To be freaking out that my ILR Visa has not come through yet???

[emmabemmasmom]

Hi there...

I sent in my application for my ILR Visa 7 weeks ago. It can take anywhere from 5 weeks to 14 weeks to decide...

They sent me a letter in the beginning of Feb. saying they got my applictaion and basically not to contact them...but to just wait. And, there is no way to look up the progress.

The longer it takes the more I am convinced it will get denied. There is no reason for it to get denied. My husband is British...my DD was born here and I am expecting our second DD in a few weeks. We don't make a lot of money but we don't get any benifits (one thing we have to prove is we can live without claiming).

I cannot sleep, I cry...everytime the mail comes I have a panic attack thinking 'is this the day my life will be ruined'.

It is not healthy but I am freaking out...

Anyone gone through this? How do I continue to wait without having a heart attack?

Please? Anybody?

Emma I have been through this. You will get it unless you have broken immigration laws in the past or outright lied on your application. Don't worry. I was so stressed out during this process thinking that I would be seperated from british dh and british dc's due to immigration problems. I lost about 15 pounds in weight while I was waiting because I couldn't eat. Just breathe. You will get it. They take ages and ages.

Oh and I also totally screwed up my application and sent stuff in at the wrong time and had to do it over. Was technically an illegal for about 6 days due to a miscommunication. But it all came together in the end. They don't want to seperate kids from parents etc etc. That is more hassle for them than it is worth. You'll be okay.

Oh thank you for talking to me!

I have not broken any rules that I am aware of. I lived here my 2 years and didn't lie at all. We had some issues with documents as we moved 4 weeks before I sent it all away so I did not have a lot with the new address, however I wrote a long support letter saying I would send in anything as I get it. They have not requested anything additional. I also sent like 50 items rather than the 10 they wanted lol

I just can't bear it. I don't think being very pregnant is helping.

How long did yours take? Did they send your documents back before your decision or what?

Never spoke to someone who went through this before...

Thanks again!

I think mine took about 2 months. And if you've already had your LLR, then then ILR is no big deal. Its just a matter of how many arrived before yours!

I do remember waiting anxiously for it to arrive though! It is very stressful, I agree!

I'm sure it will all be fine.

Yeah I got my LLR in Feb. 2007 so I was here 2 years on the dot when I sent in my ILR application.

Just keep waking in the night sweating having had a dream that I will have to leave my babies...thats when I get to sleep...

And just seeing the postman coming down the street makes me have a panic attack. How sad is that?

Why do they have this kind of control over peoples lives?

I hate it

Oh poor you. We're waiting for my husband's at the moment.

They've not bothered to send us a letter of acknowledgment, but they were super quick in taking the money out of the account.

We both work, got all the documents, now have dd, but the fact there's even a possibility they might refuse is terrifying.

From what you've said, it's very unlikely they will turn your app down. Even if they do (which is very unlikely) you can always appeal.

Face it, as long as you are in a genuine relationship, not a criminal and costing the state nothing, they aren't too bothered.

Let me know how things go.

What does ILR and LLR mean? Sorry to be ignorant?

I seem to remember standing in line at Lunar House, and got it the same day....

It will be fine. The Home Office takes forever, but really don't worry about it.

Could be worse -- you could have to take the citizenship test which I'm a bit about!

Once you get it, you don't have to renew it, if that's of any help!

If you haven't broken any laws and your hubby can support you, there is no reason for them to turn down your application.

Did you just put it in the post, or did you get your documents checked by a registrar first?

We are graduates of Loony House too.

BPP - LLR= Limited Leave to Remain (Spousal vias usually falls within this category)

ILR = Indefinite Leave to Remain. Means you can stay in the U.K permanently and within a year or so of receiving it, you can apply for U.K citizenship.

To the OP, I know that everything seems like the end of the world when you're pg (it did to me anyway), I'm sure you'll be fine.

ILR: Indefinite Leave to Remain
LLR: Limited Leave to Remain

I did have to take the Life in The UK test which was very stressful but so much easier than they made it out to be. Passed first time!

