Hi All,
First of all a big thanks to this forum which helped me through all my applications.
I came in as Tier2, switched to Tier1. My 5 years was due in June, but I applied 25 days earlier.
Preparation Stages:
We booked appointments online 6 weeks (42 days) earlier. There was plently of appointment in every PEO location when you book appointments online 42 days before your appointment date.
I booked two appointments Solihull PEO
1. for ILR 09:30am (SET-O Form)
2. for FLR 12:30pm (FLR Form)
I was planning to show salary for 7months as it was just above the required threshold from my previous Tier1 application.
I made documents into 3 sets.
(i) Very important documents and mandatory for the applications
ILR application
- Form Set(O)
- Covering letter with absence details
- 2 Photos
- Bank Statements - 8 Months
- Payslips - 7 Months
- P60 - 4 years
- Passport + Biometric Card
- LIUK result
- UKBA Appointment letter
- Self Assessment Points Calculator Printout
- Debit Card
FLR application
- FLR(M) form
- Wife Passport + Biometric Card
- 2 Wife photos + 1 my photo
- Wife Degree Certificate Original
- Tier1 PBC printout to show the degree was taught in English
- Covering Letter to describe she studied in English
- Wife Debit Card
- LIUK for wife
- Marriage Certificate Original
(ii) Mostly asked documents
- Letter from Employer for both of us
- My Degree Certificates
- 8Months to 24 months Salary Slips
- 8Months to 24 months Bank Statements
- Work permit and letter of invitation from my previous employer (tier2 sponsor)
- Very few utility bills, council tax documents and Driving license
(iii) Rarely asked .. just in case
- New Employer - Few Communication Letters - [joining/Contract]
- Tenancy Agreements - Multiple
- All Available bank statements and payslips
- Cheque books
- Previous UKBA application forms and approval letters.
- Many other documents.. don't know what all now
On The day:
Ensured phone was fully charged and checked all documents quickly before starting from house.
We arrived at Solihull at 08:55am.
Security check took 10 minutes, also they checked that application form is the latest valid form. They also gave us a ticket with a number and barcode for biometrics. Don't lose it! You require this all the time.
I collected ticket only for me and told the security that I will collect the token for my wife after my application is approved. They were bit confused, but said OK !!
They called for my ticket at 9:35, we went to the counter and submitted our application to caseworker. I told her that I'm for ILR and my wife plans to apply for FLR once my application is approved. She said its fine and was very pleasant to us. She asked for application form, photos and passports and life in the UK test certificate. She went through passport checks and asked when the photos were taken as my hair was trimmed
. I had put my salary slips and bank statements within the original envelope itself, but she asked if I could put it out. She started to look for the absence dates using calculator and I put forward my covering letter which she liked a lot. She was very happy with the days out, salary and details mentioned in that letter. She said for photocopies of my document if available. I said I didn't have. She said its fine and need few more minutes to check on my passport and details. (She took the payslips, bank statements and LIUK originals and gave back only at the end along with the approval letter). She took the old biometric card for archive purposes.I paid fees at around 10:00 and went to waiting room for my biometrics.
At around 10:40 I was called for biometrics and done in few minutes. After Biometrics, I went and asked for my Wife's FLR token. we waited for my wife's FLR counter and was called around 11:45.
This time it was another case worker. He asked us why we are applying FLR and I said she is not in the UK for 2 years. He asked for application form, photos and passports and UK NARIC letter. I had a problem with UK NARIC letter as it didn't come for more than around 3 weeks. I told that instead of UK NARIC i provided Tier1 calculator which showed that her University is recognised for English language Degree. He looked into it and then asked for Marriage Certificate. He took all the documents (including passport) and said everything looks fine. He asked me us to pay the amount and wait for biometrics and collect the documents in 2 hours. Biometric checks for my wife was started around 12:30. They asked passport of her, but she said its with the case worker. The biometric lady ran upstairs !! and came back in 10mins.. She said the passport was almost going to be taken out along with the application forms.. (So beware if the case worker takes the passport along with them. Ask for it)
overall the experience was very pleasant and the staff was very helpful. I called my home and said the happy news
Now waiting for my Wife's ILR later this year end.
Thanks again to this forum for all the help.
