ILR SET(O) Success. Help for SET M.

[go2khurram]

ilrdep, evershineforu & shendean - You guys are my heroes

My wife successfully got her ILR today in Solihull Special thanks to these guys and thanks to everyone in this forum. Here is our story:

Feb 5 - By luck, got an appointment at Solihull for Feb 7 12:00.
Feb 6 - Preparing all documents especially cohabitation and sponsor(me) docs.
Feb 7 - Drove to Solihull. Reached there by 11:10. Parked in John Lewis. A very short walk to the destination (had to ask couple of people around though).

Went in at 11:30. Security checks and was asked to sit down. At 12:03, we were given a token. Just that the process was really slow. So we got called at 1:15 pm. Went to a lady case worker for the interview who was very friendly and this is what happened there:

CW: Who is the main applicant?
Me: My wife is the main applicant.
CW: So are you the dependent in this application?
Me: Nope. She is the only applicant. I have just accompanied her. I already got ILR few days back.
CW: You could have applied together. You could have saved some money
Me: True. We initially thought we will go for the postal application for her.
CW: Oh yes. Is it because of the 2 year issue? Dont worry. It's fine for your case.
CW: Can I see the application form, photos and passports plz?
We: Gave the form with the photos in envelope. Gave her passport, mine and my BRP card with all photocopies.
CW: You can have the payment page. I shall come back to that later. Can I have your marriage certificate plz?
We: Gave it along with copies. Then gave wife's LITUK pass letter with copy too.
Me: May I know how much she scored?
CW: (Laughed). Do you know how much you scored while you applied for your ILR?
Me: Yes.
CW: (Laughed again). So you want to know if she scored more than you
CW: How much was ur score?
Me: I scored 23.
CW: And she has 23 as well
Had a good laugh here talking something related to this.
Me: Here are my earning proof letters (Letter from accountant, payslips, bank statements).
CW: Had a quick look. Thats ok. You already have your ILR. So need not be so detailed like this.
CW: Do you have documents to prove that you both are living together for the past 2 years?
We: Gave around 80-90 letters. We had it separated into 4 quarters, each labeled for 6 months. She smiled, took 6 out of the whole bunch. And said we had a lot. And that's enough for her.
CW: Good, That's done. You can take the payment page to Counter 6 for payment. And after 20 mins to Biometrics. Have a good day.
(And few laughs about some comments, etc.)

Went to the counter. We had a Santander card for payment. We asked the bank the previous day. They said they cannot guarantee the payment but mostly should be fine. They just randomly reject but we can call the bank to authorize if something like that happens. So we were a bit tensed about that. Once payment paper was given, we were asked to sit down again.

Sat for another 10 mins, called for biometrics. Did biometrics. Then was asked to take a break for an hour and come back. Came back after 45 mins. Waited there for another half an hour and by 4:30, we were called. And they said to my wife that she got her ILR. Hurrayyy

I did my ILR at Liverpool and my wife's at Solihull. Both centres were very different.

1. Payment taken before application review in Liverpool.
Payment taken later once application is ok to proceed in Sol.

2. Staff very friendly in Sol. Highly recommended for PEO.
Liverpool staff - Lady who reviewed my case was quite rude. Not that friendly there.

3. Liverpool PEO is very quick. My case was quite complicated but still whole process completed within 1:45 hours.
Sol PEO - Very slow. Took 4:30 hours in total for a not-so-complicated case. So be prepared with snacks/water/etc.

4. Liverpool PEO environment was quite nice. Big office.
Sol PEO - Small office. Crowded.

Thanks to everyone. And good luck to all.

Regards
Abdul

Hi Abdul,

Is the CW ignore two days in your wife case? Or this was not actual requirement. I have a similar case I am enter 92 day late after my EC date while you can a person have to come in 90 days to qualify the ILR after completion of 5 year visa. So of the sr. members suggest me to apply via postal application coz PEO CW will not consider my case.

Thanks

[abdulcoolguy]

Hi go2khurram. My wife was short of 2 days to apply within her 28 days of expiry date. And she came to UK in 15 days after she got EC. Also she didn't make many holidays outside UK during thees 2 years. All these together would have made the CW think that the 2 days could be considered. Again depends on the CW.

I think your case is a bit different. Entering UK 3 months after getting the EC might be considered as leave of more than 3 months in a year. And that should have been easily visible to the CW which made him/her think that postal application would be a better option. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Regards
Abdul

[Kevin24]

Thanks ilrdep. Shall keep you guys updated.

Hi! Congratulations. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Is it possible to post the list of documents you submitted to the CW . Will certainly help others, who are on Tier 1 visa to get their ILR.

[abdulcoolguy]

Hi Kevin24. Thanks. Here is the list of documents I submitted:

For me:
1. Appointment Confirmation letter - Not asked
2. SET(O) form with photos in envelope (had copy of form too. But CW didn't ask for it).
3. Passports & copies of all pages
4. LITUK test certificate and copy
5. Marriage certificate and copy
6. Earnings Proof (& copies of all the below)
a. Letter from accountant
b. 12 months current account statements
c. 12 months payslips
d. Dividend vouchers
7. Tax documents (& copies)
a. P60 for 5 years
b. Receipts for PAYE, VAT & Corporation Tax for both companies
8. Company documents for both companies (& copies)
a. Incorporation certificate (was specifically asked for these).
b. VAT registration certificate
c. Profit & Loss statements
d. Bank statement highlighting invoice amounts, salary transfers and tax payments (CW liked these and checked the transfers).
8. Absence sheet (because I had close to 150 days absence spread over 13-14 different travels). CW didn't take this. She counted it from the form manually.
9. Points calculation sheet. - Not asked
10. Tier1 extension confirmation letter - Not asked

For my wife who applied separately as a main applicant after I got ILR:
1. SET(O) form with photos. Category in the form ticked as 'Other purposes' and reason stated as 'PBS dependant of ILR holder XXXX with BRP card XXXXXXX'.
2. Passports (mine & hers with my BRP card) and copies.
3. LITUK test letter (&copy)
4. Marriage certificate (&copy)
5. My earnings proof - Not asked.
a. Letter from accountant
b. 6 months bank statements
c. 6 months payslips
6. Cohabitation docs for 2 years
a. Joint council tax statement
b. Joint water bill
c. Joint bank account statements
d. Wife's personal account statements
e. My personal account statements
f. NHS cards
g. Poll cards
h. Job center plus letters
i. NI & other HMRC letters
j. Phone purchase invoice
k. Her maternity letters
l. Sky statements
m. Motor documents
We split this into 4 groups each spanning 6 months. And the CW just took 6 letters out of this whole bunch. Had copies for all of these but CW didn't take any.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards
Abdul