Letters required for Set(M) 'Indefinate Leave to Remain'

[parvin86]

Hi,
My husband just got 'Leave to Remain' this past may, and we still have over a year and a half to go before applying for 'Indefinate Leave to Remain', but I really don't want to wait that long to get the required letters in order.

We live with my family and plan to move out in december, but currently we have only (individual) bank statements coming here.
We plan to have a joint account set up some time next week.

Here are the letters I think I should have over the next couple of years that I can send.

1) Letter from my mother saying we have lived with her from Jan 2011 - (whenever we move out)

2) 2x individual bank statements dated between may-august 2011 (as this is all we currently have - for 2 different months? Advice please)

3) 2-3? joint bank statements spanning from sept 2011 - may 2013

4) DVLA Letter - (My husband will be applying for a Provisional lisence soon. Is the response letter for this acceptable?)

And after we move out......

5) Tenancy agreement (Can the tenency agreement be in both our names if I am receiving housing/council tax benifit?)

6) TV Lisence

7) 1-2 Electricity/Gas (if no key system) & Phone bills (Can the bills be in both our names if I am receiving housing/council tax benifit?)

I know it works out as more that 6, but more is better right? Or do they prefer an exact 6?
Plus by them its possible they may want more letters, so better to be safe than sorry.

Am I over thinking it? Is this something that comes easy, or am I right in planning it in advance?

Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated.
Thank you.

[Casa]

If the correspondence/documents etc are in joint names then 6 from 3 different categories will be sufficient...assuming they span the full 2 years. If you don't have very much to submit in joint names, then you'll need to provide additional proof to the 6 minimum. Anything is acceptable as long as it shows the name, joint address and is dated. You mention May and then January. If you only have 2 bank statements for the whole of this period and nothing else as proof of address you will need to hunt around for more evidence. Have you received no other correspondence during this time in either names? The letter from your mother is unlikely to be accepted as one of the 6 needed, although it will help to explain the lack of documents.
Utility bills and council tax can be issued in joint names. TV licence is a good proof of address, although it is only issued in a single name.
Regarding the tenancy agreement in joint names, the Council will have to be notified that your husband is living with you and doesn't qualify for Public Funds. If he is earning they will take this into consideration when calculating what you're entitled to.

[parvin86]

You mention May and then January....

The reason I mentioned January is because that is when he moved in with me and my family. I have individual bank statements for each month since then, but considering his 'Leave to Remain' was granted in May, I didn't think we needed evidence for the time prior to that. Is this correct?

Thanks for the help.

[Casa]

You only need the 2 years covered by the spouse visa.

[Casa]

You'll need to produce more than just the bank statements as proof of address from May until now.

[parvin86]

You'll need to produce more than just the bank statements as proof of address from May until now.

Really? Considering they accept 6 letters in 3 different formats, I assumed the would accept the bank statements, especially considering we live with family and don't have any other incoming mail for either of us.

What else can I get? Please advise.

[Casa]

Anything that arrive addressed in either of your names that is dated. Have you had no other correspondence addressed to either of you during these 4 months? Remember the minimum of 6 refers to documents in joint names.
If at the end of the 2 years you're still lacking joint documents you should submit around 6 in each name.
Previously 20 documents were required in joint names. This was reduced to 6 to assist couples like yourselves who live with family.