On 5 year route, can't afford anything, totally broke, situation feels hopefully

[benjiboo]

Hi,

I'm a bit stressed. I'm on the 5 year route, based on my spouse being a British citizen. In two months time I will have completed the 5 years.

My spouse is currently on benefits for some months, well actually instead of being on job seekers allowance, he has declared himself as a full-time carer, but is job hunting all the same. I'm not working mainly due to the need to care for our child who has complex disability. Both of our children are British.

We are quite heavily in debt also. There is no way we have money for a language test, a Life in UK test and certainly not a visa.

My inclination is just not to do anything. But then a friend told me that was stupid and that potentially we can apply claiming some kind of destitution, but I'm struggling to find the process for this and it seems like more stress? Surely they aren't going to deport me if I have a child with severe disability who relies on me? That would be ridiculous surely, so why apply for the visa?

This whole visa thing is just another stress on top of everything else that is going on right now. My other daughter has some issues at the moment too and I'm probably not doing particularly great either. My spouse is at rock bottom with the work situation.

Is there anything that I've missed, other options? I mean, returning home seems like a good option now too, but relocation is prohibitively expensive too.

Many thanks for any ideas/help anyone can give.

[alterhase58]

"Not doing anything" is not an option - it can create lots of problems for you.
Just because you have a child that needs you doesn't mean you don't need to apply for a visa or ILR - actually the right thing is to secure your stay (appreciate it's tough financially). I'm not an expert as to what you need to apply for, except there's a fee waiver option that may be available to you. Check this link: https://www.gov.uk/visa-fee-waiver-in-uk - not sure this would be available for ILR.

[secret.simon]

not sure this would be available for ILR.

Fairly certain that fee waiver is not available for ILR.

Invoking a request for free waiver will most likely move you to the 10 year ILR route. You may want to reflect on whether you really want that.

And doing nothing is not an option. If you have a British family, you may not get deported, but you will be in for a life of hell, from being unable to access resources and benefits, to bring unable to get appropriate financial assistance, etc. And keep in mind that while you won't get deported, you'll have to keep fighting regularly to avoid getting delayed if you have no legal status. Everyday will be a struggle. Not some thing I'd recommend.

You do want to make sure that your residential status remains legal.

Try seeing if there are any local charities, immigration or otherwise, that can help.

And yes, at least look at options like moving the entire family back if it helps stabilise the situation.

[benjiboo]

not sure this would be available for ILR.

Fairly certain that fee waiver is not available for ILR.

Invoking a request for free waiver will most likely move you to the 10 year ILR route. You may want to reflect on whether you really want that.

And doing nothing is not an option. If you have a British family, you may not get deported, but you will be in for a life of hell, from being unable to access resources and benefits, to bring unable to get appropriate financial assistance, etc. And keep in mind that while you won't get deported, you'll have to keep fighting regularly to avoid getting delayed if you have no legal status. Everyday will be a struggle. Not some thing I'd recommend.

You do want to make sure that your residential status remains legal.

Try seeing if there are any local charities, immigration or otherwise, that can help.

And yes, at least look at options like moving the entire family back if it helps stabilise the situation.

Thank you for your replies. I kind of know that not doing anything isn't what I want to do, but the feeling of despair is really getting to me.

The Waiver sounds like something I need to explore - I will embark on a mega google session now that I have a search term to go with.

I have no other option really, so if it means 10 year ILR, it means 10 year ILR, this is just something else to pile on the seeming feeling of impotency of the whole situation. It's so frustrating because I've already paid massive fees twice, and just because we've fallen on hard times, as has the country itself, we are going to be punished for 5 more years. Mind you, I'm not sure it makes much difference? Would I still need to renew every 2.5 years?

The frustrating situation is that I had FLR 2006-2008 and then instead of applying for ILR, I applied for FLR because it was cheaper and I knew I was leaving in a few months, and wasn't assuming on moving back ever. That was a big mistake I think. Because we did move back, but the way I understand it, eventhough I lived in UK 2006-2009, that counts for nothing now.

But you're not really interested in all my woes.

Thank you for your help, much appreciated.

[Frontier Mole]

Low income and harm to child welfare is probably the route you want to go down

[AmazonianX]

not sure this would be available for ILR.

Fairly certain that fee waiver is not available for ILR.

Invoking a request for free waiver will most likely move you to the 10 year ILR route. You may want to reflect on whether you really want that.

And doing nothing is not an option. If you have a British family, you may not get deported, but you will be in for a life of hell, from being unable to access resources and benefits, to bring unable to get appropriate financial assistance, etc. And keep in mind that while you won't get deported, you'll have to keep fighting regularly to avoid getting delayed if you have no legal status. Everyday will be a struggle. Not some thing I'd recommend.

You do want to make sure that your residential status remains legal.

Try seeing if there are any local charities, immigration or otherwise, that can help.

And yes, at least look at options like moving the entire family back if it helps stabilise the situation.

Thank you for your replies. I kind of know that not doing anything isn't what I want to do, but the feeling of despair is really getting to me.

The Waiver sounds like something I need to explore - I will embark on a mega google session now that I have a search term to go with.

I have no other option really, so if it means 10 year ILR, it means 10 year ILR, this is just something else to pile on the seeming feeling of impotency of the whole situation. It's so frustrating because I've already paid massive fees twice, and just because we've fallen on hard times, as has the country itself, we are going to be punished for 5 more years. Mind you, I'm not sure it makes much difference? Would I still need to renew every 2.5 years?

The frustrating situation is that I had FLR 2006-2008 and then instead of applying for ILR, I applied for FLR because it was cheaper and I knew I was leaving in a few months, and wasn't assuming on moving back ever. That was a big mistake I think. Because we did move back, but the way I understand it, eventhough I lived in UK 2006-2009, that counts for nothing now. Hindsight is perfect vision, that's gone now. Try see how to make the best of current situation.

But you're not really interested in all my woes.

Thank you for your help, much appreciated.

Fee waiver not available for ILR, however as you said search to see what you can get on that line.

Yes, on the 10yrs route will require renewal or extension every 2.5years with the attendant costs of application.
Look around for CAB, charities that may be able to help.