Bank / utility statements required for ILR application?

[Bokislav82]

Hello,

I have a few questions regarding timings of my ILR application. For background, I am a Tier 2 (General) Visa holder whose first visa issued became valid on 29th October, 2014. I have been with my same employer the whole time. I am now keen to get ILR as soon as I can and will be applying for the one-day service as well.

My questions are:

1) Am I correct that I can apply online 28 days before I hit five years, ie 28 days before 29th October, 2019? I am planning to apply on 2nd or 3rd October.

2) If I have understood correctly, it's only possible to book in an appointment for the same-day processing only after I have applied online. Is that right? There is no way to book this in advance of completing the online form is there?

3) What are people's experiences with how long they need to wait for the one-day appointment after they have submitted their application online? I am looking to apply in the London area (probably the Croydon office).

4) What is then the "date of application" in my instance - is it the day I submit online or the day I go into the processing centre? The reason I ask is because it's important in terms of calculating continuous time in the UK. If my date of application is before October 20th, I am eligible for ILR; if I apply after, then the 365 day period is calculated in such a way where I would actually exceed the 180 days (thank goodness the old rules apply to me on this one, as my last visa was issued before 2018!).

Thanks so much for your help!

[CR001]

1. Yes, anytime within 28 days before the 5th anniversary of your initial visa issue date.

2. Correct. No way to book an appointment first. Note that it is not 'same day processing' like the old HO premium service centres. It is super priority service which is a decision within 24 hours, although this is not guaranteed.

3. Usually within a few days to a couple of weeks.

4. Date of application is the date you submit and pay online. Your UKCVAS third party agent appointment is irrelevant.

[Bokislav82]

So helpful and so fast - thank you!

[Bokislav82]

Hi everyone,

Have found this site invaluable throughout my time through the UK visa process and figured I would turn to your sage advance again! My question pertains to how to list absences outside of the UK when applying for ILR in the online application.

By way of background, I'm a T2 General visa holder and will become eligible for and apply for ILR in early October this year. I plan to apply for the one-day expedited processing.

Also, since I moved to the UK, I have travelled abroad about 12-20 times per year for various reasons - some work, some personal.

In the online form, it asks to list travel outside of the UK and Crown dependencies. My questions related to this are:

1) Is it expected that I would list ALL travel abroad in this form?

2) Does the form have a limit in the number of entries it will accept (like I say, I'll probably list about 80 trips here!)? If it does have a limit, does anyone know what this is roughly? Also, if there is a limit, what would you suggest that I do in order to list every trip abroad for which there is not room for in the form?

3) A really inane question (but always figure better safe than sorry): what does one do for trips where they visit multiple countries outside the UK on the same trip?

The form only accepts one country per headline entry, so should I put more detail in the notes?

Or, should I list every country as a separate entry?

For example, say I leave the UK on Monday for France, where I stay until Wednesday when I go directly to Spain, from which I return to the UK on Saturday.

So, here, do I list just France, put the exit and entry dates from the UK for the entire trip and then add into the notes that I went to Spain as well? Or, do I do one entry for France and another for Spain? I suppose that in the case of the latter the date returning to the UK would be the same?

4) More generally, is there an opportunity during this process to submit a letter of some kind simply listing it all out conveniently on one place for the evaluator to assess?

Many thanks for your help!

[CR001]

Topics Merged (click to read forum rule)!

[CR001]

1. Yes, you must list ALL absences, regardless of purpose.

2. The limit is 30 entries on the form. Complete a separate list with the extra trips not possible to put in the form and scan and upload with your supporting documents.

3. Many put first one visited and then provide a brief explanation. Others have listed each country individually.

4. You upload your supporting documents, so yes you can include a letter.

[Bokislav82]

Big thanks and apologies for having to merge the topic - much appreciated!

[Bokislav82]

Hi all,

I am submitting an application for ILR next week (with expedited 1-day processing) and have a question: what are the requirements around bank statements or utility bills that I need to submit?

I’m actually amazed that I’m unable to find guidance on this online and therefore would greatly appreciate any help!

Background: I have been on a Tier 2 General (work permit) visa for just about 5 years. I am applying for ILR next week and intend to use the one-day expedited service. I am married and have a few joint utility bills but a bank account only on my own.

My questions are:

1) Which of bank statements and utility bills do I need to submit?

2) How many such documents should I submit?

3) Are there any conditions on these documents? Must they, for example, show my address, have an official bank stamp, or be issued within a certain time period (e.g. within one month of the application date)?

4) When it comes time to upload these documents and go into the expedited processing appointment, may I take copies or must I submit originals?

Thank you for your help – much appreciated as always!

[CR001]

Topics Merged (click to read forum rule)!

