Standing Firm Fighting For Flr Application

[uk2bkk]

Hi all,

Just wish to share our very recent experience at Croydon submitting my wife's application

on form FLR M.

Firstly as my wife and I arrived to the UK, 4 weeks after the initial spouse visa was granted in Bangkok

(visa granted in 3 days) this was a major concern as she had not completed the required 2

years. This would not have been a problem with a postal application. So we were worried that

a "top up visa" would be granted as reported by others. Having to pay twice.

We applied for FLR as my wife had failed to complete the required life in th UK test or recognised

course so ILR was not an option.

We left submitting the application to the last possible minute to avoid any top up type visa.

This got my wife's employer asking to see a new visa as soon as the current one had expired.

Even when I pointed out, while an application is made her status remains unchanged, they wanted to

see the new visa or she would refrain from work.

So we made an appointment at Croydon. (595 pounds) Fully prepared with a comprehensive

and well organised folder and correctly completed application form. Arrived in Good time for

an early appointment. Wife and 13 month baby in tow.

We passed security, very helpful, very polite, went through to reception to our counter.

The arrogant lady behind the counter asked me to for the application form. Checked

dates on wife's passport, said we should be using form SET M, I replied "wrong" and explained

why. She then asked for all the supporting evidence (20 documents spanning 24 months preferably

from 5 different sources where possible). These were all in date order, date, name and address

all marked with highlighter pen by myself) All indexed from the first page of the folder.

I offered her the folder, she refused and asked me to take them out. Firstly 2006. She then informed

me that we did not have enough. I replied "wrong" showing her the remaining documents.

She then called her supervisor, who came over, they then asked to see docs from 2007 and all

remaining docs. In total I produced 27 documents spanning 23 months both from my wife

and I. This was anticipated 2 years before and I had most the the house utilities put in my wife's name or

joint names.

The supervisor said not enough documents from 2006, specifically from March/April. Now my patience

was running thin I argued, pointing out that we did not arrive till April so why ask for March. I pointed

out and assertively kept stating that there is enough documents there spanning the 23 months.

My voice was getting louder and louder thinking we were to be refused the FLR at this stage. They were not

interested in viewing the folder of remaining documents to support our application including the cover letters

explaining and supporting our application and change of address. I then removed another bag from

underneath the pram and continued to feed even more documents to them.

I had half expected this, trying to keep my cool as I was worried security would eject me but I stated

that there is enough documents there from both of us for the 2 year period. In excess of 45 documents.

To my amazement the supervisor then asked to see out British born sons birth certificate.

Now on the verge of losing my temper, I informed him that our Son was not part of this

application nor subject to Immigration control. He then insulted both my wife and I by stating, but it

should show your name and your wife's name. I shouted to him that this is nothing to do

with this application and lets escalate this matter to his manager. The guy instructed the lady

to lay out all the documents in date order then it was processed, we got our ticket to the first

floor to pay. Paid and went to the second floor, where we we seen immediately. The guy

behind the counter took all documents and the folder quickly thumbed through them then

said he would have a senior member of staff deal with this application.

Why, I said. We are applying for Further leave to remain and not indefinite leave to remain

as my wife has simply not passed the test yet. He replied, OK he could now deal with that.

In other words, he had not read the application in detail and did not read the cover letter.

We left and came back after 1 hour and 30 minutes to collect my wife's passport and new visa.

The letter they gave us with the visa states, Your application for Indefinite leave to remain has been

considered as an application for Further leave to remain. We did not apply for ILR!

This was our experience, they made many error's I will be filing a complaint with my MP about it.

I don't write here often but these people at the Home Office are taking the P$*% out of people.

The PEO upstairs was OK, I had a chat about various new rules that went live on the 29th. He did

not know anything about them.

Furthermore, I have checked and double checked and checked again. If your partner has not completed

the initial 2 years. You can apply for FLR which will give you 2 years (If your initial visa was 2 years).

To be granted anything less is wrong.

Furthermore, I would urge anyone who has a child born here in the UK to investigate "Chapter Seven"

Application on the grounds of access to see the child. It seemed wrong to me that my wife has no rights

to stay in UK to see our child, I looked into this and under EU law, rights to family and chapter seven it can be

be done. Home office always say no, must use the spouse visa route which costs more. I will take this further

through my MP.

Although you can still use form SET M for a FLR M application if your partner has not passed the test or completed a course,

I would urge people to only use form FLR. There is confusion at the Home Office regarding this, it appears that people submitting

on form SET M without 100 weeks in the UK are getting FLR for 4 weeks so they can resubmit the ILR form, paying twice.

