What services are available?

This page explains the types of applications you can normally make in person at our public enquiry offices. You should check the details of individual offices for any exceptions to the service they offer, since not all offices can handle all types of application.

Our public enquiry offices are committed to offering a high standard of customer service. We also have a duty of care towards our staff and members of the public visiting the offices, so please read the rules in place at public enquiry offices.

Applications

Public enquiry offices accept applications for extending your stay (called 'limited leave to remain') or permanent residence (called 'indefinite leave to remain') in the United Kingdom, in the categories below. You can find details of who is able to apply in these categories, and how to apply, in the relevant sections of this website.

If you are a citizen of the European Economic Area and you want to apply for a registration certificate, you can do so at the Croydon public enquiry office. Only limited numbers of appointments are available for this, but you will not need to pay a fee.

There is a bulk service for specific representative bodies such as student bodies, civilian components, embassies and companies. For more information, please call the immigration enquiry bureau.

General

• husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner - forms FLR(M), SET(M), FLR(O), SET(O)
• children - forms FLR(O), SET(O), SET(F) (only if the child entered with the correct entry clearance)
• UK ancestry - forms FLR(O), SET(O)
• visitor - form FLR(O) (this includes medical visitors, academic visitors and parents accompanying children under 12 years of age who are receiving private education in the United Kingdom)
• 10-year residence - form SET(O) (see completing application form SET (O) for details of who can apply in this category).

Specific jobs

• domestic worker in a private household - forms FLR(O), SET(O)
• off-shore worker - form FLR(O)
• work permit applications - form FLR(IED)

Points-based system

• tier 1 (post-study worker)
• tier 1 (highly skilled workers, also known as general)
• tier 2 (skilled workers, also known as general)
• tier 2 (intra-company transfers)
• tier 2 (ministers of religion)
• tier 2 (sportspeople)
• tier 4 (child)
• tier 4 (adult, also known as general)
• tier 5 (charity workers)
• tier 5 (creative and sporting)
• tier 5 (religious workers)
• tier 5 (government authorised exchange)
• tier 5 (international agreement)
• dependents of migrants who have leave in points-based system categories - form PBS (Dependant)
• transfer of conditions for individuals who have permission to remain under the points-based system - forms NTL and TOC

Medical studies

• postgraduate doctor or dentist - form FLR(O)
• Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test - form FLR(O)
• clinical attachment - form FLR(O)

Government and military

• (Croydon only) armed forces (no form needed)
• armed forces indefinite leave to remain following discharge - form SET(O)
• armed forces dependants - form FLR(O)
• civilian emloyee of armed forces (civilian component) - form FLR(O)
• forces recruitment - form FLR(O)

Return of documents (Croydon only)

Croydon public enquiry office offers a service to return documents to people whose documents are currently with the UK Border Agency but who urgently require them to travel.

We can only offer this service if you contact us in advance, because we need to locate and retrieve the documents for your collection. Please do not arrive at the public enquiry office without first phoning the immigration enquiry bureau to ask for advice.

Where possible, please arrive before 1100 on the day, as this will increase the chances of us locating and returning your documents on the same day.

If your documents have been sent to us with an application for British citizenship, you should contact the nationality office in Liverpool.

We will try to retrieve and return your documents on the same day if possible, but we cannot guarantee that your application will have been completed, so please do not ask us to return your documents unless you need them urgently.

You may be asked for evidence of your urgent need to travel when you apply for this service.

Indefinite leave to remain (often known as ILR) is permission to stay permanently (settle) in the United Kingdom, free from immigration control.Permission to stay in the United Kingdom temporarily, for the length of time stated on your visa.Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.