[Bokislav82]

Argh - apologies about that! I thought that because the previous thread was around a month old that I should start a new one - very sorry.

Many thanks for your help!

[CR001]

Are you applying on your own or with dependents?

For tier 2 ilr you need a minimum of one months bank statement and corresponding payslip, not older than 28 days on the date you submit and pay online.

You upload everything before your appointment. Take your docs with you to appointment in case something needs to be rescanned.

[Bokislav82]

Thank you so much - very helpful.

I will be applying for ILR on my own. I don't have any children and my wife transferred from her T5 (youth mobility - Australia national) to become a dependent on my T2 General visa about a year ago, so I believe she needs another two years before she becomes eligible for ILR.

That's super useful about the bank statement, and I'm hoping you could help with just a couple more quick clarifications:

1) You said that the bank statement is a minimum. Would submitting a utility bill also be helpful / desirable in this instance? If so, what conditions would that need to meet (e.g. not older than 30 days, etc.)

2) Is it safe to presume that the bank statement will need to show my address and also have a stamp from the bank to be more official?

Big thanks again !

[CR001]

I will be applying for ILR on my own. I don't have any children and my wife transferred from her T5 (youth mobility - Australia national) to become a dependent on my T2 General visa about a year ago, so I believe she needs another two years before she becomes eligible for ILR.

She needs 5 years as a Tier 2 dependent before she can apply for ILR. Tier 5 YMS does not count.

That's super useful about the bank statement, and I'm hoping you could help with just a couple more quick clarifications:

1) You said that the bank statement is a minimum. Would submitting a utility bill also be helpful / desirable in this instance? If so, what conditions would that need to meet (e.g. not older than 30 days, etc.)

Submit only what is asked for. Don't submit what you think is helpful, it will simply be ignored or cause potential delays as it is unnecessary documentation.

2) Is it safe to presume that the bank statement will need to show my address and also have a stamp from the bank to be more official?

It needs to be an official bank statement containing your information.

[Bokislav82]

She needs 5 years as a Tier 2 dependent before she can apply for ILR. Tier 5 YMS does not count.

Ah right. But when I get ILR would she then only need three years to become eligible herself?

Submit only what is asked for. Don't submit what you think is helpful, it will simply be ignored or cause potential delays as it is unnecessary documentation.

I'm always keen on less work!

It needs to be an official bank statement containing your information.

Sounds good. I just took out one of those (printed at the bank, with the stamp) for my life in the UK test so I'll just go do that again as it needs to be more recent. I'll wait for my September pay to hit the account first, though, so that it aligns with the payslip.

A massive thank you for your help and apologies again for your needing to merge threads! Have a lovely weekend

[CR001]

She needs 5 years as a Tier 2 dependent before she can apply for ILR. Tier 5 YMS does not count.

Ah right. But when I get ILR would she then only need three years to become eligible herself?

When does her current visa expire and what was the visa start date?

[Bokislav82]

When does her current visa expire and what was the visa start date?

Her visa start date was December, 2018 and it was issued until November, 2020 (to align with the validity period of my current T2 General visa). We were married in September, 2018.

So, would she become eligible for ILR in October, 2022 (three years after I presumably receive my ILR) or December 2023 (5 years after she received her first T2 Dependant visa) or at some other time?

I did a bit of poking around online - am I correct that she will need to apply for an extension to her visa at some point in order to stay past November, 2020? If that is right, can someone please point me to the information around what this process entails and how to apply?

[CR001]

She needs 5 years residence to apply for ilr. Her clock for ilr starts from initial visa issue date. There is no 3 year route to ilr.

She should apply for a 3 year extension shortly before her visa expires.

https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general/family-members

[Bokislav82]

Thanks for this, much appreciated. We'll look into getting her an extension as soon as my ILR application is sorted out.

I now have another question as I go to submit my application about the employer letter for proof of absences from the UK: Should I have them produce a letter stating when I took leave according to their records or confirming when I was outside of the UK?

On the one hand, the former makes sense because that is all they really have insight into (how would they know when I travel outside of the UK on personal leave?); on the other hand, the guidance asks one to submit "Letter(s) from employer(s) detailing reasons for work-related absences including periods of paid annual leave from the UK and Crown Dependencies."

I have asked them to note work-related travel separately which they have done.

What I have currently is the former letter (noting just the leave and work-related travel), but then in the online form I try to explain it. For example, if I left the UK on a Thursday night after work, worked remotely from abroad on Friday, took leave on Monday, and flew back on Monday night. I would detail all of this in the online form, state the Thursday as date of departure and Monday as date of return, but my employer letter would only state that I took leave on the Monday (because that's the only day I actually took leave).

Does this sound like a good approach?

[Bokislav82]

Hi all - just a quick note to let you know that my application was successful - just received word.

Thank you so, so much for your help!