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Hello Everyone,

My husband and child will apply for PBS - Dependent extension in the month of March. They both are on depdendent Visa where I am the main applicant. I will get my ILR next month.
Now, although they will apply for extension but we don't want to book biometrics and delay it until they both will be eligibile to apply ILR post which we will vary the application.
Please can someone suggest how to delay biometrics when we get invite to use IDV app? I got to know in some cases when you have previosuly used IDV they then it sometimes not even ask for biometrics and application is sent for consideration. Please can you guide me here.

I also not some senior members had suggested to apply ILR & then delay biometrics until eligible. This route is also open but I would prefer PBS extension & then vary application if that is possible. Anyways we will get the full refund of PBS hence both options work fine

Regards

You simply do not enrol it. Also, It is unlikely that you will be asked to use the app.

Read --> Online applications, Biometric appointments and eVisa queries - Read before you post

Thank you @Zimba for the response. I hope you are referring to not enrolling for IDV app post submitting PBS dependent extension application. On previous 3 occasion ( 2 times ICT & 1 PBS), my husband submitted the documents via IDV app and was never asked to visit the centre in person for biometrics and was wondering why it would be unlikely for him to use IDV app for biometrics this time around.

There is no difference whatsoever. You simply either will not book the appointment or will not enrol it on the App. You simply will NOT enrol it, as I said above

Hi Zimba,

I started filling the application for PBS dependent application. After filling in the eligibility section, the next step is to download the IDV app and confirm my identity . I understand once I complete this step , I will move onto completing the rest of the application and finally payments. It will not ask for biometrics again as I had provided my identity via the app (At the beginning it had specifically asked me if I have used IDV app before and shared by biometrics which I said Yes)

Now confusion if how I will delay the biometrics here ? Am I doing something wrong

It used to be that the step to submit your ID details was done after application submission.
However, If that has changed and the app enrolment is part of the application now, then you have no choice but to delay the application submission.

I cannot delay beyond expiry date. I must submit & pay for the application before expiry date.
It means there is no way I can now delay the PBS extension biometrics. My husband's PBS expires on 27th March and he will become eligible for ILR on 27th April.

However, the application did ask me - Do you have any problem in accessing the IDV app ? Although I don't have any problem, but if I select Yes then it might ask to provide biometrics at UKVISA cemtre. I am not sure if I can select No here and if it might cause any problem later.

Probably then you can get the appointment option if you say you had a problem in accessing the IDV app

Hi Zimba,

If I select option - "I do not have a phone that can use the app" then systems skips the IDV app part and takes me to application. It will now ask to book biometric appointment at the end . So this option seems to work .

One question - Couple of immigration consultants whom I contacted said they can extend the PBS , delay the biometrics and then finally vary the application to ILR. Will they do anything different? I just want to opt for a safer option. I can go through consultants but not sure if they will do anything different or will follow same steps as me

I hope choosing - I do not have a phone for the app will not cause any issues later

There is no point in applying to extend and then varying. Waste of a lot of money

Apologies, I don't get your point of view .
When we vary a application then we get full refund of IHS and application fee if application is varied before the decision of the original application. Then how come money is wasted via this route ? Eventually I will end up paying ILR fee only

Poornisharma wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 5:08 pm

Apologies, I don't get your point of view .
When we vary a application then we get full refund of IHS and application fee if application is varied before the decision of the original application. Then how come money is wasted via this route ? Eventually I will end up paying ILR fee only

Why pay twice ? Just apply for ILR directly as you can delay the biomertcis