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ILR- Request for further evidence of cohabitation

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2024 5:25 pm
by Matcha
My wife submitted her ILR application (SET(M) - 5 year) on 24th October 2023.
The correspondence submitted with the application were:

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2021-05 - DWP letter - Applicant
2021-05 - Octopus Energy Statement - Joint

2021-10 - Thames Water Bill - Applicant
2021-10 - Octopus Energy Statement - Joint

2022-03 - Council Tax Bill - Joint

2022-08 - HSBC Bank Statement - Joint

2023-01 - HSBC Bank Statement - Joint

2023-06 - HMRC Statement - Spouse
2023-06 - Octopus Energy Statement - Joint

2023-10 - Thames Water Bill - Applicant
2023-10 - Octopus Energy Statement - Joint
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Today, we received the following email:

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We are considering your application and need further information from you. Please provide the following within 10 working days of the date of this request:

Further documentary evidence of you and your spouse living together at your home address, dated from April 2022 to February 2023. For example, this could include, NHS Letters, Utility Bills, Council Tax Bills, Phone Bills etc. Please ensure that this evidence is addressed to yourself, your spouse, or yourself and your spouse jointly.
If we do not receive anything within 10 working days we will make a decision on the information we already
have.

Please send your documents electronically to setmdocs@homeoffice.gov.uk
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I am not sure why we have been asked to provide further evidence of that specific 11-month period. It appears that they were not happy with the use of bank statements as correspondence?

I have been looking through the correspondence we have, and have compiled the following additional documents:

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2022-04 - Thames Water Bill - Applicant / HMRC Letter - Spouse
2022-07 - HSBC Letter (not statement) - Joint
2022-10 - Thames Water Bill - Applicant / Plusnet Bill - Spouse
2023-02 - Octopus Energy Statement - Joint
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Q1. Do you think this additional correspondence will be acceptable?
Q2. I know it says to send the documents to setmdocs@homeoffice.gov.uk, but is there a specific format and way to ensure that the documents are match to my wife's application?

Re: ILR- Request for further evidence of cohabitation

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2024 5:54 pm
by zimba
All you need to know about cohabitation evidence

You should have sent evidence from more than one source. For the period of 2022-03 to 2024-03, you have sent just bank statements. So yes they need to see more evidence of cohabitation in that period from more than one source. There is no specific format, just send the scans and quote the UAN in your email

Re: ILR- Request for further evidence of cohabitation

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2024 6:18 pm
by Matcha
Thank you for the reply.

I know they need at least three sources. However, I thought that was for the whole 2.5-year period. I used six different sources over the whole 2.5-year period. Is there a specific requirement to use more than one source for a certain period of months within the 2.5 years?

Do you think the following will be acceptable as further evidence?
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2022-04 - Thames Water Bill - Applicant / HMRC Letter - Spouse
2022-07 - HSBC Letter (not statement) - Joint
2022-10 - Thames Water Bill - Applicant / Plusnet Bill - Spouse
2023-02 - Octopus Energy Statement - Joint
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Re: ILR- Request for further evidence of cohabitation

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2024 6:24 pm
by zimba
It advised to provide at least 3 sources per year covering the last 2 years, so totalling 6 pieces of evidence. When they see a gap, they come back and ask for more. ANY evidence can be used

Re: ILR- Request for further evidence of cohabitation

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2024 9:05 am
by Matcha
I sent the following:

1. 2022-April-08: Thames Water Bill (Applicant) (Spouse also shown as additional account holder)
2. 2022-April-06: HMRC Letter (Spouse)
3. 2022-July-11: HSBC Letter (Joint)
4. 2022-July-12: Octopus Energy Statement (Joint)
5. 2022-October-10: Thames Water Bill (Applicant) (Spouse also shown as additional account holder)
6. 2022-October-23: Plusnet Phone Bill (Spouse)
7. 2023-February-08: Octopus Energy Statement (Joint)
8. 2023-March-08: Council Tax Bill (Joint)

Should I have received an automatic email reply or acknowledgement when I replied to setmdocs@homeoffice.gov.uk?

Re: ILR- Request for further evidence of cohabitation

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2024 12:28 pm
by zimba
You do not get confirmations

Re: ILR- Request for further evidence of cohabitation

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2024 2:27 pm
by Matcha
Got it.

When I replied, the subject is simply "Re: Application Update". The UAN is at the top of the email body.
Is that OK, or does the UAN need to be in the subject?

Re: ILR- Request for further evidence of cohabitation

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2024 5:58 pm
by zimba
Matcha wrote:
Fri Jan 19, 2024 2:27 pm
Got it.

When I replied, the subject is simply "Re: Application Update". The UAN is at the top of the email body.
Is that OK, or does the UAN need to be in the subject?
Well if its in the subject they can see it then