLS/Biometric appointment has also been completed?

2. When/If she will be granted ILR, I will then have to apply for citizenship but running low on funds, it might be a while before i am able to apply for citizenship. question is, how will she stay here with ILR status and how and what documents will she be needing for travelling out and back into UK.

1. The date of biometrics is irrelevant. Section 3C applies after visa expire as you applied before visa expiry
2. Read: Information on eVisas as all BPRs are now phased out

Hi Zimba,

Sorry yes, the section 3C will apply automatically after visa expires on 2nd June, got it but what I meant to ask was if the application can be considered fully submitted even without the biometrics. I am getting dates for biometrics for 6th June which is way past 2nd June when her FLR expires. So when you say biometrics is irrelevant, what you are confirming is that section 3C will still apply even if I haven’t submitted the docs or biometrics by 2nd June? Apologies if I seem like asking same confirmation again!

Many thanks Zimba

Yes, there is no such thing as 'fully submitted' application. Section 3C has nothing to do with biometrics or documents.