We recently secured Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for a client applying as the spouse of a British citizen, following completion of the five-year route under Appendix FM.

Although ILR applications under Appendix FM do not require the applicant to re-meet the financial requirement, the Home Office will still assess whether the requirement was correctly met throughout the qualifying period. In this case, our client relied on income from a foreign state pension, which requires particularly careful treatment under Appendix FM-SE.

Our team prepared a comprehensive evidential package demonstrating full compliance with the financial rules over the relevant years. This included:

• Official confirmation of the client’s foreign pension entitlement
• Twelve months of bank statements showing regular pension payments
• Evidence that the pension is a permanent, lifetime award, satisfying Home Office criteria

As our client was exempt from both the English language requirement and the Life in the UK Test due to age, we ensured the exemption was clearly supported to avoid any ambiguity. We also provided detailed evidence of the couple’s genuine and subsisting relationship, which remains an essential requirement even at ILR stage.

Because Appendix FM ILR applicants are not subject to the 180-day absence rule, and short absences do not need to be listed, we were able to streamline the process significantly.

If you are preparing an ILR application under Appendix FM or have complex financial or evidential requirements, our team can provide expert guidance to ensure a smooth and compliant submission.

Contact us to discuss your case.