Switching from Student visa to FLR(M)

[javitayi]

Hello everyone,
I've been reading a few previous posts and I've found loads of very useful information .. so thanks to the whole community!

I've just finished filling up my application form (not sent yet) and there are a couple of things that I'm not completely sure about .. so I'd appreciate any help/suggestion/tip/ammendment.
For a bit of context .. I've been in the UK on a Student visa for the past 3+ years, now switching to FLR(M). My husband and I got married in Chile in July 2023, after being together for two years (exactly 2 years since our first date, actually). We have been living together since June of 2022, except for the 3.5 months I was in Chile conducting my PhD fielwork through the summer

1. Does it make a big difference that we can't provide proof of cohabitation for the whole two years they ask for?? Would they, for example, cross check with the council to see if we are up to date with council tax??
2. Would it make a difference if our joint bank account was only opened a few days before submitting the application??
3. Neither of us are big on social media, especially not posting loads of pictures of ourselves, and we're particularly adverse to taking selfies, so we have very few pictures together, and definitely not covering the whole relationship (especially the first 7-8 months)

My main issue with these points is that I've heard of cases where applicants have been rejected (even providing a marriage certificate) because they failed to prove that the relationship was geniune AND longer than two years. I guess we'd have to provide some evidence in the form of whatsapp conversations (how much is enough), whatever pictures we have .. maybe plane tickets of our trips together??

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

Cheers,
J

[CR001]

1. Does it make a big difference that we can't provide proof of cohabitation for the whole two years they ask for?? Would they, for example, cross check with the council to see if we are up to date with council tax??

Provide what you have. They don't check that you have paid your bills.

2. Would it make a difference if our joint bank account was only opened a few days before submitting the application??

No. Submit individual bank statements then. There is no mandatory requirement that all your evidence must be in joint names.

3. Neither of us are big on social media, especially not posting loads of pictures of ourselves, and we're particularly adverse to taking selfies, so we have very few pictures together, and definitely not covering the whole relationship (especially the first 7-8 months)

For FLR(M), no pictures of you together are required!

My main issue with these points is that I've heard of cases where applicants have been rejected (even providing a marriage certificate) because they failed to prove that the relationship was geniune AND longer than two years.

Nonsense. Don't believe everything you hear.

I guess we'd have to provide some evidence in the form of whatsapp conversations (how much is enough), whatever pictures we have .. maybe plane tickets of our trips together??

NOT required!!

You are overthinking!

[javitayi]

Thank you very much for a very throrough reply.

I now have one more question - looking into the final section (5. Declaration) of the application. The system had me download a form to be filled and signed giving consent to the Home Office to check some things ..

PART 1: Consent for the Home Office to verify application information --> that would be me

PART 2: Consent for the Home Office to verify third party information --> me AND my husband, if we include a joint bank account, I pressume ..

PART 3: Consent for the Home Office to verify information from third party sponsor --> this is NOT, my husband, correct??

Thanks again for your help,
J

PS:

There is no mandatory requirement that all your evidence must be in joint names

I know this, but this would also mean that we need to provide more items of correspondence to each of us at this address, and since we've only been officially living together since Sept (after I came back from fieldwork) then I'm not sure we have enough.

[CR001]

I now have one more question - looking into the final section (5. Declaration) of the application. The system had me download a form to be filled and signed giving consent to the Home Office to check some things ..

PART 1: Consent for the Home Office to verify application information --> that would be me

PART 2: Consent for the Home Office to verify third party information --> me AND my husband, if we include a joint bank account, I pressume ..

PART 3: Consent for the Home Office to verify information from third party sponsor --> this is NOT, my husband, correct??

You only need Part 1 and Part 2. Part 3 is NOT required.

I know this, but this would also mean that we need to provide more items of correspondence to each of us at this address, and since we've only been officially living together since Sept (after I came back from fieldwork) then I'm not sure we have enough.

Submit what you have. There is no requirement to submit 2 years evidence if you are only recently married and switching to FLR(M).

[javitayi]

Thank you
This is very reassuring.

All the best,
J