Help Please Getting Ready For Ilr

[aland2012]

Hello All.

My wife has a Spouse Visa, valid from 25/07/11 - 25/10/13, She arrived in the UK 4/9/2011. She had to go back to Thailand for 22 days within the visa time. I understand she has to do 24 Months in the UK before we apply for the ILR Visa. When sould we start applying for the ILR.

We have been trying to do the Life in the UK test but she has failed 4 times now, she has another test 6 March. At home she gets 95% on the ipad and computer, but in the real test no luck yet.

I starting too worry now....... as you all know the new Life in the UK test starts 25 March, with new questions.

Can anyone help and give me advice on what we can do now..... please.

Feel like we are running out of time....

Alan

[Stanaris]

Hi Aland

First of all stop worrying too much.

It is correct that your wife should have been in the UK for 2 years which means your application would be in the last month of her visa but as soon as she applies then her visa is automatically extended until you get the results.

The life in the uk test, I know what you are going through. My wife, who has just applied for ILR failed a few times yet was brilliant at home. We then obtained a life in the uk book in Thai and English and she sailed through. The questions on line and in the test are sometimes worded differently.

The other things I would advise are to make sure you have lots of letters and evidence of your wife living with you over the two years and possibly use the settlement checking service which is available in most areas. We found them very helpful with advice even before we submitted the application. They charge £91.00 when you submit your applicatin through them but well worth it in my opinion as they make sure you have all the info that is needed.

Good luck with the test

[aland2012]

Thanx.... that settlement checking service looks good, nice had a look on the UK Border Website.

I'm I right in thinking she has to have 6 different companies addresed to our home, with joint names or just hers? We have

Council Tax, Water, Ele & Gas together, Mobile Phone, Pay Slip, Bank.

She has passed her ESOL level 1, shame thie is not enough for ILR tho ...

Any other tips please please let me know.

Thanx all the guys

Alan

[Alexuk]

hi guys

help needed as we are here on same boat i been reading the post's and seems everybody knows things about this visa story.

im trying to bring my girlfriend here (uk) (fiancee) on web site says proof of that we will get married here and stay together after married!!how i can prove this?? im self employed who earns 300 to 500 paund a week how can i prove this? and she is 5 months pregnant now i want bring her here bifore baby born!! what sort of letter i should write? i was there 15 days and another 15 days last year! and i waas there for 4 weeks this year stayed in her home! any idea where should i start!!??

thanks

[Stanaris]

Thanx.... that settlement checking service looks good, nice had a look on the UK Border Website.

I'm I right in thinking she has to have 6 different companies addresed to our home, with joint names or just hers? We have

Council Tax, Water, Ele & Gas together, Mobile Phone, Pay Slip, Bank.

She has passed her ESOL level 1, shame thie is not enough for ILR tho ...

Any other tips please please let me know.

Thanx all the guys

Alan

Hi Alan

They just told me to take as many letters as possible and they sort out what is best. We did not have any in joint names so I had to produce letters with my name as well.

It is not necessarily 6 different but they want letters spread over the full 2 years so we used letters from gas, electric and water twice each. Also earlier bank statements were used as proof too.

There is still time for your wife to pass Life in the UK, even with the new questions the test consists of the original ones two. Sometimes it is the luck of the draw on which 24 questions are in the test.

Stan

[Somtamme]

You might wish to double check with UKBA regarding English language and Life in UK. The new rules for pass at Life in UK and B1 kick in from Oct 2013 for all applicants. The soonest you can apply is 28 days prior to expiry of current visa, so it might be your lucky and it's the date of application and submission for ILR which is relevant, not date of expiry.

Also regarding visa checking service, if you include this, you may wish to find a premium booking appointment at a Public Enquiry Office for a further c.£300 without dependents. This will get you a decision on the day. Ours took 2 hrs for the decision last month. But you can only book this no more than 10 weeks before expiry of the visa (UKBA give a 6 week period (42 days) plus 4 weeks prior to expiry of the existing Further Leave to remain).

Finally, with regard to documents I would advise you draft a plan showing the 24 months (rows) with 3 columns for documents in joint names, wife's name and finally your name. This can be placed in the front of the file as a checklist showing the spread of documents over and above the UKBAs ILR requirements (6 letters and/or other documents addressed to you and your partner at the same address as evidence that you have been living together during the past 2 years).

