Online Booking With Border Agency!

[chriswatson]

Hi,

We are trying to set up an appointment for an ILR using Border Agency's new online booking process.

We registered and got sent our log in details, but we can't log on with them and we keep getting "locked out" for 24 hours after each third "failed attempt".

When you call the office number, it refers you to register online.

It's now been a week since we first registered :D

We're not exactly technophobes and I can't for the life of me see what we're doing wrong.

Has anyone else had similar problems, or can suggest who to contact to resolve this?

Cheers

[7by7]

I'm sorry, but not surprised, to hear that you are having problems.

It seems that when any UK government department introduces a new IT system they have problems!

Have you considered applying by post? The upside is that it's £200 cheaper; the downside is that postal applications can take up to 6 months, though I believe 3 to 4 months is average. Even if it does take 6 months, unless you are going to need your passports during that period, it seems to me that a postal application is the better option; I'm always loathe to give the government more money than I have to!

[chriswatson]

I'm loathe to give anyone more money than I have to

We'd certainly need our passports during this period, plus we would be trying our best to work to very tight deadlines so we can get out the UK ASAP so was planning on taking all the short routes - even if they are far more expensive.

Maybe we'll try registering again, with wife's maiden name...

[7by7]

we would be trying our best to work to very tight deadlines so we can get out the UK ASAP

Are you talking about a short term absence from the UK or longer?

If an ILR holder is out of the UK for more than 2 years the ILR will lapse.

If living outside the UK and using the ILR for visits, then if it came to the attention of immigration that she was not actually resident in the UK her ILR could be revoked.

If her ILR were to lapse or be revoked then she would need visit visas to visit or if you returned to the UK to live she would have to start the whole settlement process again.

So if your plan is to live outside the UK in the near future, I would suggest that you forget about her applying for ILR and save the fee. If her current leave to remain is going to expire before you leave then I suggest that she applies for FLR, which lasts for two years and is cheaper.

If time allows, obtain ILR and once she has ILR and been in the UK for 3 years she could apply for British citizenship. Once granted, citizenship cannot lapse nor be revoked; except in very exceptional circumstances; such as conviction of a terrorist offence!

If you are merely thinking of a temporary absence then ignore the above. ILR holders are, of course, allowed out of the UK for visits etc.!

However, if she does plan to apply for citizenship at some point, remember that to meet the residential qualification for citizenship she must have spent no more than 270 days in total out of the UK during the last three years with no more than 90 days in the final year.

Edited October 24, 2009 by 7by7