When to request documents when applying online

[dannga]

We understand that we cannot apply earlier than 28 days before our second flr(m) leave expires. That means if our leave expires on X we cannot apply before (X - 28). I also understand that letters like those from our employers confirming employment should not be more than 28 days old wen applying. Obviously it can take time for these letters to be created, corrected and posted. Therefore it would surely be prudent to request these letters before (X - 28 -28). When I try to apply online it appears the appointment booking phase only occurs after applying. Therefore I cannot even try to get an appointment date before (X - 28) days. So when should I request letters and stamped payslips from our employer? Clearly something does not add up here? Now going forward it appears everybody will need to apply online. When should they be requesting these documents? BTW, does the same apply for documents from school's and nurseries confirming parents spend time with their children?

I hope that's clear? In short, how may days before a BRP expires should we be requesting letters form our employers?

Thanks,
Dan

[CR001]

You can apply for ILR no sooner than within 28 days before you reach 60 months/5 years residence but it must be before visa expires (often past the 5 year mark).

Ask for letters etc as close to applying as possible.

As you don't state when your visa expires or when you reach 5 years residence, hard to say when you should start "preparing".

[dannga]

Our visa expires on January 13th. We can therefore book from December 17th. That week is tempting so that it is all over by Christmas. It's weird though to go from a system where we can book and prepare from 42 days before December 17th to one where we start looking from December 17th.

If the "documents should be no older that 28 days" thing is true then I could ask for documents dated from November 19th if I think I might be lucky enough to get an appointment on December 17th. Obviously the longer I wait the higher the risk that the letters don't arrive!