Process for FLR(M), successful application, March 29, 2019:

Right, so after getting help from posts on websites like this one on people’s previous FLR(M) application experiences I thought the least I could do was to add in my experience. Hopefully, this can clear some doubts and make your application less stressful.

My Spouse visa (BRP) was due to expire on March 21, 2019. I was on a LEAVE TO ENTER AS SPOUSE visa. I left things to the last minute. Luckily, I saw that as long as I applied online by the end of March 21,2019 I was still on time. That meant a) filling in the form on-line, b) paying the Imigration Health Surcharge £1000 and c) paying the visa fee of £1033.

*SEE IMMIGRATION RULE 34G FOR SUBMISSION DEADLINES.

I started filling in my application about 2 weeks before March 21, 2019 (I am a procrastinator). It is actually not a difficult form to fill in, just tedious, but there are a few questions that made me waste hours and hours on research. Then finally I came accross forums and websites like this one and also websites that offer a question and answer service from immigration solicitors and other specialist, in exchange for a small fee.

I think the on-line form is a generic one, so that’s why some questions can throw you off a bit and you can think “why am I being asked this?”. Also, the reason it took me so long to finish the form is that I thought I needed to have all papers with me by the time I clicked SUBMIT at the end of the on-line form. The reality is I could have finished the application and pay for it (this counts as SUBMISSION) and then gather whatever papers I needed to support my case. I don’t know how many days after your submission (payment) you have to book and attend the appointment. As soon as possible would be the answer. My appointment was on March 28th (7 days after my visa expired, 8 days after my Submission).

So, I submitted on March 20 and my visa was to expire on March 21. On March 20, I booked my appointment for March 28. When I got to the option for payment and submitting (the end of the application) I was given the option to apply via the OLD FASHION WAY and the NEW WAY. The new way is at UKVCAS. This is the choice I went for as there were no appointments available on the old fashion way. UKVCAS is a third company that receives and passes on your info and documents (outsourcing, and they have nothing to do with UKVI decissions or advice). UKVCAS was £19.2 more expensive as they charge the cost of the BRP. I also paid for the Super Priority Service (24 hour response) which cost £610.

UKVCAS offers free appointments between 10am and 4pm at a few centers and also appointments that you have to pay extra (same day appointment, next day appointment, out of hours appointment, VIP appointments) as well as other services (Scanning, translating, legalising, etc).

You have the option to scan your documents at home (no cost), or have them scanned at your appointment for an extra fee. I did it at home. It took me a long time because there are Titles under which to upload your files (Proof of Application, Finances, Education, Sponsor, Other, Life Events, etc). The waste of time is that it doesn’t specify in detail where you should upload what document. In the end, I uploaded them under whatever category I thought fitted best and I will mention that below. Again, it is a generic platform for uploading documents, not necessarily specific to your application.



Circumstances: Mexican national Married to a British Citizen. On LEAVE TO ENTER AS SPOUSE. We applied to meet the financial criteria for FLR(M) via CASH SAVINGS.

Total cost: £2662.2
(£1033 FLR(M) visa, £1000 IHS, £19.2 BRP, £610 Super Priority Service-24 hour decission)

Here is the list of documents submitted for FLR(M):

PROOF OF APPLICATION:
1. My passport (just the photo page)
2. My full passport (all pages). I could have skipped this as they scan they whole passport at the apointment
3. My divorce certificate, as I had previously been married. Translation and apostille (legalisation) included. I used the same document I presented on my previous Leave to Enter as Spouse
4. Marriage certificate. Translation and apostille (legalisation) included. I used the same document I presented on my previous Leave to Enter as Spouse
5. Letter by the property owner where I live allowing me to live there (my wife is the owner)
6. Letter by my spouse saying she had recently changed her last name (some of the post we presented had her previous last name)
7. Mortgage statement from the house owner (my wife)
8. Part 1 Applicant’s consent form
9. Part 2 Third party consent form (my wife and I have a joint account)
10. Part 3 Third party sponsor consent (my wife used other savings in her name, so she counts as a sponsor)
11. Declaration for Spouses.

PROOF OF IDENTITY/TRAVEL HISTORY:

12. My Entry Clearance Stamp (I had it on a previous passport)
13. My full previous passport
14. My BRP
15. My wife’s full current passport
16. My wife’s previous full current passport (with previous last name)
17. ID of the owner of the property I live in (my wife’s photo page from her passport)
18. My wife’s photo page of her current Passport
19. My wife’s photo page of her second nationality passport

*I chose to do full passport scans and to show my wife’s previous passport. I was not asked for it on any form.