[7by7]

Alan, people are allowed out of the UK whilst qualifying for ILR, so the 22 days she spent in Thailand wont increase the time she needs to spend in the UK before she can apply for ILR.

In the OP you say that your wife arrived in the UK on 4/9/2011, so her 24 months will be up on 3/9/2013. Therefore she can apply for ILR under the old language requirement; either an LitUK test pass or satisfactory progress on an ESOL with citizenship course. Especially as she can actually apply, as Somtamme says, up to 28 days before 3/9/2013; i.e. early August.

Be aware, though, that if she hasn't met the language requirement (old or new) before her current visa expires (25/10/13) then she will not be able to apply for ILR (well, she could apply, but it will be refused!) and will have to apply for FLR instead to give her more time to meet the requirement.

You say that she has passed ESOL level 1; did this include citizenship materials? If so, and she attended an accredited college, then this is sufficient; provided she applies for her ILR before 1/10/13.

See under 'ESOL and citizenship course' on this page.

[aland2012]

Thank you so much guys as always for being here for us.

My wife failed the Life in the UK Test again.

BUT Yes she has passed her ESOL level 1 in Thailand which was needed for the Spouse Visa, and she done it again here in the UK last month, the Results are coming in the post as I am typing this.

So we can use the ESOL level 1 ????

for her ILR before Oct 2013 ???

What do you mean about including citizenship material ????

P.S. I love you guys,

[7by7]

As I said before; if her ESOL course included citizenship materials and she attended an accredited college then this is sufficient; provided she applies for her ILR before 1/10/13.

'ESOL and citizenship course' on this page.

If your English skills are below ESOL Entry 3 level (or Intermediate 1 level in Scotland), and you are not a skilled or highly skilled migrant, you must take an ESOL with citizenship course and obtain a relevant qualification to demonstrate your knowledge of language and life in the UK.

ESOL courses are available throughout the UK. The National Careers Service website can help you find a course at the right level in your area.

The course must be at an accredited college, and must include citizenship materials derived from the document 'Citizenship Materials for ESOL Learners' (ISBN: 1-84478-5424).

You must obtain a relevant ESOL qualification from an approved awarding body, and you must demonstrate that you have made relevant progress.

An 'accredited college' is:

• a publicly funded college that is subject to inspection by Ofsted (if it is in England), the Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland), HM Inspectorate of Education (Scotland), Estyn (Wales); or an inspection programme that has been approved by the Island's Government (in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man): or
• a private college that has been accredited by Accreditation UK, the British Accreditation Council (BAC), the Accreditation Body for Language Services (ABLS) or the Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC).

A college meets the definition of an 'accredited college' if it is accredited on the date when you obtain your qualification, or if it is accredited on the date when your settlement application is decided.

A 'relevant ESOL qualification' is:

• an ESOL qualification in speaking and listening at Entry 1, Entry 2 or Entry 3 level approved by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual); or
• one National Qualifications Unit in ESOL at Access 2, Access 3 or Intermediate 1 level approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

'Approved awarding bodies' in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are:

• Ascentis (formerly Open College of the Northwest)
• Cambridge ESOL
• City & Guilds (Pitmans)
• Edexcel
• Education Development International (EDI)
• English Management Direct (EMD)
• English Speaking Board (International) Limited
• Learning Resource Network (LRN)
• National Open College Network
• Trinity College London

In Scotland, the only approved awarding body is the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

To demonstrate 'relevant progress', your college must confirm that you have progressed by at least 1 level from the level at which you were assessed at the beginning of the course that led to your relevant qualification. For example, if you were initially assessed by your college as being below Entry 1 level, you must obtain a relevant ESOL qualification at Entry 1 level or above.

You should check with your college to ensure that it is accredited as described above, and that the course meets all of the above requirements. If your college is not accredited, or if the course does not meet all of the above requirements, your application will be refused. Your college should provide a letter confirming that the relevant criteria are met. We have drafted a template of the letter (PDF 27KB opens in a new window) which you can use. The college should also provide evidence to show how it meets the definition of an accredited college.

[madmin]

Sorry for butting in Does anyone know, My wife has just taken the ESOL exam for reading and writing is this ok to use for ILR as supposed to speaking and listening exam

[7by7]

If she is applying for her ILR before October 2013 then she can meet the requirrement either by passing the LitUK test or through an ESOL with citizenship course.

If the latter then her ESOL course must have

• included citizenship materials
• been with an accredited college
• resulted in a relevant qualification from an approved awarding body

as per the details in my post above yours.

