NAM
NAM Solicitors
Your Legal Partner
We advise on further leave to remain applications for individuals already in the UK seeking to extend their leave on family life, private life or human rights grounds. These include FLR(M) for partners and FLR(FP) for family and private life routes.
If you are already in the UK and your current leave is due to expire, you may need to apply for further leave to remain before that expiry date. Failing to apply in time — or applying under the wrong category — can affect your immigration status and your entitlement to remain lawfully in the UK. We advise carefully on the correct route, the required documents and the realistic prospects of success before any work begins.
We do not guarantee the outcome of any further leave to remain application.
If you are on the partner or spouse route (having entered as a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner of a British citizen or settled person), you will need to apply to extend your leave before it expires. This is done using the FLR(M) form. You must continue to meet the requirements of Appendix FM, including the financial requirement (currently a minimum income of £29,000 per annum), English language, and the relationship test. If successful, you will be granted further leave of 30 months, after which you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) on the partner route.
We check that you continue to meet all requirements of the partner route — including the financial requirement, English language and relationship conditions — before advising you to apply.
We prepare your extension application, advise on the supporting evidence required and review all documents before submission to the Home Office.
We advise on the super priority service where an urgent decision is needed, including what to expect and when it is appropriate to use this service.
Where an FLR(M) application has been refused, we advise on the grounds for refusal and whether an administrative review, fresh application or appeal is the appropriate response.
FLR(FP) is used to extend leave under Appendix FM (family life as a partner, parent or child) or Appendix Private Life, where the applicant is on the 10-year route to settlement. This route is used where the applicant does not meet the requirements for the 5-year route — for example, because they cannot meet the financial threshold, or because their application is based on established private life in the UK rather than a qualifying family relationship. Applicants on this route accrue qualifying leave over 10 years toward ILR.
For applicants who qualify for leave as a partner under Appendix FM but cannot meet the financial requirement or other conditions for the 5-year route. We advise on the applicable concessions and alternative bases for leave.
For individuals who have built up a significant private life in the UK, including those who have lived here for 20 continuous years or who are under 25 and have spent at least half their life here.
For parents of British citizen or settled children who are taking an active role in the child's upbringing and meet the requirements of the parent route under Appendix FM.
Where the applicant's circumstances do not fit neatly within the Rules but Article 8 ECHR (right to respect for private and family life) is engaged, we advise on leave outside the Rules and exceptional circumstances applications.
⚠ Apply before your leave expires. If you apply before your current leave expires, Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 extends your leave automatically while the application is pending. If you apply after your leave expires, you will be unlawfully in the UK and Section 3C will not apply. Contact us well before your leave expires.
You must apply before your current leave expires to maintain lawful status. Section 3C protection does not apply to out-of-time applications.
Home Office fees as at 8 April 2026. Fees are subject to change — check gov.uk/visa-fees before submitting.
Contact us well before your leave expires to discuss your extension options.
Contact us before your leave expires — we will advise on the right route and what is required.