ILR Approved at Solihull PEO 21/01/2013

[Harpz]

Hi,

Thought I would share my experience at Solihull today for ILR (SET M) as I have been reading many threads on here to comply our file.

Brief History:

Hubby overstayed on Tourist Visa back in 2005, We both went to India to get married in Feb 2010. We applied for Spouse visa in March 2010. June 2010 visa was refused. January 2011 went appeal hearing and won the appeal. Hubby got spouse visa Feb 2011 and was back in the U.K in Feb 2011.

Booked PEO appointment on 10th Dec for appointment date 21/1/13, appointment was at 10am.

Documents taken:

- SET M form
- Hubby Passport and My British Passport ( Hubby took old passport too)
- Life in UK Test
- Marriage Certificate
- Both Divorce Certificates
- 6 Months Payslips for hubby and myself
- Employment Letter
- Both P60's
- 6 Month's Statement of all bank accounts held
- Proof of Holiday
- Land Registry Document ( proof we own our house)
- 30 Letters covering 2011 and 2012 for proof of cohabitation (took more than enough just in case)
We took photocopies of every document.

Went to the PEO at 9.30am, security asked to see appointment letter and then application form then they did their security checks. We sat down and by 10am we were given a ticket number and was told when your number is called go to the appropriate desk number.

We were called at 10am and went and sat down, HO officer asked who is applying and confirmed name etc then HO asked for application form and then passports.

HO went through form scanning all the pages and then stops at the page where we write about children from previous marriage. Here the HO started questioning me about my child and custody etc etc...after I explained my situation he was fine with it and carried on with application.

HO then asked if Hubby had been in the UK before the spouse visa and Hubby replied yes and then Hubby explained that it was a tourist visa and he overstayed. HO officer asked if HO paid for his departure and hubby said "no, I paid for my own tickets" HO confirmed with hubby if he left voluntarily and hubby said "yes" HO then asked Hubby if he has a copy of previous passport and hubby said "no but I have the original with me" HO said "great" Hubby gave previous passport and HO just flicked through every page and said "thanks" and returned passport.

HO then asked for proof that we are living together and hubby handed over all 30 letters covering 2011 and 2012 and HO went through each document and kept what he wanted too. In total HO kept 7 documents.

HO then asked for 3 months previous payslips or bank statements. Hubby gave last 3 month payslips for himself and HO looked at them and then returned them straight away.

HO then asked me if I was happy in the marriage and explained that they are there to look out for me and also said to my hubby we are also here to look out for you but your wife is the main concern. I told the HO that I am happy and Ho was satisfied.

HO then took my passport and hubby passport with the 7 cohabitation proofs and said he will be back.

HO came back within 5 minutes and then asked that biometrics will be taken next and said this is when we will find out of any criminal convictions and asked hubby if there are any and hubby said "no".

HO said that ILR has been approved and explained the next steps. We went to a different counter to complete payment for biometrics and then we sat back out in reception to be called for biometrics.

We were completed with HO before 10.30am and within 5 minutes we were called for biometrics, here hubby placed his fingers from right hand on to machine then from the left hand then finally the thumbs together. They then took photo of hubby and said that if you go back outside and take a seat and will will call you within 20min once biometrics have been completed and payment as been processed.

After 30 min we were told everything has gone through and were told that we can go out and get something to eat or drink and come back in 2 hours or 1 hour and a half.

We left at 11.30am and grabbed a bite to eat, walked around the town centre and then went back at 13.20pm and our approval letter and documents were ready and told that biometrics will be posted to us and we should receive it within 7 to 10 days.

HO did not even want all the documents that we took along, in the end only took the 7 cohabitation docs...

Overall great experience and the staff are lovely.

Happy hubby got ILR......

[Mehwishf]

Congrats