Oh yeah they were super quick in charging my account too lol

I got a letter about 3 days after they charged me just saying that they got my application and that it had been passed to a caseworker. It said they would not be able to tell me if it would take a long time until the caseworker looked at it, but that they would notify me if it would take longer. They also said basically not to contact them lol

I have not heard anything since so assume that the caseworker has looked at it and it will not be a longtime...but still 7 weeks is a long time to me!

My DH can support me...but he does make a very low wage. We get CB for our 1 DD and we do get working tax credits (but it is not much). Really though, that is what he is entitled to and my DD is british with a passport too...

I wanted to do it in person, but we moved right at Christmas and by the time I got around to calling for an appointment they could not get me in until after my LLR Visa expired so they said I had to send it in.

Suspense is killing me, but it is so great to hear from people who have, or are, going through this horrible process...

Thanks and keep it coming!

I did mine the first time as a same-day application, mainly because i wanted to book a holiday to New Zealand for a few months time and i was scared I wouldnt get it back. My heart was pounding the whole time, whilst i waiting for them to go thru everything, she didnt even say it had been approved, just "come back in 3 hours to get your passport back". I had to say "oh, so its okay then?!" She also asked for documents i didnt have, which she was then informed by her supervisor (she was a trainee) I didnt actually need. But yes, they make you pay before they even check if you have the right documents to be let into the building!

The 2nd time (my passport was stolen so i had to get a replacement with a new ILR sticker) i couldnt afford the £500 same day fee so did it by post. I too sent about 600 supporting documents, and even a photocopy of the previous ILR stamp, so i was lucky to get it back in 2 weeks.

Im hoping to do the british citizenship application shortly, but am a bit nervious and stressed at the idea of it! Good luck with your application, im sure it will be fine!

Have name changed for this one - as wouldnt want to be identified in RL. I work as an immigration officer and to be honest, 7 weeks is no time at all. Most applications take much, much longer to process.

Your application sounds fine - your relationship is clearly genuine, your finances seem OK....I cannot see how anyone would refuse your application.

I could actually look you up on my computer if I knew your real name (am typing from work now) but would probably lose my job...

But don't worry. I think the immigration department have got more to worry about than this. Where do you come from by the way?

Really could you???

I wouldn't want you to get in trouble though...

However, I am dying to know if everything is ok as I am totally freaking out.

It is hard to prove how much you love your family in black and white on paper to people you have never met if you know what I mean.

I really dont want you to do anything that you don't feel comfortable with, so just let me know what you think.

Thanks for the offer!

Oh I come from Chicago to answer that question

Sorry Emmabemmasmum, I could look you up, I just don't dare email you with the results - big brother and all that.

But seriously, you are American and you want to live in the UK??? If I married an American, I would be off to the US to live like a shot....

Oh and if you were to be refused (You won't be but if you were,) you would have a right of appeal where you'd be able to appear in person in front of an adjudicator to give your side of the story so to speak.

Ok yeah I wouldn't want you to have any direct link of information...

Would you be able to tell me the stage of the application or anything though?

I don't really want to post my full name on here lol

Although it does not really matter as I don't know a lot of people.

Well I came here to go to the University of Stirling a few years ago and met and fell inlove with my now DH.

I was studying scottish history and love this country so it just seemed perfect to marry a scot, live here and make little scotty babies

Immigration Officer - you don't happen to have the answers to the citizenship test, do you?

Do you have the book for the test, Obama? The answers are all in there. You don't have to know all the chapters. It is a pretty easy test.

Thanks Science Teacher -- was hoping just to cheat

You talking about the Life in the UK Test??

It is 25 random questions from a pool of over 400 questions so you don't know what your going to get until you sit it.

It really is pretty easy though if you study. It is a either know it or don't kinda test.

One of my questions was when is Christmas Day celebrated...

emmabemmasmom, Don't worry! I got my ILR (also American married to a Brit) a few years ago and it took forever and was hideously nervewracking. But as others have said, there is no need to worry, they have no reason to turn you down, they are just slow! Hope you get it soon. GL.

Oh thanks! Glad yours went through ok...

Glad everyone's did!

When it is done it is done you know?

Can't wait!