sevntythree2 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:36 pm
Hello Hassan21uk,
I really appreciate your response. Do you know if this Illegal entry and three months imprisonment (due to the illegal entry before granted refugee status) will affect applying for U.K. citizenship?? do i need to waite 10 years to apply or i can apply after one year of receiving my ILR. And also May i know how you get the letter from the home office regarding the illegal entry and article 31 of defence, Because i didnt get anything ike that. Is the date of that letter before Nov 2014? because from what i know the 10 years good charecter law might apply only if you got the leave to remain after Nov 2014(not sure).
ps: it will be really much appreciated if you could share the complete two pages letter from the home office i wanted to understund it a bit more, because i have exactlly same situation,
Thank you very much again,
Kind Regards,
Hi,
The letter I have, which I am more than happy to share with you, is dated March 2015 and its quite a nice read which as far as I understand explains that if you were granted refugee status on your first attempt (i.e. you entered illegally but you got your residence permit on the first try and without having to go through an appeal process and all that stuff), then you can apply to the ILR and the British nationality normally like everybody else. You will understand what I mean better when I forward the letter to you.
Basically, regardless of the letter, which I will share with you, if I were in your place, I would try to apply within 1 year of having the ILR and provide a letter to the home office explaining that the illegal entry was justified since you didn't know any better and it was a matter of life or death. You should also explain that despite being in prison, you were still granted refugee status which means that the home office department responsible for asylum seekers saw that you are a legitimate refugee and fit to be released to society. Also, I would attach your current record to show that the only black mark is just that initial illegal entry and nothing else. Hopefully they will see that its common sense not to count the prison time as a sign of bad character because it was justified.
EDIT: I am not sure how I can forward the Home Office letter to you. I thought there would be a way to message you directly and add it as an attachment. I wonder if its against the rules to provide your email address, if its okay, then I can just send it to you in an email.
Best regards,
Hassan