ILR application- combination of salary

[couchsurfer]

I have a few questions about when my wife should submit her ILR application.

She entered the UK Jan 2021 (visa granted from end of Nov 2020), spouse/dependent visa (I am from UK), 5 year route, we extended for a further 2.5 years in September 2023.

I am assuming 5 years from when she entered or when it was granted?

Her current BRP has the 31/12/24 expiry date and we’ve signed up for the e-visa which says the visa is valid until 16th April 2026 so that makes me think we could apply within 28 days of 16th April 2026? But this is longer than 2.5 years from previous extension and obviously the 5 years before she entered, so we are little confused if its at the end of this year or start of next.

Just want to basically start organising the documents and booking the tests we need for the visa at the right time!

Thanks in advance.

[zimba]

The qualifying period is counted from the very first entry to the UK. Her visa expiry is irrelevant for ILR. If she entered in Jan 2021, then she will be eligible and can apply in Dec 2025, which is within 28 days of completing her 5 years

[couchsurfer]

The qualifying period is counted from the very first entry to the UK. Her visa expiry is irrelevant for ILR. If she entered in Jan 2021, then she will be eligible and can apply in Dec 2025, which is within 28 days of completing her 5 years

Great thanks for clarification, just threw us a bit when the evisa said her expiry date was April 2026

[couchsurfer]

Hi

I have a question about my wife’s ILR application.

We are proposing to combine payslips from the past 6 months as she won’t have worked 6 months by the time she applies, so just checking you can do this?

I earn around 34,000 and she earns 44,000, so I would need to provide the following:

• My payslip(s), bank statement & letter from employer for September & October,
• Her payslip(s) and bank statements & letter from employer for Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb

She started midway through Oct so didn’t receive a full salary. I reduced my hours Nov onwards so my salary is around 27,000 from then. I understand they take the lowest amount for the past 6 months, so that puts us at 34,000 so within the requirements.

Is there anything else we should provide? Do I need to provide my payslips/statements for the months (Nov-Feb) when she received a full salary?

Thanks

[zimba]

You only need to combine salaries when one salary does not meet the requirement on its own, not just because you do not have 6 months of payslips. Under category B, you need to demonstrate the requirement in two parts:

1) Your annualised income from your current job should be above the threshold (£18,600+)
So all salary earned in your most recent job divided by the period in which it was earned, then multiplied by 12 must be above (£18,600+)

AND

2) In the last 12 months, you have earned in total, at least the minimum salary needed (£18,600+), so all income earned in the least 12 months from any job held

She satisfies the first requirement on her own. You just need to satisfy the 2nd requirement and add your income only if needed

Checkout category B in the guide and see the evidence required: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... rement.pdf

[couchsurfer]

You only need to combine salaries when one salary does not meet the requirement on its own, not just because you do not have 6 months of payslips. Under category B, you need to demonstrate the requirement in two parts:

1) Your annualised income from your current job should be above the threshold (£18,600+)
So all salary earned in your most recent job divided by the period in which it was earned, then multiplied by 12 must be above (£18,600+)

AND

2) In the last 12 months, you have earned in total, at least the minimum salary needed (£18,600+), so all income earned in the least 12 months from any job held

She satisfies the first requirement on her own. You just need to satisfy the 2nd requirement and add your income only if needed

Checkout category B in the guide and see the evidence required: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... rement.pdf

Ah right thank you for this, last time we applied it was a bit more straightforward!

So if I have read this correctly and the guide, I am going to need to provide evidence to satisfy part 2 as she won't have earnt more than £18,600 in the past 12 months by the time we apply (March), she was out of work before she started her new job.

We have held a decent amount of cash savings for more than 6 months but doesn't look like I can combine this.

I need to basically provide my 12 payslips- March 25-Feb 2026 and accompanying bank statements? The total value will be over 18,600.

[zimba]

If you have earned enough and meet the requirements for 6 months, then you do NOT need her income at all. She can qualify under category A