FLR, im well confused! please help

[hotwinter]

i have to apply for FLR for my wife soon.

A few questions...

We dont live at the address we applied for the original visa at, was i ment to notify them of this? If so, who and how?

Looking at what i need for FLR, it mentions BRP card... never even heard of this before. Had a look at getting one and it says I should of been sent a letter with a barcode on to get one. We never received one of them. Do i need it? Again, if so, how do i get the barcode letter to get the BRP card.

again with the BRP card, we need to get a new passport, i read we need the BRP to move the visa into a new passport?

With regards to NHS surcharge, this didnt exist when i applied for the visa, do i have to pay for the last 2 and half years (settlement) and the next two and a half years (FLR)? (£1000)

english test! my wife did a bulats english test in bangkok when we first applied for settlement, can i use this or does she have to take another test?

sorry for all the questions, when i applied for settlement, it was nice and simple. now its all jibberish to me :/

[magicroundabout]

I'm doing my Flr as well at the moment here's my thoughts.

bulats test is ok

Nhs surcharge will be 500 (you only pay for the extension)

The BRP letter will be issued to you after you send the application form (there is a part to complete in the form)

I don't think the change address matters (I never informed them).

I'm sure someone will correct if any of above is wrong.

[naruk86]

Need proof of you living together at the previous address.

You get your first brp card with the flr visa.

£500 for NHS surcharge

Bulats ok. Still put the certificate and copy in the application though. Maybe you could add a note with this quote to support why Bulats is acceptable.

"32D. If an applicant applying for limited leave to enter or remain under Part 8 or Appendix FM submits an English language test certificate or result and the Home Office has already accepted it as part of a successful previous partner or parent application (but not where the application was refused, even if on grounds other than the English language requirement), the decision-maker may accept that certificate or result as valid if it is: (a) from a provider which is no longer approved, or ( b ) from a provider who remains approved but the test the applicant has taken with that provider is no longer approved, or © from a test centre which is no longer approved, or (d) past its validity date (if a validity date is required under Appendix O), provided that when the subsequent application is made: (i) the applicant has had continuous leave (disregarding any period of overstaying of no more than 28 days) as a partner or parent since the Home Office accepted the test certificate as valid; and(ii) the award to the applicant does not fall within the circumstances set out in paragraph 32B of this Appendix."

Not sure about being in trouble for moving address, I think I sent an email because no idea who to tell.

Edited October 26, 2015 by naruk86

[durhamboy]

My wife just got her FLR approved in very similar circumstances - BULATS English, new BRP and NHS Surcharge. Everything said by magicroundabout & naruk 86 is correct.

I very much doubt your change of address is an issue. Just send them details of the new property for them to assess if it is adequate accommodation.

[naruk86]

Congratulations durahamboy

[hotwinter]

Thanks guys, been in a bit of a flap over these few issues. You have put me at ease!

one more thing, we have to give letters addressed to us (joint accounts etc) or separate. We only have contract for the house with both names on and nothing more. So i trying to gather 6 letters to each of us, not a problem for me as i pay the bills, she has minimal letters to our address.

do i need six to both addresses we have lived at or just for our recent address? It does say letters spread across the term she has been in the UK.

[Richard W]

do i need six to both addresses we have lived at or just for our recent address? It does say letters spread across the term she has been in the UK.

You will use stuff addressed to you to back up the claim that you two lived at the same address.

Once your wife has a BRP, she will have to notify changes of address to the Home Office. The general assumption is that the need ceases once she becomes British, but I couldn't find any evidence of that when I looked into it.

Edited October 27, 2015 by Richard W

[wooloomooloo]

one more thing, we have to give letters addressed to us (joint accounts etc) or separate. We only have contract for the house with both names on and nothing more. So i trying to gather 6 letters to each of us, not a problem for me as i pay the bills, she has minimal letters to our address.

do i need six to both addresses we have lived at or just for our recent address? It does say letters spread across the term she has been in the UK.

Pretty straightforward. Three letters (i.e. utilities, council tax, NHS doctors/hospital, bank statements etc.) evenly spaced out over the first year and same again for the second, addressed to you both or your wife alone. Official correspondence addressed only to you obviously won't fulfil the requirement.

The joint tenancy agreement is as good a start as any.

If your wife can't meet the criterion in full then you'll have to muddle through as best you can and explain away the omissions succinctly. If it comes to that, keep it brief and to the point.

[hotwinter]

hello again, thought it would be better to keep all my questions to one post.

do i need to write a cover letter for FLR? seems everything i would put is pretty much answered in the application form

[7by7]

Only if you want to tell them something not covered by the form.

[TCA]

Rather than start a new topic I'll ask a very basic question or two here, with apologies to the OP for using his thread.

For my wife's initial visa (leave to enter) application (via VFS) in Thailand, we submitted two A4 folders, one containing original documents and an identical folder full of copies. For further leave to remain, obviously I'd be wise to keep copies of important original documents, but am I right in thinking that there's no requirement for copies to be sent to the Home Office with form FLR(M)?

And presumably no need for photos of us together to prove the (continuing) relationship as previously included?

Edited November 29, 2015 by TCA

[7by7]

A documents sent in support of an FLR application should be originals; there is no need to send copies. Your documents will be returned.

Photographs of you both together are not required (they weren't really required for the initial visa application either). However, you do need to provide letters addressed to you both at the same address covering the last 30 months to show that you have been living together; see 'Your relationship' in section 13 of the form for what is required and examples.

[TCA]

Thanks 7by7. Hadn't seen any guidance on sending two lots of everything (as we did for VFS Thailand), so that's a few trees saved and more importantly a lot less work.

We should be OK for jointly addressed letters and having moved house recently will have a few different ones from the new address as well. Presumably they won't mind a mix from the two addresses to reach the required quota.

Edited November 30, 2015 by TCA

[naruk86]

Just got back from our appointment all passed. Thanks for all the help on here