I'll be applying for my OH's ILR in a weeks time. Busy getting all the documentation together and still need to complete the form. Just wondering if anyone else has been through the process recently and have any tips. Don't want to post this on the immigrationboard website just incase they bite my nose off again. Posting this on the Africa website cos I know there's loads of SA people with British OH's living in the UK so would like their comments. Whalewatcher have you had to apply for ILR for you wife (by the way great to see you back, how's life been treating you?)
Donna

Hi Donna,
You know I don't have an answer for you as I'm still sitting on this side, still trying to sell up!!
But maybe you could answer my questions with regards to the ILR. Is it possible when you apply for the Spouse Visa to ask to be granted a ILE at the same time on condition that the spouse sits the 'Life in UK Citizenship' test as soon as possible after entering the UK, coz if that is the case, then basically as soon as you've written and passed the 'test' you could apply for the ILR, wait 2yrs then apply for naturalisation.....or do I have it all wrong??
Audrey

Hi there Donna. I'm fit and well thanks, and hope you are too. Enjoying the cold weather and looking forward to an idyllic English summer...If you're still in NI perhaps the gulf stream has kept you a little bit warmer.

The OH's ILR came through smoothly. It took about two months to come back. It was all very straightforward. We just sent off the documentation they required. After issuing the initial 2-year ILR I think what they're looking for here, apart from proof of income, is evidence of continuous and ongoing cohabitation. We sent more documents than they required to prove the last point. Better safe than sorry.

Once this was through we went to an EU consulate to get a Schengen visa. It's nice to be able to plan a jaunt to the continent without having to worry about that. Pleasantly surprised to see that with the ILR they issued a Schengen visa valid for three years. By the time it runs out the OH will have a UK passport, so that's an extra bit of hassle we can forget about.

Cheers.

Audrey - heck now you're asking me, I haven't a clue From what I've picked up from reading the forums you don't stand a chance of requesting the ILE at the same time on condition that he'll write the Life Test when entering the UK (JAJ might have an answer on this one, or someone else maybe). I didn't even know about ILE or ILR when I applied for the settlement/spouse visa in SA even though it's only valid for 2 years, I just thought it would be done and dusted when we got here. How doff was I Are you going to go through an agent when applying or just fill in all the forms yourself? I see you're trying your utmost to sell your house and plot - hang in there it will happen eventually!

Whalewatcher - I'm grand thanks. Still in NI and loving it, best decision I ever made although the cold weather can get you down but only if you let it. OH's struggles a bit. He was back in SA for 3 weeks last Feb/Mar and he's over there again for 3 1/2 weeks, arrives back on St Paddy's day (with a tan no doubt).

Great news to hear that your OH's ILR went smoothly. Gives me hope OK have to act a bit blond here as I haven't a clue what a Schengen visa is, maybe you could enlighten me here.

A schengen visa is what anyone without an EU passport needs to be a tourist in the EU 'Schengen area' (apart from the UK and Irish Republic). You can get one from any country's embassy or consulate, and then travel freely from country to country. A bit of googling will elaborate on that description.

Trouble is they can take a while to get, as you have to make an appointment by phone. I've heard of people planning a trip across the English channel a couple of months ahead, yet not getting the visa in time.

Thanks Whalewatcher. Might be a good idea to get him one then. No plans on going anywhere right now as he's due back from SA on St Paddy's day after a 3 1/2 week holiday (lucky bu**er).

Whalewatcher I've just got to ask, did you photocopy all your documents before sending them in? I haven't even collated all of them yet and there's some many already that I'm thinking it's going to cost me a small future to copy them all!!!

If I remember they wanted originals plus photocopies of all documents, although my memory's a bit sketchy now. I think the instruction book is clear though.

Make sure you've got the timing right - the application has to be sent in within the 28 days leading up to the 2nd anniversary of your OH's arrival in the UK.

Did he get the 'Life in the UK' test OK? I certainly couldn't have passed it without reading a few books beforehand.

I remember the settlement visa in SA I had to supply hard copies and photocopies for that application and strangely they sent me back both the hard copies and the photocopies - couldn't figure that one out

Yes he passed his Life in the UK Test and thankfully I bought him the books to study from. I agree with you, I wouldn't have been able to pass it either.

Visa expires 2nd April he arrives back from SA on 17th March so I'll be sending the application off by the end of the week so well within the 28 days. But thanks for the reminder

Just had OH's application for ILR returned saying that our photographs (not taken at the same time nor the same shop) are not in the correct format. But wait for it!!!!! If form is resubmitted after 6th April (only came in the post today so obviously, although letter dated 30 March) we have to pay the difference between the old fee and the new fee. Total peeved off. Why do they always have such a problem with photos. In SA I had to have my photos done three times before they would except them for my British passport.

In Spain I went to a photographer who took the pics exactly as specified by the Embassy .... two weeks later they arrived back to me, rejected by the embassy. I still dont know why. When my wifes were done, same problem.

Go figure! Looking at them again I suppose you could say that you can't see enough of the shoulders... and that's how two different shops have taken them so maybe they have been misinformed I'm going to take the photograph guidance page with me for the next set and compare then there and then and then its .

I had the guidance sheet with me. The accepted pics and the non accepted pics look almost odentical .. I reckon it was just a different person on checking

Well hopefully second time lucky. I reckon they try and make it as difficult as possible to put you off. There's so many hoops you have to jump through. I just can't wait till we get the ILR then it's all done and dusted. (Here's hoping anyway).