Please help - confused about appointment within 28 days of completing qualifying period

[stitaprajna]

My spouse visa will be expiring on 25-sep-18 and I will be applying for settlement visa using SET(M).

I have just started preparing for the LIUK test.
I am not sure if I have enough time to prepare for the test, give the test, apply online for SET(M).
I am reading the official LIUK handbook and plan to take the online free mock tests. I can probably give LIUK test anytime after 20th Aug. I have already started filling online application for SET(M).

I am not sure if I can book the dates for SET(M) visa appointment right away closer to expiry say 20-sep-18 (5 days before expiry date).

Please help me if I am on the right track as the visa rejection can cause immense life disruption as my entire family is dependent on me.

Many thanks for the help.

[equitydealer]

You can apply for ILR 28 days before you complete 5 years in the UK (i.e your entry date into the UK).

You have enough time to complete the LIUK test, but find a booking somewhere now. If you don’t pass the test you have to wait 7 days before trying again

If you want to book a premium service centre appointment for your application, making an assumption that 25th September is your qualifying 5 year period, you can attend a PSC appointment from the 28th August onwards. It’s difficult to find premium service appointments at the moment, if you’re comfortable in being able to pass your LIUK test I would go ahead and book soon, at the latest by the 14th August. That would give you a PSC appointment on the 25th September (typical 6 week lead time from booking to appointment unless there are cancellations) which would be cutting it fine!!

[stitaprajna]

Thank you for your reply.

I will be completing 5 calendar years since I first arrived on Aug 1st and my Residence Permit is expiring on 25-Sept.

If there are 6 weeks of waiting time for premium processing, then I will be cutting it close. Thank you for warning me and suggesting appropriately.

I have some more queries:
1. What options are available for applying for SET (M) and what are the fees and timelines? I guess I visited the VFS for my FLRM and is it same for SET(M)? Is this booking and visiting the VFS same as premium processing?
2. Can I complete my online SET(M) application, book appointment etc. even though I have not YET passed the LIUK test but will be passing between now to visa appointment date ?

Appreciate help here. Many thanks.

[stitaprajna]

You can apply for ILR 28 days before you complete 5 years in the UK (i.e your entry date into the UK).

Thank you for your reply.
Can you please help me with an answer to my question in the previous reply? @casa @moderators

[stitaprajna]

Please could anyone help me with these answers urgently as I seem to have very little time to prepare, pass LIUK test and complete the SET(M):

1. What options are available for applying for SET (M) and what are the fees and timelines? I guess I visited the VFS for my FLRM and is it same for SET(M)? Is this booking and visiting the VFS same as premium processing?
2. Can I complete my online SET(M) application, book appointment etc. even though I have not YET passed the LIUK test but will be passing between now to visa appointment date ?

[stitaprajna]

I got married and I got my spouse visa and came to the UK. Now, I am applying for SET(M).
What do they mean by this or what should be my answer for this ?: "Were you married or in a civil partnership when you were last granted leave in this category?"
By ''..in this category" do they mean SET(M) but I had FLR?

[stitaprajna]

My visa is expiring on 25th Sept and I need to apply for SET(M).
I would prefer the premium service though it costs 2999
If I do not get the dates before 25th Sept for premium service, can I apply through post?
I read that SET(M) postal takes 6 months. Can I travel abroad when my SET(M) is under process through postal route? What if there are family emergencies after applying through postal SET(M)?

Please help.

[equitydealer]

SET(M) is either by post or at a PSC appointment. For the PSC appointment there are two options, complete an online form and submit your application or book just the appointment and bring the hand completed paper form with you. There’s no VFS.

It’s probably better to go for the second option as you’ve not done your LIUK test. The second option also allows you to cancel the appointment (min 5 days before your appointment) without losing your money. You can book without having done the test but ensure you pass it a few days before your appointment as the UKVI don’t get the result on their system immediately.

https://www.gov.uk/ukvi-premium-service ... ppointment

[stitaprajna]

SET(M) is either by post or at a PSC appointment. For the PSC appointment there are two options, complete an online form and submit your application or book just the appointment and bring the hand completed paper form with you. There’s no VFS.

