Operation: ILR

We have reached the point in my immigration process where I can (almost) apply for settlement, for Indefinite Leave to Remain. This is the last step before citizenship and grants most of the benefits of citizenship such as "public funds" and no longer being subject to immigration control but lacks certain little things like being able to vote or have actual rights. Think Second Class Citizen only without the citizen part. Mind you, I'm being snarky but I don't actually disagree with the process, at least in broad strokes. I'm not one of those people who think that everyone should be able to up sticks and move anywhere in the world just as easy as deciding. I think the immigration process as it applies to me is fair, if bloody expensive, but I also know that I am fairly uniquely privileged: most immigrants to the UK face more hoops and higher hurdles than I have and do and the rules I'm applying under are no longer available even to relatively favoured immigrants. I want to be here and I don't mind that there is a protracted immigration process but it's easy to feel bitter while doing it.

Things I need to do in roughly the order I need to do them:

1. Have my US passport switched to my married name. I may have already left this too late as the embassy website says it takes five weeks to process and that gets me into my visa application window (I have 28 days before my current visa expires). I don't need to update my US passport but my visa will be issued in the name on my passport and it would be nice to have everything in my married name. The hold up here is that I need a US sized passport photo. 

Cost: $110 for passport, plus courier, plus photo

2. Knowledge of Life in the UK test. This one is fairly self explanatory. The only possible complication is that my ID (Biometrics Resident Permit) is in my maiden name and my proof of address is in my married name. They should accept my (british) marriage certificate as a bridging factor. Good thing we got three "original" marriage certificates as one will be off with my passport. 

Cost: £50 per test (can take as many times as needed to pass) plus study materials. A friend sent me hers for the old test but I didn't get around to taking it before it changed in April.

3. Organise "supporting documents" including proof of cohabitation (official post addressed to both of us at the same address), proof of income to support ourselves, UK passport photos, marriage certificate, passports, etc.

Cost: passport photos, and photocopies...?

4. Apply. Hopefully we can get an in-person appointment for a same-day decision, otherwise it'll be a postal application (with an option on a checking service first) and a six-month wait.

Cost: in-person: £1426 plus biometrics, plus overnight trip to Glasgow; postal: £1051, plus biometrics, plus checking service plus overnight to Edinburg.

So all of that before my current visa expires the first week in August.