ADVICE PLEASE: Switching from Tier 1 – Entrepreneur Visa to FLR(M)

[martymarty]

Hi everyone

I’m really hoping someone will be able to provide some advice – you all seem like a lovely, knowledgeable lot! I will try and provide as much relevant detail on this post as possible – it is long, but I would really appreciate if you could read through and opine.

I’m Australian and initially came to the UK on the Tier 5 – Youth Mobility Visa (2 years). I then switched to the Tier 1 – Entrepreneur Visa, which expires in November 2018.

My partner is British and we are getting married in May 2018. After we are married, I would like to switch to the FLR(M) visa. My questions are:

• Does anybody have any experience moving from the Tier 1 – Entrepreneur Visa to FLR(M)? I read that I cannot use the premium in person service if I’m on the Tier 1 - Entrepreneur Visa and would like to confirm this is the case, but other than that there isn’t anything else I need to be aware of.
  I’m also unclear about whether I need 6 months left on my Tier 1 – Entrepreneur Visa when applying for FLR(M) – I won’t have 6 months as we are getting married in May 2018 and my Tier 1 expires in Nov 2018.
  Should I wait until after I change my name before applying for the FLR(M), or should I just apply as quickly as I can (eg straight away after we are married).

I meet all the requirements for FLR(M) – I just want to make sure there isn’t anything I’m not aware of in terms of switching from my Tier 1. I have done a search but nothing comes up that is specific to my situation.

Thank you so much in advance.

[CR001]

You can switch to FLR(M) in the UK no issue.

You can apply to switch in person at a Premium Service Centre no issue.

FLR(M) will of course reset your clock towards ILR based on 5 years residence to zero.

[martymarty]

Thanks so much for the prompt response!

This was the information I read about applying not being able to apply in person (premium service) under Tier 1:
https://www.gov.uk/ukvi-premium-service ... he-service

It wasn't clear to me if
1) You can't use the premium service if you're applying for a Tier 1 - Entrepreneur Visa OR
2) You can't use the premium service if you're applying under a Tier 1 - Entrepreneur Visa (when switching to another).

Also, will I definitely not have any issues applying for FLR(M) with less than 6 months on my current Tier 1?

Thank you for the heads up on requiring an additional 5 years for IRL...

[CR001]

You have misunderstood.

You cannot use premium service to apply FOR tier 1 ent, to switch to tier 1 ent or extending tier 1 ent or ILR from tier 1 ent.

[TV1]

Hi Martymarty,

Just curious what ended up happening in your case? I am in exactly the same situation as you. I am from Australia on the Tier 1 entrepreneur visa which expires in Nov 18. I am planning to marry my British partner also before my visa ends but am wondering whether there is enough time to do that (I would also like to use the same day visa processing)

Any updates would be very much appreciated