pennylessinindia

the point I was trying to make was you should show you intend to travel around the date you say

roaringmouse

They simply ask for date of intended travel, nothing more. It's something that can easily change due to processing times, or other factors including delaying travel due to changing your mind about when to go. With ILE, if it's granted, there's a bit more flexibility due to not having to apply 2 years down the track like the usual spouse visa.

TomInHongKong

Heck, if it means we can get the visa before the rules change, we'd be happy to move by Easter. Or at least, fly back at Easter and start arranging furniture and popping in to see some recruitment companies etc. Not 100% certain that all loose ends in Hong Kong could be tied up by that time, but it wouldn't take more than a couple of trips back and forth.

Tr1boy

Yes most likely, but the timing is craptacular, because Mrs TB's spouse visa expires mid March, she she needs to travel to Korea for some family business around the same time, and of course needs to be let back into the UK after that. Due to my ongoing spinal surgery (looks like a 2nd op) we can't go back before that.

So our only option is to go for ILR. But having said that, returning is not set in stone for this year, so whilst expensive, ILR does give us breathing, thinking, recovery time.

pennylessinindia

yes but you can not apply now and say you wish to travel in December, that is the point I was making