It’s probably better to go for the second option as you’ve not done your LIUK test. The second option also allows you to cancel the appointment (min 5 days before your appointment) without losing your money. You can book without having done the test but ensure you pass it a few days before your appointment as the UKVI don’t get the result on their system immediately.

https://www.gov.uk/ukvi-premium-service ... ppointment

Thank you for your help.
I guess you mean option 1' complete an online form and submit your application'.
And option 2 as 'book just the appointment and bring the hand completed paper form with you'.
I have few more questions.

For option 1:

a. Can I submit the online application without completing the LIUK test YET but pass the LIUK test before the appointment?

b. If Yes for the above, will I have to modify the online application to indicate I have passed the LIUK once I have passed it? Or, it is not allowed or required to modify the online form once we have submitted it?

c. Can I not reschedule the appointment if I have chosen the online submission option?

d. If I have submitted the form online through the option 1, do I just carry the print out of the online application and no hand-filled form is required?

e. Is the difference between option 1 and 2 above is just carrying the online submitted form v/s hand-written form? Or there any other differences?

Thank you in advance for your help again?

[stitaprajna]

While completing the online application for SET(M), I got the below message when I selected the 'Premium Option':

"UK Visas and Immigration will contact you if it will take longer to process your application. This might happen if:

your supporting documents need to be verified
you need to attend an interview
your application is complex"

Does this mean, we may not have to attend an interview? Don't they have to verify our documents?
If we don't have to attend but if they have to verify the supporting docs,will they ask us to post it?

[zimba]

Please stick to this topic and do not create new posts regrading your application

[stitaprajna]

Thank you for your reply.

SET(M) is either by post or at a PSC appointment. For the PSC appointment there are two options, complete an online form and submit your application or book just the appointment and bring the hand completed paper form with you. There’s no VFS.

It’s probably better to go for the second option as you’ve not done your LIUK test. The second option also allows you to cancel the appointment (min 5 days before your appointment) without losing your money. You can book without having done the test but ensure you pass it a few days before your appointment as the UKVI don’t get the result on their system immediately.

https://www.gov.uk/ukvi-premium-service ... ppointment

Based on your clarifications, I have added few more questions here above in 2 separate posts . Please could you help me out? Very worried I may not get the appointments.

[stitaprajna]

@moderators please can you please answer some of my urgent queries in previous posts on this thread?

[stitaprajna]

I am on a 5 year settlement route and applying via SET(M).
I first entered UK on my spouse visa on 1-aug-2013. My current visa is expiring on 25-sep-18.
I have SET(M) premium service appointment on 21-sep-18.

In the booking confirmation email I have received it says:

If you are applying for settlement (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’), please ensure that your premium appointment is within 28 days of you completing your qualifying period. If it is not, you should reschedule or cancel your appointment.

If you attend a premium service appointment and submit your application more than 28 days before completing your qualifying period your application will normally be refused. If that happens, we will not refund the visa application fee and you will have to reapply and pay again.

I am not able to understand the above bit tensed if my booking date appropriate so that my visa application does not get rejected.
I am not sure on what date is my qualifying date. Please could some one help me?

[seagul]

you have already completed your 5 years of qualifying period on 1st August 2018 for ILR. You could have applied for ILR 28 days earlier of 1st August 2018, that's what it means.

[stitaprajna]

you have already completed your 5 years of qualifying period on 1st August 2018 for ILR. You could have applied for ILR 28 days earlier of 1st August 2018, that's what it means.

Thank you for your reply.
So, I can apply from 1-aug to my visa expiry date of 25-sep-18? And, hence my current PSC appointment date is valid. Please could you confirm.