ABGM wrote: ↑Mon Dec 24, 2018 2:55 pm
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My husband applied for ILR on basis of marriage to British citizen after completing 5 years on the spousal visa (FLM) route.
We opted for the new process with UKVCAS and entering biometrics at local center. After we submitted ILR application, we were able to immediately create an account with UKVCAS/Sopra Steria and book a biometrics appointment. Warrington Library was not available for booking at that time (they went Live in November however had technical issues so they suspended all appointments until it is fixed. I understand it is fixed, however Sopra Steria website isn’t allowing appointments to be made just yet). As we wanted a quick decision, we opted for Manchester Library and though the appointment was in a week’s time, as there was only a 09:30 slot available, they charged £100.00. I’ve subsequently found out that outside of the core hours (10:00 to 16:00), appointments are charged at the higher rate.
On the Wednesday morning, in Manchester Library, Sopra Steria is located on the Lower Ground level not far from the children’s section (there are little sign boards). Staff there are very helpful and friendly. We were in there for approx. 45 minutes which was a little longer than others took, however we had uploaded 90 documents (!) and some re-categorisation was required. Sopra Steria re-scanned them for free and put them under the categories as per their Gov guidance, which frustratingly isn’t on the website!). We had opted for a super priority service as part of his online ILR application at the very end when paying and the Home Office emailed us 27 hours after we left is biometric appointment clearly stating that his Indefinite Leave To Remain application had been successful. There was no attempt at delivery of his permit card on the Friday, i.e. the next working day after his visa had been successfully granted, but it did arrive on Saturday. There is a valid until date on the card, until 31st December 2024. I understand the reason for that is an EU imposed date for biometric upgrading / security, please see this thread: indefinite-leave-to-remain/permanent-re ... 53644.html
Regarding document categorisation, we had put both of our payslips and my bank statements under the category “Sponsor / Employment”, however Sopra Steria re-scanned them for free and put them under “Finances”.
For us, we did put the following documents under the following categories.
Other – documentation showing his child lives in the UK, the application form advises that the applicant must demonstrate they have a genuine, subsisting and active parental relationship. We included birth certificate, passport, letter from child’s school confirming where they normally live (believe doctor’s, hospital, nursery letters are agreeable too), evidence showing access (e.g. a court document or divorce agreement), evidence showing parental responsibility (e.g. a divorce settlement agreement). We also put in screenshots with child, with child’s parent discussing visitation, photos over past 3 years.
Residence in the UK – Shared bills, 6 documents over the past 2.5 years in both names. Mortgage or rental agreements. Also if the applicant is not on the mortgage statement of where they are living, there needs to be a letter by the owner of the property they live in stating that they have permission to live there.
Finances – applicants bank statements for where the payslip money is being credited, and also any other savings bank statements. [As per the above, advise payslips and P60s to go in there]
Life Events – marriage certificate. Imagine if there have been previous marriages the divorce or death certificates
Education – English test certificate (though they verify this through the unique code in application form) and the Life in the UK pass letter.
Sponsor / Employment – Letters from employers. As an FYI, in the employment letter for both applicant and spouse, A letter from the employer(s) who issued the payslips confirming
1. the employment;
2. the gross annual salary;
3. how long the employment has been/was held;
4. the period over which the person has been paid the level of salary stated in their application; and
5. the type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency)
For the peace of mind, we paid the addition £600 for a next day decision, rather than a potential wait of 6 months and the uncertainty that the documentation was insufficient or they want different documentation.
Hope the above helps.
