FLR Saga (Part 2) Further Leave to Remain (M) Experience

Hello my British Filipino Friends!

Just so you know I have just been granted my 2nd FLR yesterday. We did the premium service in Cardiff Home Office-- same place where we applied the 1st one. I would've opted the postal service but my husband can't sleep without knowing straight away.

Even though we know our application is straightforward, there were still a number of things I was concerned about. The English Language test for one. It is because the rules seem to change every 6 months in the UKVI website. Anyway, as advised by some of the helpful members here ( you know who you are ), I still carried on submitting my expired IELTS Academic test results. No one questioned about it in the Home Office. But, I am still planning to re-take IELTS for work purposes. I still need improvement with my writing. Only got 6.5, I need a 7! ( Give me strength).
Another one is the update of our addresses because UKVI didn't provide me any confirmation when I tried to update my address in my BRP the 1st time we moved. So I can't show any proof that I did it online and I even sent a postal update with recorded delivery. ( We lived in 3 different addresses in a span of my almost 3 years stay here in the UK).

Compared to our less-than-2-hours 1st FLR application, it took us 5 freaking hours this time. Husband and I didn't expect it to be so long, we didn't have something to eat because we were too excited Got there at 11: 15am, came out at 4:15! And we weren't told to go out unlike the other applicants. So we just assumed it would be the same as last time ( Quick---NOT). Good thing I packed loads of food for my 17 month old and my mum-in-law was there to look after her too. Our toddler was incredibly good the whole duration of our wait in there. We just brought a colouring book and pens to keep her occupied.

Interview

The case officer had a quick word with us just to clarify the information we provided ( our daughter's birth). I did not fill out the section for dependent children because I though she is not included in the application. But she told us we must fill it out though it doesn't affect the financial threshold we have to meet to which with my husband's income we could apply with 2 or more children! Our daughter was sleeping in my arms and snoring while she was talking to us. She also said that our little one made our case stronger as proof of genuine relationship.

Final Check

We had a bit of confusion with our address. The officer who sent the info for my BRP placed our previous address and told us that my BRP will take longer to arrive because he had to cancel it. My fault too because I put the other correspondence as the previous address. It wasn't the way I understood it when I filled out the form. I'm not going anywhere so I didn't mind. It says in the grant to contact them if it won't arrive in 10 working days anyway. So future applicants, you should double check if you have recently moved houses.

Documents (not in particular order)

> Application Booking Checklist
> Filled-out FLR (M) Application Form
> passport-sized photos of applicant (2) and sponsor (1)-- placed in small sealed envelope and inserted in section 1 of the FLR (m) form
> e-mail confirmation of booking an appointment
> IHS payment confirmation
> Sponsor and applicant's previous and current passports
> Sponsor, applicant's and daughter's birth certificates
> Applicant's BRP letter
> BRP ID card
> Marriage certificate
> Sponsor's registration certificate as British citizen
> Applicant's English (IELTS) results
> Sponsor's bank statements
> Sponsor's payslips
> Sponsor's P60
> Sponsor's employment contract
> Accommodation details: tenancy agreement, House inventory and condition report
> Proof of correspondence: tenant insurance, council tax, tenancy agreement, bank statement, P60, letters from doctors

All provided with copies. The case worker emphasised her relief of how we presented our documents. She said we made her job easier. Five hours eh? Stop me from moaning I got the grant okay?

After that, I requested to go to Nando's and ordered a half-chicken with loads of rice!

Hope this post helps future applicants somehow.


My next long post would probably my journey to ILR

Yay well done. Congratulations

Thank you Brom27! And thanks for your help!

Great news

Congratulations

out of interest--you mentioned paying the IHS fee... but surely you didnt pay that with your first FLR did you ?

Congratulations Anne!!!

Nope. I got away with it the 1st time.

Congrats @Anne !!

Hi Anne. Hope you and the family are keeping well. Congrats on the FLR.

The 1st FLR only took us almost 2 hours to get the decision but my BRP ID card arrived in 7 working days.

I just got mine today ( 3rd working day) from a 5-hour wait application on Tuesday.

Hello HaloHalo, Your account name makes me crave for halohalo. Lol!

Yes, we are doing good. Thank you! Enjoying motherhood.

Hope you are keeping well yourself.

Yes we're all doing good thanks.

Yess the little one keeps you busy Im sure

Missing halohalo? Someone needs a trip home

Oh yes, she is the main reason I got a colourful social life here in the UK

I would love to go home but husband and I are not too brave taking our little miss to the Philippines yet. Thinking about Dengue fever and tummy bugs just put us off.

Yep that's a genuine concern. We took the two girls home last year and the eldest came home with a virus. They were great travelling on the planes. Young enough to get lots of sleep at that age. The heat took it out of them a bit, me too if Im being honest, felt kapoy/pagod a lot

After nearly 3 years of my stay here, I just recently felt homesick, to be honest. I wanted my family to finally meet our little one but then again, I'm just too scared what she'll get when we're there.

Totally understand your feelings. Keep family in mind and when you visit I'm sure they will swamp the little one with attention

Congrats Anne!!!
I will be doing mine in 2 months from now. Is it just 6 months of bank statements and house bills that I need to submit?

Thank you.

We submitted 6 months' worth of bank statements because my husband works full time with his current employer for about 3 years now. Unlike before, we had to provide bank statements for 12 months.

Thanks Anne. I think I only need 6 months as well since my husband have the same work as when we applied for my spouse visa.