FINANCES:

20. 1 Bank statement that showed all transactions for my Spouse’s account (third party sponsor).
21. 1 Bank statement of joint account addressed to both our names and also showing the joint bank account details on both our names.
22 & 23. 2 Bank statemetns addressed to me, but showing the joint bank account on both our names.
24. One printed bank statement from joint account addressed to me, but showing the joint bank account details. It was stamped at bank (and signed, but the signature is not necessary)
25. A signed letter by my spouse explaining the source of the cash savings on her account
26. A sgined letter by my spouse and myself explaining source of cash savings on joing account

*The last bank statement must not be older than 28 days. Bank statements must cover 6 months, they don’t necessarily have to be 6 monthly bank statements.

EDUCATION:

27. A Transcript of Results from Posgraduate Diploma studies in UK from years ago, showing I met the English language requirement.

RESIDENCE:

This is where we added correspondece to show we lived together. It asks for the last 2 years. We added the last 2 years and 7 months. It should be 6 joint statements or 12 separate ones (6 in each name) or any possible combination (4 joint statements and 2 individual for each one, or 3 joint statement and 3 individual for each one). It should be from at least 3 different sources and they should be spread out during that period. In total we added 7 joint and 3 individual for each.

28. Joint bank SEP-OCT16
29. Joint tenancy agreement NOV16
30. Joint Council Tax MAR17
31. Joint Bank AUG17
32. Spouse Bank Home Insurance NOV17
33. Applicant Energy bill NOV17
34. Applicant Energy bill JAN18
35. Spouse Bank Home Insurance APR18
36. Spouse Building Society APR18
37. Applicant HMRC APR18
38. Joint Council Tax JUN18
39. Joint Council Tax DEC18
40. Joint Energy bill MAR19.

OTHER:

Here we added anything else to support our case. We had answered on the form that

41. Payslips from work I did over the last year
42. Last 3 months of itemised bank statements showing deposits into my account from self employed work
43. My wife’s mortage letter
44. Proof my wife had started her own company
45. Proof from egg donation/IVF treatment (a couple emails and lab tests order)
46. Letter from both in-laws saying they knew about our path to start a family and witnessing our marriage as well.
47. Short letter to immigration officer explaining things that I wasn’t sure about. These were: I used the same marriage and divorce certificates from previous visa application (same certified translation and apostille/legalisation). I was supplying some payslips and showing deposits into my personal bank account, but our application was SOLELY on CASH SAVINGS (I wanted to make it clear). And I had made a mistake answering one of the Declarations at the end of the on-line application (see below).



QUESTIONS THAT DROVE US MAD in the application (what do I answer???):

1. If required to leave the UK, what country would you go to?
Are there any factors which would make it difficult or impossible for you to integrate and establish a private life in that country?

2. Could you and your partner live together outside the UK if necessary?

For 1 and 2 we stated that we have financial ties in the UK (bought a house, wife opened up a company), we had been trying to start a family (IVF/egg donation), etc. Basically our desire to settle in the UK. That’s why we included items 43, 44, 45 and 46 in OTHER

I think those 2 questions are there for people whose country of origin are at war, or could suffer persecution. I think also that if you don’t answer anything, you have automatically declined your right to appeal on the grounds of Human Rights. *Not sure about this

3. Does the account with the bank or utility company for which you have supplied information and supporting documentation relate to another person who is to provide you financial support? I answered NO, but should have been YES because my wife is a SPONSOR since we are using her savings as well. I had to sign in the right form (item 10) and mentioned this mistake on a separate letter (item 47)

NOTE:

Give yourself time and get to know your own legal process.
Don’t freak out. Don’t give more information than what you are being asked for. I understand the desire to prove that you meet all requirements and more. But these can lead you to a confusing application and it can open a whole can of worms.
Understand what is the time frame you are being asked questions about. This FLR(M) should be mainly about your last 30-33 months in the UK with your partner.


At the appointment:

Arrived on time at Croydon. They took my Biometrics. I was called in and as I stood in front of the clerk going through my application (on her screen) she scanned my full passport, asked a couple questions and said she was happy to submit my application, unless I had any more documents to add. I said no more documents and that I was happy to submit the papers.

In and out in 30 minutes. Didn’t receive an email confirmation about submission at UKVCAS.

22 hours after my appointment, I received an email confirming my leave to remain has been granted. Decission letter and BRP to be received in due course.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi, Thanks for all the info. I am applying on Monday but with the standard route. I just wanted to ask what the Applicant and Sponser consent forms were for as I dont have those or is that done through the application?