Hi guys, I am writing this blog after some time. As my unmarried Partner Visa is nearly expiring and now I am ready to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in few weeks time. Therefore this information can be useful for those applicants who are making their application for ILR in near future.


With my current experience of making this application, I must say that as compared to two years earlier (When I applied for unmarried Partner visa), things have radically changed at home office. For example now you need bio metrics and ID Cards with your unmarried Partner visa. However it is important to note that you don’t need bio metrics or ID card for ILR application.


There are two options for your application,

  1. applying in person (Same day premium application) or
  2. applying through post (14 weeks to 6 months processing time !)


With the new rules, you must book your premium appointment either

  1. online at https://ukbabooking.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukba/index.start
  2. by calling home office on 0870 606 7766.


I tried both, first called home office and realised that it is becoming impossible to get through to an operator. With different experiments (calling on so many different times) at last I got my call in the early hours of one morning. That means if you want to talk to an operator, call 8:59 or exactly 9:00 o’clock in the morning. However operator told me that there are no available appointments for Corydon for the next two months. However, she asked me to try and check for Sheffield or Glasgow.


I was quite confused at that point as living in between Ipswich and London, I felt difficult to make an appointment for Glasgow. With my current job commitments, even going to Corydon was a huge task. So I refused to take any appointment other than Corydon. She advised me to check and apply online. Same day in the evening.


I checked online booking system for appointments. I first made an account for me and then for my partner (as I was thinking to take him with me). After fifteen minutes, we both received two reference and Transaction IDs. At this point I logged in to my account and start searching for a convenient date. However, unfortunately system was showing all dates booked for all centres (even including Sheffield or Glasgow).


On that point I was really worried, thinking I could have taken at least those appointments which were available over the phone for Glasgow or Sheffield. Anyway I talked to one of my friends and he suggested “Legal representatives’ same-day service”. It is important to note that with new immigration rules, it is now possible for an immigration firm or solicitors to have some definite number of appointments every week. That means if you have no other option for premium application, you can contact any immigration firm providing this facility. At last I called one of them and they were happy to help, however with an extra fee of£1320 pounds. That means it is a total bill of £2340  !!! (including home office premium appointment fee 1,020).

so if you are going through an agent

Total cost (£2340) = Legal representatives’  Fee (£1320) + home office premium appointment Fee (£1020)


It was quite a big shock as I was thinking that it must be 500 to 600 pounds maximum. Anyway after this eye opening reality I started checking the online system again and again. However there was no luck. At the end I was tired and very worried, thinking about posting my application anyway. Remember a postal application takes from 14 weeks minimum to a 6 months maximum even in a simple case.

One night when I was checking the online booking system, I opened my booking login on Internet Explorer (I mostly use Firefox). I also tried to book firstly myself one only myself and suddenly from nowhere I was able to see a day in my required week of appointment. I didn’t believe on my eyes. I logged out and logged in again to check the system. I realized that when I am including my partners details (as family member), I was unable to see that appointments. Anyway I booked my appointment and than logged in for my partner and also booked a separate appointment for him.

If you are booking, please check all these tricks.

  1. Use Internet explorer, and
  2. When making an appointment, don’t include any person of your family over 18 years old.
  3. I also heard that use one email for all initial registrations and you will be able to include your dependents easily (however I have no experience about it).
  4. Try booking online around midnight (12:00 AM), best if you try on a Saturday !


With luck, now I have booking for me and for my partner and I have saved 1320 pounds. Please feel free to use these tricks and tips to get your required appointment on time.
Good Luck !

If you have any questions please leave a comment below, I will try my best to answer.

Thanks.