u/DaddySharkDoDooDoDo

Just wanted to thank everyone in this group for all the guidance and support throughout the process.

Applied for ILR (Spouse Route - SET(M)) on 30th April 2026, biometrics on 2nd May, and received the decision email on 6th May on a standard application.

Very glad I didn’t pay for super priority in the end 😅 Not sure if it was luck, the time of year, straightforward application, or something else, but extremely grateful for the quick turnaround.

Wishing everyone else waiting for decisions the very best!

Hi all,

Just looking for a sanity check on a SET(M) / Section 3C timing issue.

Timeline:

- Arrived on tier 2 Dependent visa on 31st Dec 2018

- On extension route changed (shouldn’t have happened)

- Partner route granted: 19 May 2021 – 19 Nov 2023 on the 5-year route

- Applied for ILR/SET(M) in time on 19 Nov 2023

- Home Office didn’t refuse it, but emailed offering to vary it to FLR(M) as 60 months hadn’t been completed yet

- We agreed to the variation

- No travel while it was pending

- FLR(M) was then granted from 19 Apr 2024 – 21 Oct 2026

- Grant letter says it is still the partner route on the 5-year route to settlement

The question is about the period between 19 Nov 2023 and 19 Apr 2024.

My understanding is that this was covered by Section 3C leave, and Home Office guidance says Section 3C time counts as permission on the relevant route for continuous residence.

So I think the 5-year clock still runs from 19 May 2021, meaning 60 months completes on 19 May 2026, and SET(M) can be submitted from 21 April 2026.

But someone else suggested we should only count the actual grant dates, meaning the earliest date would be around Sept 2026.

Has anyone had experience with this? Does the Section 3C period count towards the 60 months for SET(M) on the 5-year partner route?