ILR 10 years with visa curtailment
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 2:04 pm
Hi all,
I've been in the UK for almost 11 years on a student visa. However I had an 'interruption of studies' back in 2010 for 6 months due to a personal illness. I stayed in the UK for those 6 months and re-enroled back to university (April 2011) to finish my PhD.
At the time of my re-enrolment my student visa was still valid. A year later (March 2012), my visa was curtailed by HO citing that I had ceased study with my Tier 4 sponsor.
To add to the complication, I did not receive any curtailment notice as I had changed my address. The issue only came to my attention during a routine airport immigration check on returning to the UK after a holiday in July 2012. An understanding was reached with the help of the University and my PhD supervisor who confirmed that I am in full-time enrolment. However, as my visa had already been cancelled, I was given a 6-month leave to remain and advised to apply for a new visa.
Questions:
I don't have a break in my 'continuous residency' (except for the above) and was out of the UK in less than 540 days. I have prepared a long cover letter explaining the above, including a letter from my GP and PhD supervisor. What extra documents do I need? Will hiring a solicitor make my application stronger?
Any advice/comment will be appreciated.
Many thanks for your help.
I've been in the UK for almost 11 years on a student visa. However I had an 'interruption of studies' back in 2010 for 6 months due to a personal illness. I stayed in the UK for those 6 months and re-enroled back to university (April 2011) to finish my PhD.
At the time of my re-enrolment my student visa was still valid. A year later (March 2012), my visa was curtailed by HO citing that I had ceased study with my Tier 4 sponsor.
To add to the complication, I did not receive any curtailment notice as I had changed my address. The issue only came to my attention during a routine airport immigration check on returning to the UK after a holiday in July 2012. An understanding was reached with the help of the University and my PhD supervisor who confirmed that I am in full-time enrolment. However, as my visa had already been cancelled, I was given a 6-month leave to remain and advised to apply for a new visa.
Questions:
I don't have a break in my 'continuous residency' (except for the above) and was out of the UK in less than 540 days. I have prepared a long cover letter explaining the above, including a letter from my GP and PhD supervisor. What extra documents do I need? Will hiring a solicitor make my application stronger?
Any advice/comment will be appreciated.
Many thanks for your help.