Final check for ILR Long Residence 9/2016

[Chemist]

Hello All,

Hope everyone is doing well. I will be much appreciated for you guides and advice regards to my clarification. As I am going to apply for ILR (LR 10 years) in premium services, and I would like to confirm the answers to some few questions relate to the date of application, maximum absence days during any 12 months, and finally the most important required documents.

[A] Date of application: My first UK visa was issued in 28/09/2006 from Cairo, Egypt. However, my first arrive at the UK land was in 20/10/2006 I am living and staying in the UK lawfully (4 years student visa + 4 years’ work permit visa + 2 years dependent visa) and continuously till now. My question is:

(1) When will I complete 10 years residency? Will it be by 28/09/2016 or by 20/10/2016? What is the earliest date to apply my application? Also what about 28 days rules before completing 10 years, so can I apply by 01/09/2016 or 23/09/2016 as the earliest date for my application?

Maximum absence days: I have total absence 179 days through three travelling times [6 days due to Dad death) + 161 days (Egyptian revolution as everything was blocked in the country and the airports were closed for a long time) + 12 days for a conference in Canada] during 12 months. My questions are:

(2) Does the Departure and Arriving days of the travelling will be considered as staying days in the UK or absence?

(3) Must I approve by documents the reason for my absences although each of them individual is less than 180 absence days? If Yes, How can I proof the Egyptian Revolution as it is a public and world know event.

[C] Required documents: I have all my essential documents such as:
 All passports (with all visa stamps, and all dates of arriving and departure of travelling)
 Biometric, police registration, and two recent passport size colour photographs
 Certificate of pass the Life in the UK Test.
 Certificate of English Language.
My questions are:

(4) What is the other most important supporting documents (council tax bills, bank statement, GP letter, bills,…)? And must I show all of them or one, two or mix of them will be fine?

(5) Does there is expire date for Certificate of pass the Life in the UK Test? As I passed this test from two years ago.

(6) I was awarded my PhD degree from Bangor University in North Wales. Will this PhD certificate be fine as a proof of English Language level?

(7) Must I have a copy from all the previous biometric cards? Also, have I to write a cover letter to indicate the reason for absence and the passport pages number for departure and arrival to the UK.


Thanks in advance for your kindly guides.

Best wishes

Chemist

[CR001]

1. For ILR based on long residence, it is the date of ENTRY to the UK that starts your qualifying period. You can apply no sooner than within 28 days before 20 October 2016.

2. No, you only count whole days out of the UK and discount the departure/day of return.

3. No, you only need to list the absence in the relevant section of the form.

4. You don't need all these (council tax, bank statements etc) if you have ALL the passports covering the 10 years including the one you used to enter the UK.

5. No, LIUK does not expire.

6. Not sure, should be ok.

7. No, not necessary unless YOU want to keep copies for your records. No, you don't need to write a letter about absences, see #3 above.

[Chemist]

Thank you so much CR001 for you quick and professional reply. Just with regards question (1), recently I heard that one person phone the home office to ask about the earliest date for applying and the answer was yes the 10 years start from the issue of visa in the home country. In another word, the period between entry clearance being issued and the applicant entering the UK may be counted toward the qualifying period, as long as it does not exceed 90 days. This can occur if the applicant is delayed travelling to the UK.

Also, do you think the decision on the premium services will be on the same day or maybe take 1-2 weeks?

Your confirmation will be much appreciated.

Thanks again and again for your advice

Best wishes

Chemist

[CR001]

Thank you so much CR001 for you quick and professional reply. Just with regards question (1), recently I heard that one person phone the home office to ask about the earliest date for applying and the answer was yes the 10 years start from the issue of visa in the home country. In another word, the period between entry clearance being issued and the applicant entering the UK may be counted toward the qualifying period, as long as it does not exceed 90 days. This can occur if the applicant is delayed travelling to the UK. No, this is not relevant to long residence applications unless leave was granted to start the 10 year period while in the UK, then it would be visa start date. There has been no change to the requirement for people who applied for entry clearance and then entered the UK at a later date, that the qualifying period starts on the date they initially entered the UK. The 90 day (or now 180 day) concession is ONLY relevant to PBS/Ancestry and a small number of other visas where ILR is applied for based on 5 years residence. Suggest not believe everything you 'hear'. Even HO call centre gives out incorrect advice.

