Most visa holders face anxiety and stress when their UK visa is about to expire and they don’t know how to extend their stay. If your current visa in the UK is about to expire, you can legally expand your UK living and traveling with the FLR Visa.
The FLR visa stands for ‘Further Leave to Remain’ visa which allows the applicant to extend his/her stay in the UK after the initial visa is about to expire or has expired. It is therefore important to understand the process involved in extending your visa, so that you are not caught unawares.
Visa holders who are not informed or who do not plan in advance tend to panic when they realise the cost, processing times and evidence required to successfully extend one’s visa.
This article helps you stay updated with immigration policies surrounding the FLR visa, what qualifies you to apply for the FLR visa and how to legally expand your living in the UK with the FLR visa.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Your FLR Visa
What is the FLR Visa, and how can it help extend your UK living and travel?
Living in the UK without a visa is illegal, which comes with lots of penalties if you are caught. Hence, it is important to keep track of your visa to know when it’s about to expire so that you can apply for an extension.
Even if you notice after it has expired, you can still apply for an FLR visa if eligible. There are different categories of the FLR visa which individuals can apply for based on their situation.
The first category is the FLR-HRO visa which is used by individuals who are extending their stay based on family life or human rights. Then there is the FLR-M for partners who are married or are in a civil partnership with settled individuals.
The FLR-FP is for family members of individuals who are already in the UK or individuals who are in the UK for personal reasons. The FLR-LR are for individuals who have been in the UK for more than ten (10) years. The FLR-S are for victims of domestic violence, while the FLR-O are for those applying for other reasons.
The FLR-HP is highly skilled immigrants who are working in a specific skilled occupation in the UK.
Eligibility Criteria for the FLR Visa for Extended UK Living
Checking whether you are eligible for the FLR visa depends on the category you belong to. Nevertheless, there are standard requirements that apply to all FLR Visa categories and they include:
- Must be 18 years old or above.
- You must have lived in the UK for a period of time based on your category
- You must already be living in the UK on a valid visa.
- Must prove that you intend to remain in the UK legitimately.
- Must prove proficiency in English to the level required of your visa category.
- Must show proof of sufficient income (does not apply to all categories).
- Must have accurate and complete documents.
Specific Requirements for the FLR visa based on categories include:
For the FLR-HRO visa, you must not have any social, cultural or family ties to your country of origin. You must be the partner or dependent child of a family member who is settled in the UK under humanitarian protection or as a refugee.
You must also apply for a fee waiver before beginning your application for the FLR-HRO visa.
For the FLR-M visa, you must have proof of relationship with a British citizen or partner settled in the UK. You and your partner must meet the minimum financial requirement of 29,000 pounds yearly.
You must also prove that you intend to live permanently in the UK by presenting evidence such as joint financial arrangements, shared accommodation, etc.
For the FLR-FP, if you are 18 years or above, you are considered an adult applicant and must prove that you have lived in the UK for more than 20 years and have built a family, business/employment, etc in the UK.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 24, you will be considered a young adult and must prove that you have lived in the UK for at least 7 years. If you are younger than 18, you are considered a child applicant and should prove that you have lived in the UK for 7 years.
You may also need to prove a genuine and lasting relationship with a UK citizen or settled person, or prove that you are the parent of a child who is a UK citizen or a settled person which forces you to stay in the UK for the child’s sake.
When considering whether you qualify for this category, immigration authorities will check your length of residence in the UK, whether you have strong ties to the UK, your family circumstances and what will happen to you or your family if you were to leave the UK.
For the FLR-LR visa, you need to prove that you have lawfully lived in the UK for the required period without exceeding limits or breaks in your stay. This means that within a 12-month period, you must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days.
Once you have passed the continuous residence test, you also need to pass the Life in the UK test ((have at least 75% or higher) which involves assessing your knowledge of British customs and way of life.
For the FLR-S visa, you must be a student whose course of study is within a registered tier four sponsor, and you must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which confirms your enrollment in the course. from your academic institution.
For the FLR-HP visa, you must have completed a UK-based degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, etc) with your student visa and must have been in the UK with a Tier 4 (General) student visa.
You cannot apply under this visa category if you entered the UK as a Doctorate Extension Scheme student or you’ve already been granted a Graduate visa. Hence, you must prove that you were not eligible for the Graduate visa but you wish to pursue employment or continue your studies in the UK.
