Immigrationboards.com

Hi guys,

So I'm a bit confused about when I can apply for ILR this year. My dates are as follows:

Initial visa application date: 16th August, 2020

Initial visa approval date: 19th November, 2020

Current visa (another employer) application approval: 18th August, 2022

Current visa expiry date: 16th October, 2025

I'm very confused as to when I can apply for my ILR. Will I only be eligible to apply for my ILR after October this year meaning that I will need a visa extension from my current employer? Or can I apply for it on August 16th.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

UKVI now allows skilled workers to count the time since their initial application submission date towards their ILR, assuming they applied between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 and were subsequently granted a visa:

Due to major disruption to UKVI services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tier 2
(General) and Skilled Worker applicants in the UK were permitted to start work for
their sponsors while waiting for decisions on their applications. This time while they
were waiting, but able to work, also counts towards the continuous 5-year period.
The applicant must have been in the UK with permission (including as a visitor or
with Exceptional Assurance), and the application must have been:

• for permission to stay
• made between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 (inclusive)
• supported by a CoS on the date of application
• granted

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... worker.pdf

@Zimba

Could you please look into my query?

I am really concerned and any help would be appreicated

mobile_cheesecake669 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 23, 2025 1:36 am

@Zimba

Could you please look into my query?

I am really concerned and any help would be appreicated

You need to read the advice already given. You will be eligible within 28 days of completing your 5 years.

No please my own query

mobile_cheesecake669 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 23, 2025 3:05 pm

No please my own query

Not sure what you mean. If you are not interested in helping yourself by reading a few paragraphs, then we cannot help you

zimba wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 23, 2025 1:32 am

UKVI now allows skilled workers to count the time since their initial application submission date towards their ILR, assuming they applied between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 and were subsequently granted a visa:

Due to major disruption to UKVI services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tier 2
(General) and Skilled Worker applicants in the UK were permitted to start work for
their sponsors while waiting for decisions on their applications. This time while they
were waiting, but able to work, also counts towards the continuous 5-year period.
The applicant must have been in the UK with permission (including as a visitor or
with Exceptional Assurance), and the application must have been:

• for permission to stay
• made between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 (inclusive)
• supported by a CoS on the date of application
• granted

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... worker.pdf

@Zimba - you're an absolute legend. You've taken a lot of stress off my shoulders. THANKYOU!

My start date at my previous firm was 7th of September, 2020. Am I right in understanding that from the 7th of September this year I can apply for my ILR? Or can I apply even earlier i.e. the date of application which was the 16th of August?

You will be eligible mid July

Ah that's wonderful, perfect! So only a couple more months to go then

Thankyou!

Hi Zimba,

Do you think I'm likely to be impacted by the new white paper qualifying period increase?

MHM wrote: ↑

Fri May 16, 2025 2:20 pm

Hi @Zimba,

Do you think I'm likely to be impacted by the new white paper qualifying period increase?

@Zimba

You should really ignore the 'white paper' for now, as no rule changes have been announced at all. Without any official changes, I cannot comment on anything

Hi @Zimba, I hope you're doing well!

I recently came across the new statement of changes and it appears that Home office is planning to implement changes from the 22nd of July onwards and that has got me very concerned.

I'm on a graduate program, and I was benefiting from the lower going rate salary requirements for my SOC code, am I right to understand that they are scrapping that which would make me ineligible for ILR this month or am I misunderstanding this statement of changes completely?

Will I potentially be safe if I apply for my ILR on the 19th of this month using super priority?