The college she attended should know if their course and exam meets these requirements.

If applying for ILR from October 2013 then she must have

• passed the LitUK test and
• achieved at least level B1 of the CEFR in speaking and listening.

Edited March 25, 2013 by 7by7

[aland2012]

Hi Guys

Just downloaded the ILR(M) today,

Was thinking of going down the PEO root, but can I book an oppiontment at a Settlement Checking Service place to check all is ok, and then still do the PEO root ??? Can you do this ??? Am I correct in thinking if I go straight to the PEO place, and something is wrong, or I've ticked the wrong box, we would fail the application and not get a refund of £1426.

Alan Day

[malct]

(The college she attended should know if their course and exam meets these requirements.)

I found it just about impossible to get answers from the collage if my wife was doing the correct course, We ended up doing 2 ESOL Entry level 2 courses not knowing if these were the correct course's, My wife has been told that she has passed the local council ran course at the local library (Exam in Feb 2013) and she is still studying at Collage were she will sit the Exam at the end of June.

Both cover Citizenship but both totally different but she will end up with the same qualification if she pass's the 2nd Exam. She was doing so well at the council ran course, they put her through the reading test too and told she passed that one. there is still a fear that she wont pass the collage exam, But we don't need to summit that one and the only reason why she continues to go to collage is to better her English.

​We are still waiting for the Certificate and letter saying about the improvement of her english from the council ran course which should be next month.

[madmin]

Success applied via post ILR in the bag hope you are successful too

[malct]

Good news, how long did you wait for the results

Edited July 5, 2013 by malct

[aland2012]

Hello All

I have noticed that EMD English Management Direct is not on the SET(M) print of under Approved awarding bodies??

My Wife has passed her EMD Entry Level Cert in ESOL International Entry 1.

Which are accredited by ASIC, ASIC are still on the SET(M) form.

It was on there before on the 25/05/2013.

Should I be worried about this???? I know it all changes on 28/10/2013. Got an appointment for ILR 04/09/2013 at PEO

Alan Day

[aland2012]

Just noticed in is on there website EMD approved by ASIC

Hope its just a mistake that it is not on the printed of form SET(M)

[aland2012]

We got ILR,

It was not hard really, you go inside, they check you have form SET(M) and payment details, then they give you a ticket and you sit down wait for you number, like down the Doctors.

You then goto a counter they take your payment details first, then take application form, then all your extra paperwork, then tell you to wait in reception for the biometric photos and fingerprints.

Then they tell you to go shopping or something, and come back in one hour, but keep your phone on in case they call you. remember the phone number on the application form, so I had to tell the misses to stop playing on Line and FaceBook, to save her battery life.

When back in one hour, and straight away she said YES, and have to wait 7 - 10 days for the biometric residence permit ILR card to arrive in the post by courier so they advise not to travel anywhere to not to miss it.

Interesting tho.... I was looking in her passport for a stamp or something but they don't do that. The Card is the Ticket.

I must say that Solihull where we went was Fantastic, the whole experience was easy. From parking the car in John Lewis for £4.80 to the PEO Solihull to the nice shopping centre. It took us and 1h 20 mins to get their.

Just waiting for the post now

Thank You Everybody for your Help, as before with our Holiday Visa, then Spouse Visa, and now ILR. Without this sit where would we be. Chock dii Khrap!!!

[malct]

Great stuff Alan, really pleased for you and your wife

Just putting the Final touches to our application (we Go on Monday 9th sept), Only issue that i now have is Bank Statements, The HSBC have decided to send my wife her statements every 3 month without telling us and we wont be able to show a true statement for her account for the last 6 weeks, I have been in touch with the bank who are sending a statement to our local bank, But i have been told that it wont get to the bank to Monday which is to late.

They wont even stamp and sign a copy statement for us.

I am also submitting statements from other accounts which wont show figures for the last 3 weeks.

I will how ever print off statements up to the 7th September, They can either use them or not.

Malc

[bobrussell]

Take the on-line print outs with the posted statements available. They are aware of the way the banks work!

[thomasteve]

We got ILR,

It was not hard really, you go inside, they check you have form SET(M) and payment details, then they give you a ticket and you sit down wait for you number, like down the Doctors.

You then goto a counter they take your payment details first, then take application form, then all your extra paperwork, then tell you to wait in reception for the biometric photos and fingerprints.

