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 settling permanently (called 'indefinite leave to remain') in the UK, 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 contact 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)

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 (General) - for highly skilled migrants
• Tier 2 (General) - for skilled workers
• Tier 2 (Intra company transfer)
• Tier 2 (Minister of religion)
• Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
• Tier 4 (General) - for adult students
• Tier 4 (Child)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - creative and sporting)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - charity worker)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - religious worker)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - government authorised exchange)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - international agreement)
• dependents of migrants who have permission to stay under the points-based system - form PBS (Dependant)
• transfer of conditions for migrants who have permission to stay under the points-based system - forms NTL and TOC. PEO Croydon only. Customers who already have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or who hold an existing Leave to Remain (LTR) visa and who wish to transfer this into a new passport, using our premium service, can do so without a prior appointment. We would ask that these customers visit Lunar House public reception, with all original and photocopied documents, between the hours of 0900 and 1200.

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 - please attend before 12:00)

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. Please note that this service will not be available on Tuesday 20 April 2010.

We will need to locate and retrieve the documents before you can collect them, so we can only offer this service if you contact us in advance. Please do not arrive at the public enquiry office without first phoning our immigration enquiry bureau.

When we have told you that your documents are ready for collection, you can come to the public enquiry office and collect them from the return of documents desk between 09:00 and 12:00, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). If you arrive at the desk after 12:00, you will not be seen and will need to return on another day.

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

For general enquiries or to request an application form, you can go to the information desk. This is open from 08:00 to 09:00, 11:30 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 15:30, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

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.