If your Family visa in the UK is nearing its expiration, you’ll need to apply for an extension through the Further Leave to Remain FLR (M) process.
For guidance on visa extensions, FLR meaning, FLR(M) applications, or any other inquiries about UK visas and residency, reach out to our trusted immigration advisers at 02033844389 or get in touch with us online.
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To extend a visa that is about to expire, you need “further leave to remain,” or FLR. Although every visa has an end date, if you want to stay in the UK longer, you need to apply for either a different visa or more time to stay.
If you want to stay longer, the process and form you need to use will rely on the type of visa you have. When you ask for a visa extension, make sure you use the right form. If you don’t, your application could be turned down because the visa is already expired. Also, if you don’t use the right form when you ask for more leave to stay, it could hurt your chances of getting Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This is because you might have to leave the UK if your application is turned down and your visa has already run out while you wait for a decision.Â
The 3 main types used to ask for more time to stay are FLR(M), FLR(IR), and FLR(FP). Learn more about them below.
If you need help with your further leave to remain application or aren’t sure which form to use our immigration solicitors are available for a free phone chat at 02033844389.
There are different ways to apply for more time to stay.
When you apply for FLR, you must meet certain requirements, such as showing proof of your identity and link to a British sponsor (if applicable), as well as meeting financial and housing requirements and English language requirements. There are two ways to get further leave to stay:
With the FLR(M) form, you can ask to stay in the UK as a family member. People in the family, partners, and children of a:
If your FLR(M) application is accepted, you’ll be able to live in the UK for another 30 months. After that, you must be able to apply for ILR. For example, if you have a spouse visa, you can apply for ILR after 5 years.
People who have a child who is a British citizen lives in the UK, or has EUSS pre-settled status may use this form. If a child has lived in the UK for seven years or more and it would not make sense for them to leave, parents can also use this form.
Children can use FLR(M) to apply if:
Along with your Further Leave to Remain form, you will be asked to send a number of supporting papers. Usually, these are:
If you want to renew your visa, make sure you use the right form so you don’t put your stay in the UK at risk. Call us at 02033844389 to talk to one of our immigration lawyers for free.
The rules for getting further leave to remain depend on the type of visa you have now. Here are the most important FLR requirements, divided into groups based on the situation:
Applicants must carefully examine their unique situations to figure out which FLR group is right for them. It’s important to know and meet the exact requirements if you want to extend your visa, get more time off for family or personal reasons, or make it easier to settle in the UK.
Because of how your situation is unique, you might need some other papers to meet the visa standards. It is advised that you speak to an experienced immigration lawyer before you apply for Further Leave to Remain.
Before your present visa expires, you need to apply for a renewal under FLR (M) for a family or spouse visa.
However, you should submit your FLR (M) application no more than 28 days before your visa expires.
This is because if you apply for FLR (M) before this date, you might need to apply for two visa extensions to meet the five-year residency requirement for indefinite leave to stay (ILR).
To simplify the process of applying for permanent resident status (ILR), it is recommended to submit your FLR (M) application before the final 28 days of your visa’s validity. This will ensure that you only need to apply for FLR (M) once to be eligible for ILR, assumig you are on the five-year pathway to ILR.
Your visa will remain valid while the Home Office reviews your application. While you wait for a decision on your FLR (M) application, you can remain in the UK if you apply before your visa expires.
You can submit your Further Leave to Remain application using the official UK government website.
Applying from within the UK requires a valid Spouse or Family visa. The application process requires you to provide detailed information about yourself and any dependent children you are seeking for.
To continue in the UK with the help of a parent, civil partner, spouse, or unmarried partner, you must additionally provide details about them.
Make sure you’ve accurately and completely filled out the FLR (M) form by paying close attention to each and every thing. Be sure to use the most recent version of the form and have both you and your sponsor sign the declarations at the end.
However, in addition to the application price, you may be required to pay some additional fees. A visa extension application through FLR (M) will cost you £1,048.
Among these is the immigration health surcharge, which for each FLR (M) visa renewal application will cost £1,035.
Additional expenses may apply in the event that you are required to re-prove your language skills, such as the cost of an English language test, or the expense of having some papers translated into Welsh or English.
Processing time for FLR (M) typically ranges from two to three months. However, if you pay for the super priority processing option, your FLR (M) application might be handled faster.
This service costs £1000 and guarantees that you will either:
To schedule an appointment at the closest visa application centre, go to the webpage that will be given to you when you submit your online application for a family visa or spouse visa extension.
At this meeting, you will give your biometric information, which includes your fingerprints and a picture of yourself.
Your application will be processed by the Home Office after your appointment. A decision regarding your FLR (M) application will be communicated to you via a letter that you will receive in the mail.
An additional 30 months of permission to remain in the UK is often provided upon approval of an application for additional leave to remain. Within approximately one week of receiving your judgement, you will also be sent your biometric residence permit.
The decision letter will explain the reasoning for the rejection of your application for additional leave to remain. Additionally, you will be informed of the subsequent procedures, including any possible options for appealing the decision.
Many people in the UK, including those with a Spouse visa UK or a Family visa UK, will need to ask for more leave to stay at some point.
This is a necessary step in obtaining indefinite leave to remain and verifying that visa holders are still in compliance with UK immigration regulations regarding their ability to stay in the country.
As a spouse, partner, or children, UK Immigration solicitors can assist you in applying for a UK Family visa or an extension of a UK Spouse visa under FLR (M).
Our firm’s immigration solicitors have extensive expertise in UK immigration law and are highly regarded in the field. With our assistance, you may successfully submit a FLR (M) application for an extension of your family or spouse visa. We will walk you through each step of the procedure, providing tips on how to fill out the form and gather the necessary papers.
If your request for a Family or Spouse visa extension has been denied, we can assist you with filing an appeal or working with you to make sure your next application completely satisfies the conditions for a Family or Spouse visa extension.
To learn more about our offerings and how we may assist you, call us at 02033844389 or send us an email.
Most of the time, a child needs a visa in order to live in the UK. For instance, if their parent is a foreign national working or studying in the country, the child may need a Child Dependant Visa.
The application for Further Leave to Remain (FLR) usually takes about 8 weeks to be decided. However, some cases may be different, based on the details of your visa and how busy the Home Office is. If the visa application is incomplete or contains an error, the process will take a lot more time.
The fee to apply for FLR is £1048, which includes the £624 annual Immigration Health Surcharge fee. Depending on the type of ticket and the event, you may have to pay extra fees.
No, in the UK, Further Leave to Remain (FLR) is not permanent. This is a short-term extension that lets you live, work, or study in the UK for a certain amount of time. After making sure you meet the requirements, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which will give you permanent residency.
Further leave to remain (FLR) applications can be made in the UK up to 28 days before the end of your current visa or limited leave to stay. To keep your legal status in the UK, you must apply before your current leave runs out.
When someone has Indefinite Leave to Remain for 5 or 3 years, they don’t have to ask to stay in the UK for another year. They are “settled” in the UK, which means they can stay here forever. Other than British Citizenship, this is the safest way to come to the UK.
‘Form FLR(IR)’ lets you apply online to get a biometric residence permit and extend your current visa to stay in the UK. This is also known as ‘leave to remain’. This form is for these types of visas: people (except those in transit, with an approved destination status, or with permission to do paid activities).
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