FLR Financial and Furlough

[Guemlum]

We will be applying for my wife's FLR early Jan 2021. The financial evidence that will be provided with the application will be based on the most recent and complete financial year which would be 2019/2020. I have no issues with the financial year in question and more than meet the criteria.

 

However, I am an employee of my own LTD company and have been furloughed since the end of March 2020. I only take a minimal salary of £916 per month and the government has been paying 80% of this through the CJRS.

 

Part of the online application for the FLR visa asks for "Evidence of ongoing employment as a director of the company or of ongoing dividend income from the company at the date of application for Mr xxxx xxxx at xxxxxxxx Ltd".

 

As I am not taking dividends for the financial year 2020/2021 and am simply taking a salary, and can provide evidence via payslips, will being furloughed this year go against us in any way for the forthcoming visa application?

 

Regards

 

Guemlum

[Tony M]

This is the published guidance from UKVI. I guess that means that your salary income will be treated as pre-Covid ? I also guess that this guidance will need to be updated after 31st August.  :

 

Changes to the minimum income and adequate maintenance requirement

If you’ve experienced a loss of income due to coronavirus up to 31 August, we will consider employment income for the period immediately before the loss of income due to coronavirus, provided the requirement was met for at least 6 months up to March 2020.

If your salary has reduced because you’re furloughed, we will take account of your income as though you’re earning 100% of your salary.

If you’re self-employed, a loss of annual income due to coronavirus between 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2020 will generally be disregarded, along with the impact on employment income from the same period for future applications.

 

[Guemlum]

Thanks Tony M.

 

Whilst there will be a loss of income for me up to the 31st August and possibly for the rest of this year, the supporting financial evidence as a LTD company has to be based on the most recent and complete financial year, which in our case would be 2019/2020. On that basis, I'm assuming we will be OK.

 

Like you say, beyond the end of this month needs to be updated and clarified. I think I'll give UKVI a call this week.

 

Regards

 

Guemlum

[Guemlum]

So I spoke with 3 different staff members today from the UKVI and none of them were able to or allowed to give me a definitive answer.

 

Still unclear whether my salary for 2020/2021, which will be lower than £18,600 and will be used as ongoing evidence will be taken into consideration as a Director or employee of a specified limited company in the UK as I'm not taking any dividends. My previous full financial year is more than 4 times the financial requirement.

 

Any thoughts guys?

 

Regards

 

Guemlum

[Tony M]

 I'm not really sure what you are asking us.   You said that you will be using your 2019/2020 financial year for the application ?  If so, you need to show income above 18,600 GBP in that financial year. Either from salary or dividends, or both. If you receive both, then you must provide the evidence of both, even if you are only relying on one for the application. 

 

Your 2020/2021 income or dividends, or both will not be used in meting the financial requirements of your application in any way, except as evidence on ongoing self-employment.  The financial evidence for the actual application can be from one financial year only (or two consecutive years if you want to use an average).

 

Who did you speak with at UKVI ? If you called the Contact Centre, then they weren't even UKVI staff.

[Guemlum]

Thanks Tony...the answer I was looking for has been answered in your most recent reply. 

 

Regards

 

Guemlum