My current visa gives me permission to stay in the UK for two years, at the end of which time I have to gather up another buttload of paperwork and pay another 800-ish pounds and pray to another government agency to love me.   This is also known as applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain - or a greencard, if you’d rather.

I also have to pass a test.  I’ve been thinking lately that it might behoove me to already pick up a copy of the test book and start reading.  It’s basic information about things like how the government works, and I figure I can never really be over-prepared.  I think, actually, and I will double check this for you later, that there is even an iPhone app that works as a practice test.  Just think, in 18 months I could maybe tell you more about UK Gov than US Gov, ha.

I’m a decent test taker.  What concerns me more is the supporting paperwork and the timing of it all.   The timing is scary, haha!  You must be in the UK two years to apply for ILR, but you only get what seems to be a 28 day window for submitting your ILR application.   That is, you can’t turn it in more than 28 days before you’re set to expire. They’ve recently amended things, too, so that if you flunk your test, you do not get an extension on your original visa.  What does this mean, you ask?   It means, “Don’t fail your test, or they will keep your grand and send you home, where you will spend another grand re-applying for your two year visa, which will allow you to come back… but you will have to wait two more years before applying for ILR again.”

Does your head hurt like mine yet?

But the reason I’m thinking about all of this now is that I need a certain number of documents to back up my future claim that I’ve been settling in just fine here on old Blighty.   I will need six official letters or other documents from three different sources that have been addressed to both myself and my spouse at the same address.  That is, “Mr. and Mrs. Tea, Lancaster.”  These documents must span the two years, so I’m trying to get cracking on it.

As a child of the internet, I’m really used to having nothing paper in my name.  I pay bills online, you know?  Doesn’t everyone?  I’ve got mortgage statements and utility bills, but they are in his name only.  I’ve got NHS paperwork and soon will have tax and bank info, but those are in my name only.

All I can think is that I’m really glad I know to start doing this now, because if this snuck up on you at the end, you’d be toast.  At the very least it’d cost you a trip home for a few months while applying for a Mulligan.