ILR Application. Please help.

[Booboo86]

Hi Everyone! I just passed my life in the UK Test this week. My partner and I are just getting our documents ready. I arrived in the UK 24/04/2011 and applied shortly for FLR that was granted and issued on 05/09/2011, valid till 16-08-2013. My first question is, when is the right time to submit my application? I've called the settlement application service but still no reply from them. We are submitting my application through the settlement checking service. My second question is, when and where do I pay for the visa fee? Third question, because Im a bit confused, am I paying the £851 or the £1051? I hope you guys will manage to send me your replies. Thanks and regards. x

[Michael Parnham]

Hi Booboo, I'm sure someone will give you the answers you need soon, Good luck!

[joebloggs]

the soonest you can apply is upto 28 days before your current visa expires
so 16-08-2013 - 28 days is 19th july.
and the latest date is that they should receive it before your visa expires on the 16th Aug

if you are using the settlement checking service i think they take the payment when they checked your app and its all ok,

i think its £1,051 and also you need to pay for using the settlement checking service.

[mickmyrna]

the soonest you can apply is upto 28 days before your current visa expires
so 16-08-2013 - 28 days is 19th july.
and the latest date is that they should receive it before your visa expires on the 16th Aug

if you are using the settlement checking service i think they take the payment when they checked your app and its all ok,

i think its £1,051 and also you need to pay for using the settlement checking service.

[Arthur Little]

Firstly ... congratulations on your success in the 'Life in the UK Test' - no mean feat - considering its high pass mark of 75%!

Secondly ... 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' is simply an extension of the Spousal Visa - and/or (in cases like yours) FLR. Once *ILR's attained, it means you're no longer subject to UK Immigration restrictions and can choose to live here permanently.

Similarly, *it's the penultimate step to applying for naturalisation
... otherwise known as British Citizenship. I see Joe has ALREADY outlined the procedure - as well as the earliest [and the latest] qualifying dates pertaining to your eligibility for submission of the papers required which, as he mentions, may be done through the NCS ('National Checking Service') by prior arrangement with your nearest Local Authority.

Thirdly ... here's the really good news:

Because of the timing of your forthcoming application, there'll be NO NEED for you to take the Revised English Test(s) due to be introduced with effect from October.

[Booboo86]

Thank you!

[Booboo86]

Joebloggs thank you very much. I@ve phoned the settlement checking service here in Edinburgh and emailed them last week but no reply yet :(

[Booboo86]

Firstly ... congratulations on your success in the 'Life in the UK Test' - no mean feat - considering its high pass mark of 75%!

Secondly ... 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' is simply an extension of the Spousal Visa - and/or (in cases like yours) FLR. Once *ILR's attained, it means you're no longer subject to UK Immigration restrictions and can choose to live here permanently.

Similarly, *it's the penultimate step to applying for naturalisation ... otherwise known as British Citizenship. I see Joe has ALREADY outlined the procedure - as well as the earliest [and the latest] qualifying dates pertaining to your eligibility for submission of the papers required which, as he mentions, may be done through the NCS ('National Checking Service') by prior arrangement with your nearest Local Authority.

Thirdly ... here's the really good news:

Because of the timing of your forthcoming application, there'll be NO NEED for you to take the Revised English Test(s) due to be introduced with effect from October.

Arthur, thank you! I know and I've been worried about it too. I thought I'm gonna have to take another English Test. lol! And about the life in the UK Test, I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't get to know the actual score, and they just give you a certificate saying you've passed the test. I would love to know my score. Another worry I've got is the maintenance fund, the thing is, my partner had an early retirement last year and he's been out of work. He gets pension everymonth and we have £20,000+ in the bank on our joint account. I work full time in a nursing home and doing bank ina day care centre. We've calculated our earning per year and we get more than the requirments of £18,600. Also, looking at Border Agency website, it seems like the Maintenance Fund of £18,600 would only apply for people who applied to come to the UK as a partner after before 8 July 2012? Where in my case, I came to Uk and applied for FLR in 2011. We don't have dependents, we have a house and owns a car, and we don't ask help from public funds or gets any form of benefits. Thanks for all your help everyone, very much appreciated.

[Arthur Little]

And about the life in the UK Test, I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't get to know the actual score, and they just give you a certificate saying you've passed the test. I would love to know my score.

... 'twould be a nice gesture on the Examiners' part to give *applicants at least SOME as to how they'd fared. Boost *their morale, so to speak, after all the long, tedious study it entailed.

Perhaps Testers are forbidden by the Home Office from providing such information ... as it seems.