Could you pls clarify my ILR queries?

[sivag]

Greetings Seniors,

I came to UK on Tier 2 ICT Long Term Staff Partner on 25th July 2014. Visa issue date was 09/07/2014.
Currently, on PBS Dependant leave to remain since my spouse granted with UK Citizenship using Tier-2 ICT and ILR.

1.
I will be eligible to apply for ILR by 11th June 2019 (based on initial visa issue date) OR 27 June 2019 (based on the first arrival date to the UK).
- Could you pls clarify whether it's based on visa Issue date or Entry date?

2. As I am not working, may I know any fund maintenance requirement for supporting ILR application? I could not find this detail on websites.

3. Is there any absence declaration? OR Letter from Employer/Sponsor required? - I am not working at this moment. So I could not provide these copies.

4. For English Language Test - Is B1 from Trinity college is enough? OR Is there any other valid certification which can save money on less amount?

5. Could you pls confirm the ILR application link. Is it SET O? (https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/set-o)

6. I am planning to apply on the standard route instead of 1-day priority service. I understand that I need to wait for 6 months to receive the decision.
Is this required to hand over my original passport with my ILR application and wait for 6 months to receive my original passport as well?
I afraid this will lock me in the UK even if there any emergency I face to travel back home. Could you pls clarify?

Thanks for your valuable guidance.
Regards,
Siva.

[CR001]

Presumably your spouse got ILR based on 5 years tier 2 and not 10 years long residence.

1. You can apply no sooner than within 28 days before the 5th anniversary of your initial visa issue date.

2. There is no maintenance funds for ILR.

3. No.

4. You need English B1 test plus LIUK test. If you have a UK degree, you can use that. If you have a foreign degree, you need UKVI Red Route NARIC which costs the same as the B1 English test.

5. Yes it is form Set(O).

6. If you upload your documents and do the biometrics through UKCVAS, then you get to keep your original documents. It does not take 6 months. Usually around 8-12 weeks. You cannot travel out of the UK while you wait for HO to process your ILR application. If you do, your application will be considered withdrawn and if you have no valid visa while out of the UK, you won't be able to come back and will have to start the whole visa process and 5 years residence again from scratch.

[sivag]

Many thanks CR001, will keep updated the progress on this forum.