Also, do you think the decision on the premium services will be on the same day or maybe take 1-2 weeks? If the application is straightforward and you have all the required documents then it should be a decision on the day. Delays can occur if there are problems that come uip with previous visas you have held, i.e. tax/income discrepancies if Tier 1 G for example.

Your confirmation will be much appreciated.

Thanks again and again for your advice

Best wishes

Chemist

[Casa]

Unreliable advice from the Home Office 'help line'
https://www.freemovement.org.uk/immigra ... pectation/

[Chemist]

Thank you very much CR001 and Casa for your very appreciated advises. You are helping me NOW to avoid to make a very big mistake........

Thanks again and again.

Best wishes

Chemist

[Chemist]

Hello CR001 and Casa,

So sorry for bothering you again. Just I have finished my call with HO (UK Visas and Immigration contact centre) to confirm the answer of when I can apply for IRL (LR 10 years). They indicated again I can account the ten years from the date of the issue my visa from Cairo at 28/09/2006, and I can also apply 28 days before that date so that I can apply by 01/09/2016.

I have assured that my application is ten years LR. They confirm the same answer again which lead me to hesitate again.

I will be very much appreciated if you can help me to confirm this information again through any one of your trust information resources.

So sorry again and again about this noisy.

Best wishes

Chemist

[CR001]

Page 3, point 4 in the guidance notes.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _11-15.pdf

I will also look for more info when I get home.

Suggest read through the link that Casa provided carefully. HO call centre (a third party) is well known for provided incorrect information and they take absolutely no responsibility for it either.

If you apply too early you will be refused and lose your fee.

[Chemist]

Thanks CR001 for your kindly reply and concern.

YES, Just only, I can find the rules only apply to other categories such as ILR (5 years). However on the other side, I can not locate any information agree or disagree with the ILR (LR) case.

especially, it seems that there is a recently modified rule at this point at 25 Aprile 2016 (page 3, first table)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... ds-v13.pdf

[CR001]

especially, it seems that there is a recently modified rule at this point at 25 Aprile 2016 (page 3, first table)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... ds-v13.pdf

That is ONLY relevant to ILR applications in the qualifying visa with residence of 5 years.

The document you have link specifically says on page 6, last paragraph, that the document is DOES NOT apply to long residence ILR.

https://www.gov.uk/long-residence/eligibility

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... .0_EXT.pdf

For the sake of a couple of weeks, do you really want to risk a refusal?

[Chemist]

YES, totally agree with you CR001.

Thanks again and again for your sincere advice

Best regards

Chemist

[Chemist]

Hello All,

Finally, I have got ILR (LR 10 YEARS). It was a very excellent experience with the premium service centre; it took only 2 hours... just only (application form + checklist + 2 photos + biometric card + all passports + Police registration) plus the photocopy of all these documents. Nothing else.......

Now just I would like to thank this an excellent forum for the great and very useful advice and support, and also, I would like to direct a special and great thanks for both CR001 and Casa for their indefinite efforts and supports.
Thank you guys.........and sure now you will another new post in British Citizenship forum.
See you there..
Regards
Chemist

[Casa]

Well done. Enjoy your new found freedom

[CR001]

Congratulations!! Very pleased for you.

[paradoxical]

Congratulations chemist
I am really confused by reading through the thread though regarding the first question you had asked (earliest date to apply being either 1st September 2016 OR 23rd September 2016). It seemed that the advice given to you suggested that the earliest you can apply is 23rd September 2016. You have, however, obtained your ILR even before 1st September 2016. How was that possible? Does that mean we can apply more than 28 days before the 10 year qualifying period?

[Chemist]

Congratulations chemist
I am really confused by reading through the thread though regarding the first question you had asked (earliest date to apply being either 1st September 2016 OR 23rd September 2016). It seemed that the advice given to you suggested that the earliest you can apply is 23rd September 2016. You have, however, obtained your ILR even before 1st September 2016. How was that possible? Does that mean we can apply more than 28 days before the 10 year qualifying period?

Thanks paradoxical, No.... there is no need to any confused. Just only there was a mistake on my last enquiry

Supposed to be 1st August 2016 OR 23rd August 2016 not (September)

So sure do not apply before 28 days from your first UK entrance.

Regards

Chemist