FLR(M) application form queries

[kosymodo]

Happy New Year folks!

Following advice from this great forum, my Argentinian girlfriend came to the UK for 6 months from Nov 2014 to Apr 2015 on a standard visitors visa. Whilst here, I proposed to her, and (luckily!) she accepted. She then returned back to Argentina, and we began the task of preparing the paperwork and gathering the money together for a VAF4A application so she could return here in order to get married.

Her VAF4A application was approved on 29 Sept, and she arrived back here in the UK on 6 Nov. We got married just before Christmas on 18 Dec, and we're now getting everything ready for a FLR(M) application.

I have a number of queries regarding the FLR(M) application form, and am hoping that I'll be able to get some advice from the knowledgable folk on the forum...

1) Question 2.2 - I'm assuming the correct answer here is 'YES', since her current Marriage visa is not a visa falling under the 'extension of stay' categories?

2) Question 5.3 - What is the correct terminology to use here in terms of her current visa? Is the category 'MARRIAGE'?

3) Question 6.4 - What constitutes the beginning of a relationship? We first contacted each other through an internet foreign language exchange site in Feb 2014. We met for the first time in Mar 2014. I returned in Jun 2014 for a 10-day holiday. I would therefore be inclined to say our relationship started on the day we met for the first time. Is this acceptable?

4) Question 6.5 - We live together, so we keep in touch by talking to each other. Presumably this question is meant for couples who are apart from each other?

5) Question 6.7 - I would say that our first day of living together in a relationship would have been the day she arrived here in the UK for her 6-month stay in Nov 2014. Is this acceptable?

6) Question 6.8 - Are these addresses those at which we have lived at TOGETHER in the past 2 years?

7) Question 6.9 - I'm confused what is meant by the wording 'last grant of limited leave to remain'. Does this include the visitors visa?

Question 10.11 - Can I say here that she has been living in the UK since Nov 2014, albeit with a period of absence of 6 months and 2 weeks? (The period of time between her exit from the UK in Apr 2015 and her re-entry in Nov 2015)

9) Section 13A (Your Relationship) - As of today, we have nothing in joint names for our current address. I am in the process of getting her added to the gas/electricity/water/cable accounts. However, assuming that I can get this done quickly, the correspondence attached to these accounts will only show both names from now. Baring in mind that we're looking to submit the FLR(M) application ASAP, what impact will this have? How do we get around the issue that all correspondence will be dated within days/a couple of weeks of the application date? What other forms of joint correspondence are there? I am struggling to come up with other ways of having her name attached to this address, whether that be in joint names or in anything else in her own name.

I think that's pretty much it for now. Thanks in advance for any advice you folks can give us!

[CR001]

1) Question 2.2 - I'm assuming the correct answer here is 'YES', since her current Marriage visa is not a visa falling under the 'extension of stay' categories? Edit : see from your previous posts that she is on a fiance visa. I think it is yes but not sure, question is not worded well in the form.

2) Question 5.3 - What is the correct terminology to use here in terms of her current visa? Is the category 'MARRIAGE'? Edit : Fiance visa

3) Question 6.4 - What constitutes the beginning of a relationship? We first contacted each other through an internet foreign language exchange site in Feb 2014. We met for the first time in Mar 2014. I returned in Jun 2014 for a 10-day holiday. I would therefore be inclined to say our relationship started on the day we met for the first time. Is this acceptable? Yes

4) Question 6.5 - We live together, so we keep in touch by talking to each other. Presumably this question is meant for couples who are apart from each other? You can write, 'we live together and communicate daily'

5) Question 6.7 - I would say that our first day of living together in a relationship would have been the day she arrived here in the UK for her 6-month stay in Nov 2014. Is this acceptable? Yes

6) Question 6.8 - Are these addresses those at which we have lived at TOGETHER in the past 2 years? Yes, but you can put your address since she arrived in the UK prior to marriage.

7) Question 6.9 - I'm confused what is meant by the wording 'last grant of limited leave to remain'. Does this include the visitors visa? No, not visitor, only her current visa.

Question 10.11 - Can I say here that she has been living in the UK since Nov 2014, albeit with a period of absence of 6 months and 2 weeks? (The period of time between her exit from the UK in Apr 2015 and her re-entry in Nov 2015) Current visa. A person is not permitted to 'live or reside' in the UK on a visitor visa.

9) Section 13A (Your Relationship) - As of today, we have nothing in joint names for our current address. I am in the process of getting her added to the gas/electricity/water/cable accounts. However, assuming that I can get this done quickly, the correspondence attached to these accounts will only show both names from now. Baring in mind that we're looking to submit the FLR(M) application ASAP, what impact will this have? How do we get around the issue that all correspondence will be dated within days/a couple of weeks of the application date? What other forms of joint correspondence are there? I am struggling to come up with other ways of having her name attached to this address, whether that be in joint names or in anything else in her own name. The form is used for extensions of existing spouse visas who do require two years of cohabitation documents. It is not relevant to someone switching from a spouse visa. You can submit anything you have though in either joint names or individual names.

I think that's pretty much it for now. Thanks in advance for any advice you folks can give us!

