Guidance on 10 year ILR eligibility

[ksharma]

I am preparing for my Long Residence ILR. I've done a lot of research using immigrationboards and reddit, basis which I have enough confidence to file the application my own and not use an attorney. So thank you to the contributors here, for sharing their knowledge!

I've got my details reviewed by ChatGPT but would also like some human review.

Here are my application details:

• Got entry initial entry clearance on ICT visa from 13 Feb 2016. Physical entry on 11th March.

• Planning to file application on 16th Jan 2026, counting 28 days backwards from 13 Feb. Some posts incorrectly advise that the 10 year clock starts from physical entry. But as per caseworker guidance it is from entry clearance, and the gap until physical entry is counted towards allowed absences.

• Switched to Skilled Worker in 2021. Using a SAR to HO, confirmed that this switch and all other renewals were in-country and on-time.

• Have a single trip out of the country lasting 25 days, plus the absence days from physical entry minus entry clearance.

• No character/criminal/taxation issues.

• Have cleared Life in UK test and English test.

• Residence proof ready, with minimum 3 docs per year, covering different parts of the year. Docs like bank statements, NHS letters, P60, utility bills etc.

• Being made redundant, last working day 30th November. Current Skilled Worker visa valid until 30 March 2026.

Planning to take a sabbatical and directly apply for ILR, rather than hunting for another sponsored job because:

• The market is tough right now. The call back rate for applications (if you need a visa) is 2% or less.
• You end up having to compromise on work (having to work with uninteresting/legacy tech), or with pay (a recruiter that had reached out to me with an opportunity reduced pay range by 15k when I mentioned visa).
• The time wasted applying to hundreds of jobs (if not thousands) can be better spent upskilling, and addressing weaknesses in resume.

This should be safe because even if curtailment happens instantaneously on last working day (it doesn't), I'll have valid leave until 30th January. If it follows normal curtailment process, I'll likely have leave until 30th March (HO doesn't bother sending curtailment if the visa is expiring soon anyway).

GPT scores it as 98% probability of success. But I don't want to be overconfident.

What do people think? Is there any risk/factor that I am overlooking?

[zimba]

A decision on ILR is not a probabilistic decision, you will be granted ILR if you qualify for ILR as per the requirements. You just need to follow the rules, so I do not see why you should fail the requirements. Also, there is no requirement to prove residence.

Make sure to read: Changes to the Long Residence settlement route from 11 April 2024

[ksharma]

A decision on ILR is not a probabilistic decision, you will be granted ILR if you qualify for ILR as per the requirements. You just need to follow the rules, so I do not see why you should fail the requirements. Also, there is no requirement to prove residence.

Make sure to read: Changes to the Long Residence settlement route from 11 April 2024

Thank you for your response zimba.

Are you able to clarify a few doubts please:
1. You said that there is no requirement to prove residence. This was confusing me. Most of the advice online is to attach residence proof for 10 years. However, when I did a trial application on UKVI portal, it generated an application checklist that did not ask for residence proof (except for last 2 year). Is proving full 10 year of residence no longer needed, and UKVI will verify using their own records?
2. I did a SAR to Home Office. My records show that my initial visa was decided by case worker on 8th Feb 2016. But the entry clearance stamp on my passport is from 13th Feb 2016. Which is the earliest date that can be used for start of qualifying period?

[zimba]

1. There is no such requirement under the rules. Ignore such claims made online

2. READ the link above. The answer is in there