Quote Originally Posted by Abigail View Post
In fact I was just reading over the guidance notes and it doesn't say exactly when, all it says in various places on the government web site is...

'5. When to apply
You and any children under 18 applying with you should apply before the end of your/their permitted stay in the UK.'

Once you apply your current visa will remain in force until they make their decision on your new application

Abigail, please read this:

10.4. Granting leave to remain as a partner

Where an applicant is applying to join or extend their leave under the 5-year partner route to settlement in the UK and they meet the requirements of R-LTRP.1.1.(a) to (c), the applicant will be granted leave to remain as a partner under D-LTRP.1.1. for 30 months on a 5-year route to settlement, subject to a condition of no recourse to public funds.

If an applicant granted leave to remain as a partner is receiving their first grant of limited leave on the 5-year route (rather than their second grant following an earlier grant of entry clearance as a partner under Appendix FM), the applicant should be advised they will need to make an application for further leave to remain as a partner of 30 months. They should make their application no more than 28 days before their leave is due to expire. They may be eligible to apply for settlement after completing 60 months (5 years) with leave to remain as a partner.

*** Page 39 of

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...e_guidance.pdf
The statement above is quite confusing though. To make it simple: The spouse visa given when you applied in the Philippines will have 33 months of validity. The eligibility for applying your extension is 28 days before your 30th month.

Now, the case is a bit different if the partner arrives to the UK with a fiance(e) visa. After getting married, he/she needs to apply for FLR(M) or Further Leave to Remain and it will have 30 months validity. For the extension of that (another 30 months), eligibility of applying the 2nd FLR(M) is 28 days before the expiry date of the current FLR(M).