ILR on spouse Visa - 5 years route

[Yasin_1989]

Hey guys this is my very first time posting something here and I would very much appreciate your comments and suggestions:-)

I arrived in the UK on 25th July 2011 on a student visa on Tier4 and got married to a British national on 31st January 2014,

I got my first leave to remain visa on 17-03-2014 with an expiry date of 17-09-2016

I then applied to extend my visa well before 28 days - like 3 months and 22 days before.

Now my visa for spouse leave to remain finishes on 24-12-2018, which makes a total duration from beginning to the end of four 4 years and 9 months, not the complete five years as there are still three months left to complete the five years if I apply in December.

I am very confused because I also have a letter after my extension that next time I can apply for ILR before my visa expires; but then the guidance says it should be the complete five years? I don't understand whether I should extend my visa again for 3 months or just simply apply for ILR?

Your help will be appreciated:-)

[CR001]

As you applied for your last visa extension too early, you now have a shortfall for ILR and you will need to apply for another extension on FLR(M), pay the visa fee and IHS fee, before you qualify to apply for ILR within 28 days before 17 March 2019.