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Hi all,

Wife is applying for ILR January 2026. She entered Sep 2020 and her visa expires Feb 2026. I think she can apply 28 days before 23 Sep 2025? But January should be good either way.

I earn 37500 before tax. I have a vehicle through work paid for via salary sacrifice, this is just under 7000 a year. I have just took out this vehicle so still waiting for a payslip to reflect this, but a colleague on the same scheme said their gross salary on their payslip still shows full salary before salary sacrifice. How best should I address this during the application? I presume the deducations on my payslip will reference salary sacrifice. It's still above the £29,000 so I believe it will be ok.

However, with this said, the requirement was £18,600 when we applied so we could actually be assessed against this requirement? Is this confirmed by the UK government?

Note: We have a child who is a dual UK and USA.

Other than financial requirement, is everything else the same document-wise? With the exception of the Life in the UK test? Does this have an expiry date?

She has just applied to renew her passport (USA). I heard sometimes all passports are needed however the embassy will likely retain her old passport. Should I address this?

Very anxious as expected but thank you to anybody who responds.

•She is eligible for ILR within 28 days of completing her 5 years in the UK.

•Salary deductions or sacrifice are not relevant, only gross basic pay matters, which should be over £18,600.

This is the official guide: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... nt__1_.pdf

•Life in the UK test has no expiry.

•For proof of adequate accommodation, you need:

The applicant should provide evidence as to the basis on which the accommodation
is or will be owned or occupied (including rented) by the family unit. This may for
example be in the form of a copy of the property deeds, a letter from a bank or
building society as to the mortgage arrangements, a lease agreement and rent book,
or a letter from a family member or friend who is making the accommodation
available to the applicant and their family unit.

•For cohabitation evidence, see: All you need to know about cohabitation evidence

•No physical document is submitted, only digital copies are submitted. Scan her passport pages now and she should be OK.

There is no need to be anxious, this should be a very straightforward application

zimba wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 14, 2025 1:36 am

•She is eligible for ILR within 28 days of completing her 5 years in the UK.

•Salary deductions or sacrifice are not relevant, only gross basic pay matters, which should be over £18,600.

This is the official guide: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... nt__1_.pdf

•Life in the UK test has no expiry.

•For proof of adequate accommodation, you need:

The applicant should provide evidence as to the basis on which the accommodation
is or will be owned or occupied (including rented) by the family unit. This may for
example be in the form of a copy of the property deeds, a letter from a bank or
building society as to the mortgage arrangements, a lease agreement and rent book,
or a letter from a family member or friend who is making the accommodation
available to the applicant and their family unit.

•For cohabitation evidence, see: All you need to know about cohabitation evidence

•No physical document is submitted, only digital copies are submitted. Scan her passport pages now and she should be OK.

There is no need to be anxious, this should be a very straightforward application

Very helpful information thank you. We have already sent her old passport to the embassy unfortunately so I cannot scan anything, but I am hoping this isn't a problem as her e-Visa would show her leave (plus HO records).

Cannot help the anxiety of it despite knowing we meet the requirements. It comes from if our family would ever be at risk of separation as we have a wonderful two year old daughter.

Some other advice please; when applying for ILR, do we need to now submit five years worth of residency documents (council tax, bills etc), or just 2.5 years? As then all the evidence we've submitted for previous visas would cover five years.

My salary was ~37k and went up to ~38k in July - does this also need to be clarified at any point from myself or HR? We will be applying under the 18.6k requirement.

Thanks,

There is no such a thing as residency requirement. I already have given you the advice on cohabitation evidence above !
Your salary increasing has no effect on the ILR

zimba wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 12, 2025 12:07 am

There is no such a thing as residency requirement.

I thought we had to submit proof of five years residency for ILR!

It is cohabitation evidence you need to submit, to prove subsisting relationship. Different thing completely.

There is no minimum residency or absence limit for spouse visa holders.