FLR(M) - Digital or Postal?

Hi all,

Still carefully making our way through the new online version of the FLR(M) form.
Hoping to get it all cleared up and finalized this week.

1) My wife's Entry Clearance Settlement visa expires on May 27th. Considering today's date, is this okay to submit ASAP, or should we wait until we're into the last 28 days? I've read conflicting comments on this.

2) The online form has mentioned two possible routes for evidence submission. Postal (I guess this is the 'classic' approach) and digital via their "partner". Does anyone have any experience to share with their "partner"? Is it VFS UK? Is it a recommended alternative to postal?

Thanks

Is this set in stone though - considering the stage we are at? I'm sure I have read of people saying that, as the fiance visa is purely entry clearance to get married, you can apply the second you're married. Other people have stated that, as the 6 months in the UK during this period, doesn't count towards duration residing in the UK when applying for further visas, it's recommended to apply immediately upon marriage.

Does anyone have a handy link which confirms the allowed time in which to apply for the first Further Leave to Remain visa?

Thank you.

You can apply as soon as your married

we went for 1st FLR--same day service in person at UKVI Croydon--16 days after we got married. that got her the BRP in the post so she could start working ( and earning !) straight away. also you pay the IHS surcharge so she is covered for NHS treatment.

Okay. Admittedly, I've rummaged through some Gov docs (such as here) and still couldn't find anything which states when you're supposed to apply. So that makes sense.

I have already completed most of the online form, and we're not in a mad rush, so I don't think we'll go premium. I'm sure I also read that recent experiences of trying to book premiums are sending applicants all over the country due to staffing/availability constraints (or having appointments months away)?

How much extra is it for premium service at current?

So, just interested to hear if anyone's used this digital document service yet? It sounds like it'll be way more convenient than posting everything (and having the parcel temporarily lost again!). But if this is a new service... I suppose there could be bugs!

There have been a couple of people used the scanning service and haven't come back with any poor feedback

isnt it £60 extra--for doing their work for them ?

We went yesterday to submit in Croydon 35 Dingwall Road Bedford Point seems they have taken the old method out now as we did not have the option and was forced to use the new service
Ridiculous as I am self employed and I was not going to upload all my paperwork (250+) pages
The place could not cope people were queuing for ages
Ticket system in place
My wife’s appointment was 1530 she eventually got out at 1810 !!!
Staff said due to Post Offices not offering this anymore and they can’t cope as also influx of Brexit as well contributing

I'll be going through this myself in a couple of months time - I had heard this on the grapevine that the entire service has been pretty much digitized, including all the Documents?! So the traditional method (Walk in service) is only available for the Premium service now?

Am i right in thinking that if you go the premium service route you do not have to send documents or upload any,you just take all supporting evidence on the day of appointment.My wife has been here nearly 33 months and our flr is due in july the thing that confuses me is about flr is this the first or second flr application.

if your wife is on a spouse visa then this is her first--and only flr application.

Thanks for the reply.

So once the online application is done and the IHS is paid if we go premium service do we just submit all the documents on the day at the immigration office or do we have to send or upload them first.

do you mean same day service in person at a UKVI office ?

yes thats it i have heard it costs £800 same day service

but--why throw away that sort of money ? you dont need same day service..she already has her BRP. just so long as she applies ( online ) within 28 days of its expiry.

cut a long story short she is a special needs teacher on a rolling 12 month contract so end of term in july she renews her contract so she gets paid, when they have summer holidays but because her FLR is due they have said they cannot renew her contract till she gets her FLR so we are hoping to do same day service so she can renew her contract before they break up for the summer holidays.

That sounds a bit harsh, the last two employers for my wife allowed her to work whilst her application was under consideration, so long as it was submitted and received. I thought this was acceptable practice.

But then again, she wasn’t on a fixed term contract which you’ve stated

Might be harsh but I understand the education authority you don’t pay someone over the summer holidays then come September when they go back to school you find they did not get a successful outcome