10 Year stay start of clock

[UKILR_APP]

Dear Sirs,

I would like to know if the period counted towards an ILR application will start from the date when the first entry clearance was endorsed or from the date I arrived in the UK?

My Entry clearance on a student visa was issued in October’2002 and I arrived in the UK in March’2003. Having spent around a couple of years on a student visa I was issued a work-permit in September’2008. Currently I’m on a Tier-2 visa because I switched employers.

I usually only spent around 3-4 weeks each year on holiday except for one instance when I spent around 2.5months back home in because of the death of my father.

Would appreciate if you could offer some advice on the eligibility of the 10 year stay category starting from date of entry clearance being awarded.

[Lucapooka]

March 2003