Then they tell you to go shopping or something, and come back in one hour, but keep your phone on in case they call you. remember the phone number on the application form, so I had to tell the misses to stop playing on Line and FaceBook, to save her battery life.

When back in one hour, and straight away she said YES, and have to wait 7 - 10 days for the biometric residence permit ILR card to arrive in the post by courier so they advise not to travel anywhere to not to miss it.

Interesting tho.... I was looking in her passport for a stamp or something but they don't do that. The Card is the Ticket.

I must say that Solihull where we went was Fantastic, the whole experience was easy. From parking the car in John Lewis for £4.80 to the PEO Solihull to the nice shopping centre. It took us and 1h 20 mins to get their.

Just waiting for the post now

Thank You Everybody for your Help, as before with our Holiday Visa, then Spouse Visa, and now ILR. Without this sit where would we be. Chock dii Khrap!!!

great news !!

One query - do they give you a letter the same day to state ILR has been granted (so can do the naturalisation submission) or do you have to wait for the ID card ?

[aland2012]

Yes you get a receipt for the Premium Service showing payment, date, name, address etc. Which is only £1326 on the day because we already paid a £100 deposit to book the appointment.

Plus a letter head with all the information on there about what happens next. With ref number, dates, name etc. You get this letter at the end with all your documentation.

Something I did when I done Onns Holiday Visa ( VAF4A ) was to do an extra one for myself to keep, and I have done the same for the ILR SET(M) application, I done an extra one to keep for myself, as the applications have a lot of information on there for the future. Plus for dates it helped me to remember what I put on the first application I had done for the UK Border Agency.

[thomasteve]

Thanks for the info. It's a good idea to keep a copy of what you submitted especially if you now are going to go on to apply for naturalisation (to get a UK passport).

[aland2012]

The Biometric IRL Card arrived Today 11.00am by a courier in an unmarked van.

So

Wednesday 4th Sept 9.00am Appointment

Friday 6th Sept 11.00am There is a knock at my front door.

Barely 2 Days really, very very fast.

Party Time for me and the Misses. Good Luck to you All out their traveling on the same boat as me.

Alan Day

[thomasteve]

That's very quick work. Naturalisation next ? They will still accept the ESOL option until end of October.

[malct]

maybe well worth the extra money, with the checking service and the bio-metrics included in the price.

I think you will be needing to chill out before thinking of the Naturalisation ;-)

[malct]

Great news today, Mrs T has got her indefinite leave to remain, Spent 4 hours in the PEO (UKBA) office in Glasgow, Handed in the application form and documents, then Simaporn got her finger prints taken and then the long wait for the decision... Happy days and Less Stress.

I dont think our visit was as chilled out as Alans visit, We arrived 40 Minutes before time for the security checks, Then has to go into the office where we were asked what we were applying for and if we had paid the £100.

I was then told that the binder that the paperwork was in was to big and that they may not accept the file in the way it was, so the tip for others, Just throw in all the paperwork into one folder and don't put any effort into making it easy to follow.

Our appointment was at 10:40 and we were finally seen at 11:30, We were called to a window and spoke to a Lady case worker, She asked me to take the paperwork out of the binder and told to wait for the bio metrics. I thought that the paperwork was checked in front of you. Finally got the bio metrics done at 12:00 and the lady was telling us how they had ran out of ink fior there printers on Friday and sent someone to a shop to buy a refill!!!!

anyways, Told to sit back down again and wait, I guess it must have been diner time because they had stopped calling people, anyways, Just after 13:30, We got called up to the desk, This time by a Man and not the case worker who we handed the paperwork over to, he then told us that he had to take my wifes passport somewhere in the office, While he was away, i was trying to read the paperwork that he left on his desk, But could not make out the writing. 5 minutes later, He turned up and he told the wife that her IIR had been granted!!! Happy days ;-) and less stress. Well worth paying the extra and what nice surroundings at the Glasgow POE, Ibrox Stadium and tenament houses, only person i missed was Rab C Nesbitt

Edited September 9, 2013 by malct

[thomasteve]

Great news, congratulations.

By the way, did you pay the balance of £1326 on the day with a credit card ? if so, is the payment taken as soon as you enter or after you've handed over the documents ?

[malct]

The money was taken after we handed over the documents, I did not show my credit card or sign for it, They just take the information of the Application form

[thomasteve]

Thanks for clarifying how it's done and good luck with the next stage of Naturalisation if you decide to apply.