ILR/Citizenship for my Indian Wife with FLR M Visa

[abysussex]

My wife is from India. She has been educated in this country since her A-levels. Has been in the UK on a student visa from 2010 to 2015. She has spent all her crucial formative years in Britain and is more British than some members of my totally English and Scottish family!

We got married in 2015 and she applied for a FLR M Visa which lasts till next year 2018 and then we need to apply again for a further one.

It's very expensive each time and I was wondering if it would be better for her to seek ILR or apply to naturalise? I feel it an affront to my sensibilities that I can't get married to anyone I want especially since it's me paying for it rather than the state!

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

[secret.simon]

She can only apply for ILR either after
a) completing five continuous years on FLR(M) OR
b) completing ten continuous years of legal residence in the UK,
whichever comes first.

If you are a British citizen, she can apply for citizenship immediately after she gets her ILR, assuming she meets the absence, good character and other requirements.

ILR is a pre-requisite for adults applying for naturalisation/citizenship.

is more British than some members of my totally English and Scottish family!

I can identify with that sentiment.

[abysussex]

Thanks so much for your help.

When she got her FLR(M) Residence Permit in 2015 it was granted for three years expiring in April 2018 and we are beginning the process to apply to extend it. I have been able to start an online application, is the same fees payable again for extending to another 2 years?

[secret.simon]

UKV&I fees typically go up every 6th April by about 20% (that has been the trend for the past few years). So, it will likely be much higher than what you had paid initially.

UKV&I fees from 6th April 2017.

Was your wife born in the UK? Did she live the first ten years of her life in the UK without a break of more than 90 days a year?