r/ilruk

I am preparing to submit my Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application along with my dependant.
Since we are applying together, I wanted to double-check how the biometric appointment process works. Do we all go to the UKVCAS centre together under a single family booking, or does every single person need their own separate appointment slot?
If they have to be booked separately, is it easy to align the times so we can travel to the centre together?
Any insights or recent experiences with family ILR biometrics would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

SET(O) ILR – September 2026 Decision Timeline
Hi everyone,
Just sharing my ILR timeline in case it helps anyone currently waiting for a decision.
Route: 5 year Skilled Worker – SET(O)
Application submitted: 11 September 2026
Biometrics: 14 September 2026 9:00 AM (but completed biometrics by 8:15 AM)
Service: Super Priority

Fees:
Application fee: £3226
Super Priority service fee: £1000
UKVCAS appointment fee : £0
Decision: 15 September 2026 11:30 AM
Documents submitted:
I submitted below documents listed on the application checklist.

1. Company reference Letter
2. Last Month Payslip
3. Last Month Bank statement (2p difference in salary credit - Round off)
4. Passport scan - All pages
5. Part 1 - Consent Form (Single)
6. eVisa Sharecode
7. Life in UK test reference email

I didn’t upload any extra documents like cover letter, P60, absense letter from previous employers (3 employers), travel history (on avg 90 days each year out of UK), utility bills etc.,
The decision came next day after biometrics. If anyone has any questions about my application, documents, timeline, or anything else, feel free to ask. I’ll be happy to share what I can.
Good luck to everyone waiting for their ILR decision!

Application date: 7/10/26 (Priority)
Biometrics: 8/10/26
Approval email: 10/10/26

Documents Submitted
• Passports (current and expired) - only stamped pages
• Immigration status
• Life in the UK result
• Bank statements (August and September)
• Payslips (August and September)
• Letter from 2 previous employers stating all leave was approved
• Letter from current employer (this letter DID NOT include I was needed for unforeseeable future, my SOC code, or approved absences)
• Signed Declaration
• 2 BRP cards
• HMRC Self Assessment Letters
• Cover Letter - only explained day trips which I could not include in application and why I had no proof of some trips AND explanation of Self Assessment
• Evidence of absences - out of 20 trips I only submitted 5 flight and hotel itineraries.

I could have submitted my application early September but was SCARED. Scared because my because of lack of travel evidence and reason for Self Assessment.

Good Luck to everyone who’s about to apply and those waiting on their decision!

Hey! If you or anyone you know has the Life in the UK test coming up for ILR or British citizenship, we made a free study site for it based on our learning journey.

It covers the official handbook (3rd edition) with:

• British history explained simply, as one short story

• Revision flashcards by topic, starting with the essentials

• Timelines of kings and queens, battles, prime ministers and the right to vote

• Memory tricks for dates, numbers and easy-to-mix-up facts

• Practice questions and mock tests (24 questions, 45 minutes, 18 to pass) in Medium and Hard modes, with an explanation for every answer

The idea is to go in confident instead of relying only on mock tests. No ads or sign-up, no catch.

https://learnlifeinuk.co.uk

It's unofficial. If you spot a mistake, there's a feedback box on the site. Feel free to share, and good luck with your test!

Hello ,

My visa is gonna expire next and I will be applying for ILR (skilled worker rout ) in priority service . My wife and child visa also expires on the same day as mine. They are not eligible for ILR so need to apply for dependant visa . Since my visa and wife and child’s visa expires on the same I am very scared now . How can I apply for them without my ILR application successfully. I will have 10 days time between my ILR application and visa expiry .

Please do help me

I am currently on a 4 year skilled worker visa which started in February 2023 and will end in February 2027 (4 Years). I will be applying for another CoS for a skilled worker visa from my employer. My question is whether I should ask for only 1 year or 14 months from my employer. I understand the visa fees is same for up to 3 years but I don’t want to pay the healthcare surcharge unnecessarily if I am going to apply for ILR as soon as I am eligible. Does anyone have experience about this? Am I even allowed to ask my employer for only 1 year or 14 months CoS? Would they grant it? I will be here atleast for the next few years so I know they will sponsor.
I am concerned about the cost of IHS as I also have 2 dependents.
Any advice would be much appreciated

Hi, I’m trying to understand the British citizenship rules.
I originally married my spouse when they only had ILR, not British citizenship. They later became a British citizen.
I have now got / am about to get ILR myself. We are still legally married and have been together for many years.
My question is: because my spouse is now a British citizen, can I apply for British citizenship as soon as my ILR is granted, or do I still have to wait 12 months because they were only on ILR when we originally got married?

Background
Got a job offer from abroad in 2021 and moved to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa
Visa vignette valid from: 30 Sept 2021
Entered the UK: 10 Oct 2021
Visa expiry: Oct 2026

The bumpy bits
In 2023 my company went through redundancies. Thankfully I survived and stayed with the same employer the whole time. Then in September this year, I was told unofficially that another round of redundancies might be coming and to be prepared. So the pressure was really on to get ILR done quickly.

Timeline
Biometrics: 24 Sept 2026
Approved: 1 Oct 2026 (one week!)

Documents I submitted (overkill, but I wanted to be safe considering passport loss)
- P60s for the last 3 years
- Full travel history
- Supporting letter from my employer
- 3 years of bank statements
- 5 years of payslips

The lost passport panic
Two days before my biometrics appointment, 🫪 I lost my passport. I was really anxious and genuinely thought I wouldn't be allowed to attend 😵

What I did:
- Reported it to the police and got a reference number
- Reported the loss and applied for a replacement
- Mail to my embassy.

My solicitor added a note in the supporting letter explaining the situation and listing everything we'd done
I took my 2024 BRP card to the appointment as ID and they let me complete my biometrics with it. The passport still hasn't turned up, but it didn't affect the outcome at all.

Takeaways
If you lose your passport before biometrics, don't panic.😜Report it, get the reference numbers, and bring your BRP or other ID.

Being over-prepared with documents doesn't hurt.
Stay with your employer where possible if things are shaky; it made my case straightforward.

Feeling very grateful. I came here directly on a job offer, and five years later I can finally call this home. Good luck to everyone still waiting! 🙏