SET (LR) with lost passport

[ttony1314]

My missus came to the UK on the 15th of July 2011 and held T4 Visa until Nov 2019, then switched to Spouse Visa will be expire on June 2022.

The original passport she used to enter the country was expired on May 2012 and since she have renewed her passport.

Now we are ready to apply 10 years ILR for her but discovered we could not find her old passport (hence never reported to police, as we are not sure where she lost it). She dont have any GAPs or breaks.

We are trying to gather as much as information as possible now to prove she was in the country from May 2011 to May 2012 to cover the whole 10 years period.

So far what we have got/done:
1. We have all the booking confirmation for the flights from July 2011 to May 2012 to confirm her absence. (Don’t think thats useful as they does not prove that she took the flights)
2. We have most of the bank statements from Sep 2011 to May 2012.
3. We have got SAR back from UKVI but they only confirm all the entry/ exist dates for the last 5 years, when we ask for more they ask to see her old passport which we do not have.
4. A letter from the University confirming she was a student during that period, however they are unable to confirm attendance in detail.

A few questions
1. After searching on the forum it looks like a cover letter should be our best bet?
2. Are all the above information sufficient enough?
3. Do UKVI only have records for 5 years or they have all?
4. Just in case if she gets a refusal, would she still be able to renew her spouse Visa within the country?
5. Is it worth to use priority service? As we have been told it will be waste of money as it is not a straightforward case.
6. Or should we just extend her current spouse by the end of June to be on the safe side?


Thanks a lot in advance

[zimba]

1. Yes
2. Do you have other options ??
3. They may hold more information that 5 years
4. Yes
5. Up to you
6. I suggest going for ILR

[ttony1314]

Thank you Zimba

[ttony1314]

Update:


Appoments attended on the 23rd of May at 9am, decision at 4pm, but still waiting for BRP card.