This is because they have not read in your application that the test was not passed or course not completed.

Summary,

Some of these people at Croydon do not know what they are doing, the lady at the initial reception was clearly new

and this created and ugly scene causing confrontation, which could have lost my wife's income. The supervisor insulted both of us.

The PEO was on auto pilot mode and did not look at the details. The Staff looked very scruffy while most applicants looked

impeccable.

The floor staff were unhelpful and child unfriendly. Security allowed my wife and I to go up in the lift with the baby, while the

floor staff would only allow one of us to accompany the baby in the lift, <deleted>!

Only the security seemed to be customer focused. If I had not stood my ground and kept my cool we would be

waiting for the postal application to come through, my wife unable to work. Hopefully my wife will pass her UK test

in the very near future and we can get ILR and these people and processes will be done with, once and for all.

There has been many new changes regarding my wife's settlement process in the last 2 years, not once were we

notified directly by the Home Office. This I find is a complete disgrace, they have moved goal posts mid match.

Gordon Brown, you will not get my vote, your shallow, you have gone for soft targets. My town is over run with Eastern

European's who can come here and do as they please for free. There are no ESOL courses here catering for non EU citizens.

But there is a multitude of courses run by the local council for the English speakers to learn Polish. Gordon Brown and Jaquie Smith

you are a disgrace!

I would like to thank all the members of this forum for keeping us all informed. In particular one, Mr Scouse who clearly

is Stickman of Thai Visa's. Thank you.

[vinny]

See also £400 For A Month?, FLR mistake?

[MrsExpat2B]

I understand your frustration. The staff at the reception area where all documentations are checked seems to be the worst part of all. The first time I went there on my own (I was switching my student visa to spouse) I was turned away. The officer insisted that because my marriage certificate wasn't issued in England, they could not decide on my case in the day and that it needed to be sent by post (needed to be passed on to "senior caseworker", I was told) despite having a certified translated copy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in BKK. I should have insisted on speaking to the supervisor but I didn't, my bad I suppose.

Second time, my mother-in-law travelled down from Wigan to be with me, I was seen by the same staff I did the first time and was again turned away as my husband wasn't in the UK at the time. Admittedly they were right (spouse of a person present and settled in the UK), apart from the fact that when I booked an appointment on the telephone I was told it was perfectly ok to just come in with his birth certificate having explained to her clearly that my husband would be out of the UK on that day. This time we spoke to the supervisor who agreed to write me a note saying as it's their fault, I would be allowed to walk-in whenever I wanted. He also offered to check all the documentations so I wouldn't waste my time again the next day.

Third time (the next day), went to Croydon again by myself. Was seen by another officer who checked the documentations which were exactly the same as the first day (including the marriage certificate which was the reason I was turned away), it was fine! So this should have been sorted out since the first time I went there.

I then went on to the first floor then second. Was seen in an hour and left by 11am with no problem at all.

Hope your wife passes her Life in the UK Test soon anyway. There are some websites that allow you to practice it online for free. Just look it up in Google.

[mrbojangles]

There has been many new changes regarding my wife's settlement process in the last 2 years, not once were we

notified directly by the Home Office. This I find is a complete disgrace, they have moved goal posts mid match.

That was my biggest bug bear. They are quite happy to take our money off us but not inform us when they up and change the rules.

Gordon Brown, you will not get my vote, your shallow, you have gone for soft targets. My town is over run with Eastern

European's who can come here and do as they please for free. There are no ESOL courses here catering for non EU citizens.

But there is a multitude of courses run by the local council for the English speakers to learn Polish. Gordon Brown and Jaquie Smith

you are a disgrace!

He won't be getting mine either. And i wonder if he is aware that all of these issues, will make these applicants vote the other way when they eventually have the right to vote. He's alienating them from voting for him at the most stressful time of their introduction to UK society. That memory sticks for a good long while.

I would like to thank all the members of this forum for keeping us all informed. In particular one, Mr Scouse who clearly

is Stickman of Thai Visa's. Thank you.

I don't know whether Scouse will see that as a compliment or not

[the scouser]

I must admit, I've never been called stick-like before.

Scouse.

[scooty]

uk2bkk,

I can only sympathise with you . Things like what happend to you at Croydon drive me absolutely crazy. who are these useless people? they should be sacked . they are supposed to be doing a very important job that affects peoples lives big time , yet they are useless.

Good luck

Scooty

[scooty]

BTW can anyone tell me.If you attend an interview for an application for FLR will the decision always be made on the same day or can they still give a decision a few days after by post ?