Renewing spouse visa help

[gmacleod41]

Hi. I am British and my husband is Canadian on a spouse visa residence permit which is due to expire in April.
We were starting the process to look at renewal at the end of November but suddenly before we got anywhere with it, on Dec 1 he was rushed to the hospital with a life threatening medical emergency and needed surgery. He was in hospital from Dec 1-29. And then slow recovery at home and only recently able to function somewhat normally again.
I need to know if we submit a letter from his surgeon showing that he's been very ill, will this help us not be penalised for being late to apply?
Will we be able to be exempt from fees? We are very poor, I had an emotional breakdown in 2017 and he's been my unpaid carer ever since, and thus has been unable to work and we live on the benefits I receive which is housing, esa and pip.
Can you please tell me how we renew this? The gov website says we need to apply online but does it have a specific application area for renewal because the online application looks like it's for a new application.
Will he need to do the biometrics again?
And will he need to pay the NHS fees again?
I really hope you can help guide me.
Thank you so much.

[CR001]

Does his visa expire in April this year? If yes, then his application isn't late.

There is no exemption of fees for FLR M spouse visa as far as I am aware and the Ihs has doubled too, £1,000 now plus visa fee.

There is no financial requirement if you claim eligible benefits under adequate maintenance rule.

Yes he will need to enroll his biometrics again.

[gmacleod41]

So as long as we submit the renewal application before the expiry date, is that OK?

What is the application called that I need to do online? Do you have the exact link for the renewal?

Can I apply for the fee waiver and explain our circumstances?

[CR001]

So as long as we submit the renewal application before the expiry date, is that OK?

Correct. Why were you planning on applying so early in November? What date did he enter the UK on his spouse visa?

What is the application called that I need to do online? Do you have the exact link for the renewal?

FLR M. Will post the link when back at my desk.

Can I apply for the fee waiver and explain our circumstances?

You can ask, no guarantee you will get it though. It might also likely put him on the 10 year flr FP partner route.

[gmacleod41]

We just wanted to be really prepared... Had to get his Canadian passport renewed first too which we've only just sent away for now and waiting for them to get it back to us ASAP as we can't renew without it. So Nov was prep time....looking at finances, trying to find the renewal application which I still can't find... Only the basic spouse visa application, no application that states renewal so I'm very grateful if you can help me find the link for the renewal application.

We needed to send his photos to his doctor in Canada to get them guarantored before sending in for his new Canadian passport but he ended up in hospital before we could do it.

Which is why we are so behind. And I cannot survive without his help in my life, I've gone through some very bad personal trauma and now I'm trying to help him heal while still dealing with my own struggles, and we have no one else, only each other, no family at all, no one.

[CR001]

trying to find the renewal application which I still can't find...Only the basic spouse visa application, no application that states renewal so I'm very grateful if you can help me find the link for the renewal application.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... form-flr-m

For fee waiver, see below. You might need to submit extensive evidence of compelling and compassionate reasons. HO also MIGHT put him on the 10 year partner route.

https://visas-immigration.service.gov.u ... fee-waiver

But the below might apply to your circumstances.

under the 5-year partner route, where you do not need to meet the minimum income threshold because your partner is in receipt of one or more specified benefits – Form FLR(M)