ILR 5 Years Work permit Route - Days issue

[talreh20]

Dear moderators,

Asking for a colleague.

She is on our employer's work permit. She applied the visa in May 2020 in country during covid era, and was granted a BRP with the start date of 01-09-2020. This visa was expired on 10-05-2023. She applied for the extension and was granted the BRP from 01-07-2023 to 20-05-2025. The period is only 4 years and 8 months. She was looking to go for ILR in May and she has only just noticed that she is 4 months short to 5 years. What should she do? Can she still apply for ILR on this even though she applied in May 2020 which can then complete her 5 years.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[zimba]

She should be eligible this April due to a COVID concession in place.
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

Also read: Applicants can benefit from the date of the ILR decision

[RFA]

Is this still applicable; if someone applied for the Tier 2 worker visa in March 2020 and received their visa in Sept 2020 (due to Covid). What is the earliest they can apply? Please confirm.