[kosymodo]

1) Question 2.2 - I'm assuming the correct answer here is 'YES', since her current Marriage visa is not a visa falling under the 'extension of stay' categories? Is she on a marriage visit visa or a fiance visa (big difference in visa fee)?

2) Question 5.3 - What is the correct terminology to use here in terms of her current visa? Is the category 'MARRIAGE'? Depends on your answer to my question in #1

3) Question 6.4 - What constitutes the beginning of a relationship? We first contacted each other through an internet foreign language exchange site in Feb 2014. We met for the first time in Mar 2014. I returned in Jun 2014 for a 10-day holiday. I would therefore be inclined to say our relationship started on the day we met for the first time. Is this acceptable? Yes

4) Question 6.5 - We live together, so we keep in touch by talking to each other. Presumably this question is meant for couples who are apart from each other? You can write, 'we live together and communicate daily'

5) Question 6.7 - I would say that our first day of living together in a relationship would have been the day she arrived here in the UK for her 6-month stay in Nov 2014. Is this acceptable? Yes

6) Question 6.8 - Are these addresses those at which we have lived at TOGETHER in the past 2 years? Yes, but you can put your address since she arrived in the UK prior to marriage.

7) Question 6.9 - I'm confused what is meant by the wording 'last grant of limited leave to remain'. Does this include the visitors visa? No, not visitor, only her current visa.

8) Question 10.11 - Can I say here that she has been living in the UK since Nov 2014, albeit with a period of absence of 6 months and 2 weeks? (The period of time between her exit from the UK in Apr 2015 and her re-entry in Nov 2015) Current visa. A person is not permitted to 'live or reside' in the UK on a visitor visa.

9) Section 13A (Your Relationship) - As of today, we have nothing in joint names for our current address. I am in the process of getting her added to the gas/electricity/water/cable accounts. However, assuming that I can get this done quickly, the correspondence attached to these accounts will only show both names from now. Baring in mind that we're looking to submit the FLR(M) application ASAP, what impact will this have? How do we get around the issue that all correspondence will be dated within days/a couple of weeks of the application date? What other forms of joint correspondence are there? I am struggling to come up with other ways of having her name attached to this address, whether that be in joint names or in anything else in her own name. The form is used for extensions of existing spouse visas who do require two years of cohabitation documents. It is not relevant to someone switching from a spouse visa. You can submit anything you have though in either joint names or individual names.

I think that's pretty much it for now. Thanks in advance for any advice you folks can give us!

1) Fiance visa

2) OK - so, after seeing my answer above?

3) Thanks

4) Thanks

5) Thanks

6) Thanks - makes sense!

7) Thanks

8) OK - also makes sense when I think about it in that way!

9) So there's no requirement to submit any joint correspondence? Presumably though, anything I do manage to submit will be beneficial in some small way?

[CR001]

1. See my edited comment in my reply above

2. See my edited comment in my reply above

8. You can add in the 'additional information' about the time she spent visiting you.

9. No, but if you have anything you can submit it.

[kosymodo]

1. See my edited comment in my reply above

2. See my edited comment in my reply above

8. You can add in the 'additional information' about the time she spent visiting you.

9. No, but if you have anything you can submit it.

Brilliant! Thank you so much for your incredibly prompt replies!

[kosymodo]

Sorry, just one more thing to clarify...

In Question 6.8, I've only lived at one address in the past 2 years. Therefore we've only ever lived together at one address. Since this has been already stated in the form as an answer to a previous question (i.e. 'what is your current address?'), do I leave this blank, or put my current address again?

[CR001]

Put current address again.

[kosymodo]

Put current address again.

OK, will do. Thanks!

[CR001]

Are you applying by post or in person?

Don't forget the £500 immigration health surcharge.

[kosymodo]

Are you applying by post or in person?

Don't forget the £500 immigration health surcharge.

By post - yeah, won't forget that! Makes a big difference on top of the visa fee!

[CR001]

When does her fiance visa expire?

FLR(M) can take a couple of months by post and she won't be permitted to work until her visa is approved.

[kosymodo]

When does her fiance visa expire?

FLR(M) can take a couple of months by post and she won't be permitted to work until her visa is approved.

At the end of March. To apply in person is an extra £400, right?

[CR001]

Yes, it is £1049 to apply in person plus the £500 health surcharge. Decision on the day and the BRP card is usually received by courier within a couple of weeks.

[kosymodo]

Hmmm, whilst that is an attractive proposition, it's not financially possible.

One more query which I had initially overlooked...

I have a daughter from my previous marriage. Therefore, since I have answered 'Yes' to Question 4.3, I have to provide her details in Question 4.4. This is pretty much straight-forward, apart from Question 4.4r. Her mother and I both class ourselves as jointly financially responsible for her. I think this is also the legal stance. Therefore shall I write both our names?

[CR001]

If you and your x have joint responsibility, yes, you can write both names.

[kosymodo]

If you and your x have joint responsibility, yes, you can write both names.

Excellent - will do!

[kosymodo]

I have another quick query...

One of the things we need to send in to accompany the form is a 'complete and full' copy of my passport. I'm aware that every page must be copied, including blank pages. However, do the copies have to be certified by anyone?

[CR001]

No the do not.

[kosymodo]

No the do not.

Brilliant! Thanks for the quick reply. We can now go ahead and get the application posted