What is FLR in the UK? Documents required and eligibility requirements for Further Leave to Remain (UK FLR)
Further Leave to Remain (UK FLR), allows individuals who are already in the UK to extend their stay beyond their original visa duration. It typically involves either extending your current visa or switching to a different visa category. In short, FLR is an application to stay in the UK on the basis of your family life as a partner, parents or dependent child, or based on your private life. In the UK, it is an extension of any initial grant of leave. So if you are currently in the UK and your visa is about to expire, and if you’re not sure if you can use a FLR or not, make sure to read the post till the end as I’ll cover everything about FLR. And for students, I have examples covered as part of my agenda number six. As you know one types of FLR. So there are several types of FLR each tailored to different circumstances.
What Is The criteria For FLR (Further Leave to Remain)?
An FLR application allows individuals to extend their stay in the UK or switch their visa category based on their circumstances. This includes extending your stay as a partner or dependent child of a British citizen or settled person, or based on your family life as a partner.
Agenda 1:Â Types of FLR
FLR (M) Application:
The FLR(M) form is used to apply to remain in the UK as a partner or dependent child of British nationals or settled individuals. If approved, you can stay for a further 30 months and apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Requirements include proof of identity, relationship, financial stability, and meeting English language requirements.
FLR(IR) Application:
The FLR(IR) form is used to extend your existing visa for specific categories, including UK ancestry individuals, domestic workers, and parents of Child Students. It requires proof of identity, relationship, and financial support.
FLR(FP) Application:
Form FLR(FP) is used to extend your stay based on family or private life under specific circumstances. This includes family life as a partner or parent and private life in the UK. Proof of identification, current visa, and previous immigration applications are required.
FLR (HRO) Application:
The FLR (HRO) form is for extending your stay based on a human rights claim or compassionate circumstances. It requires detailed personal and immigration information and supporting documentation.
Agenda 2:Â Difference between FLR & ILR
The difference between a FLR and further leave to remain a FLR is a temporary extension of visa status, allowing the person to continue to live, work or study in the UK for a specified time. In contrast, indefinite leave to remain ILR grants permanent residency, meaning the holder can stay and work in the UK without any time limitations and apply for a British citizen after meeting specific criteria.
Agenda 3:Â How early can you apply FLR ?
You can usually apply for further leave to remain in the UK 28 days before your current visa, or limited leave to remain expired. It is crucial to apply before your existing leave expires to maintain your legal status in the UK.
Agenda 4: Cost of FLR
The application fee for FLR is approx £8,000, which also includes the Immigration Health surcharge fee. For latest fees, please check out the UK Home Office site. Other fees may be application based on the visa category and personal occasions I believe.
Agenda 5: Documents needed
You will need to provide several documents for your application. This includes your passport, your BRP, proof of enrolment in an eligible course, proof of finances and any additional documents which differs from case to case basis.
Agenda 6: Examples
Let’s take an example for students who wants to apply for FLR.
As a student in the UK you may be eligible to apply for further leave to remain visa. However, before submitting your application you must fulfil some criteria like number one, you must hold a valid tier four visa as a student or a student Visa.Number two your course of study must be within a registered tier four Sponsor. Number three, you must have a cast from your sponsor which confirms your enrolment and outlines the course details. Number four, you must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in the UK. The amount required depends on the course length and whether you are studying in London or outside London. Number five you must not have breached any immigration law or had a visa application rejected in the past. Number six, you must demonstrate that you genuinely intend to study in the UK and return to your home country upon completion of your course.
Most of the students I interact with, they apply for a FLR if their current visa is expiring soon and the exam date is after their visa expiry date. Now this happens only in the case when students don’t pass the exam in their first attempt, and hence they are given a further date which generally falls after their current student visa is expiring. So in this case, this is a genuine reason for requesting a FLR. Hence most of the students do get approval for it.
Second example is from my friend who is Entry on a graduate visa, but her visa was about to expire in a day or two and she had applied for PhD course. However, there was a delay of cash from the university and hence she applied for a filter and application was successful. If you have more reasons to apply for FLR, do let me know.
Agenda 7:Â How to apply ?
If you think you are eligible to apply for FLR, you need to go to the UK Home Office site and fill out the application form and pay the application fee and wait for your decision.
By the way, are you thinking of applying FLR? If yes, under which route and why do you think you need to apply for a FLR? Also, if your FLR was rejected. Tell me in the comment section why it was rejected so that others can learn from it.
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