Leave to remain

[nathanmarriott]

My Fiancee is on a 1 year voluntary Worker Visa, it runs out in October, she is from the USA.

Im from the UK and settled in full time employment. We met in May 2006 and are due to get married on May 23 2009 in P.A in the USA.

We had a long drawn out process getting the correct info, I think we have it now, she is in the USA getting ready for the wedding. Im here, we will return on June the 2nd, the people told us that we would need to fill out the FLR (m) form as my wife. As soon as she gets back this has a £395 fee, I also have to proove I can support her, my questions are these :

If I have to proove I can support her is she eligible to work a paid position once the paperwork comes through?
Will she be given a national insurance number?
Is all the visa office told me right that it is the FLR m form and not the IRL m form?

I know its probably all covered but I really want to get this right and pay once! Thanks for any help!

[Casa]

FLR(M) is the correct form. SET(M) for Indefinate leave to Remain comes much later...2 years at present but due to be longer once the new regulations are passed through parliament.
£395 is for postal applications at present but the fees are due to increase in April. Postal applications are taking around 3 months to process at the moment, and your fiancee won't be able to take paid work until she is issued with the visa. You could apply in person, but with the increase in fees this would cost around £650.
She can apply for a National Insurance number once she has her FLR visa.
Yes, you will have to show that you will be able to support yourselves financially and have adequate accomodation. You're both over 21?

[nathanmarriott]

Yes Im 29 and she is 21, 22 in October. Is it up too 3 months or do all applications take that long?

Thanks for your help, any idea what the fees will be going up too, or what the increase usually amounts too ?

Thanks

Nathan

[nathanmarriott]

If I apply in person how long does the process take? Is it done that day??

[Casa]

12 weeks + even on straightforward FLR applications...they're way behind
on published targets. In 90% of cases (so they say) in person applications should be decided in a day. ID cards which are issued for FLR(M) now instead of visa vignette in the passport should be sent out within 5 days
following the in-person application (so they say), but are also delayed due to 'teething problems with the new system'.
Believe visa fees will rise in April by £100 for FLR, postal and in-person
applications.