ILR application for my wife

[northlondoner123]

Hi all,

I wanted to get clarification on the ILR process for my wife and be more confident on the forms that we have to use, as we have had bad experience in the past with the home office.

As a background, I currently am a British passport holder - naturalised through the Tier 1 General route. My wife & I got married in Nov 2012 and she entered the country the country in Dec 2012 as a Tier 1 G dependant. In May 2015, her visa was extended as a PBS dependent given I had switched to ILR a few months earlier.

It would be great if the following could be clarified:
1. My understanding is that she will be eligible to apply for ILR from next month onwards. Is that correct?
2. We are under the impression that the correct form to use is SET(O)?
3. From my memory of applying for ILR, I had to produce documentation from my employer to show holidays that I had taken to prove I was in-country per Home Office requirement. Would my wife have to do the same?
4. I also remember financial requirements when I was applying for ILR as the main applicant. Would similar standards apply for her as well?
5. Does she become eligible to naturalise 1 year post her ILR being granted?

I must thank the contributors on this website for providing clarity to families like mine who are having to navigate through the complexities of the immigration system.

many thanks!

[CR001]

1. Yes, no sooner than within 28 days before the 5th anniversary of her date of entry to the UK.

2. Correct.

3. No relevant to PBS Dependents.

4. Not relevant to PBS Dependents.

5. She can apply for citizenship immediately after she receives her ILR BRP card on the basis of 3 years residence as the spouse of a British citizen, provided she meets the requirements in terms of the absence limit and being physically present on the same date 3 years ago to the date she applies for citizenship.

[northlondoner123]

Hi CR001,

Great, thank you for your clarification! Very useful.

I am intending to submit following documents, can you please state if anything else might be useful?
1. Completed SET O application form
2. 12 months bank statement for my wife & myself
3. Reference letter from our employers
4. Utility bills, council tax bills, tenancy agreements covering last 5 years
5. Marriage certificate
6. My wife's Life in the UK certificate
7. My wife's UK masters degree
8. My British passport

Many thanks!

[northlondoner123]

Hi,

Would it be possible to get a response to the above?

Also, I have tried to book a premium service appointment at Croydon and I can’t seem to get any for 45days. Is this usually the case? Do they release appointments on a specific day of the week?

Thanks!

[CR001]

Hi CR001,

Great, thank you for your clarification! Very useful.

I am intending to submit following documents, can you please state if anything else might be useful?
1. Completed SET O application form
2. 12 months bank statement for my wife & myself Not required for 12 months.
3. Reference letter from our employers Reference letters not required.
4. Utility bills, council tax bills, tenancy agreements covering last 5 years Not required for 5 years. Only last 2 years.
5. Marriage certificate
6. My wife's Life in the UK certificate
7. My wife's UK masters degree
8. My British passport

Many thanks!

[northlondoner123]

Thank you CR001!

I have booked the in person appointment for the 25/01/18, I will keep the group posted on developments.

There was one immigration lawyer who suggested that the rules are changing on 11/01/18. Would you know what this would be about? I can ask and report back too.

Thanks!

[CR001]

Thank you CR001!

I have booked the in person appointment for the 25/01/18, I will keep the group posted on developments.

There was one immigration lawyer who suggested that the rules are changing on 11/01/18. Would you know what this would be about? I can ask and report back too.

Thanks!

Absence Limits Reinstated for PBS Dependents (click).

[northlondoner123]

Hi CR001,

We attended our premium service appointment yesterday and my wife was granted ILR, with the BRP in the post. The documentation provided were the same as those listed above. I was positively surprised by the turnaround time as the entire process took us just over 2 hours - in for 9am and left by 11:15am.

Thanks for your help in this matter and this forum has been of great help to us in getting our facts straight when it comes to the immigration laws of this country!

Thanks!

[CR001]

Wonderful news, congratulations.

If she meets the requirements, she can now apply for British citizenship based on spouse of BC and three years residence.