Proving residency

[instant_goldfish]

After 20 years of living in the UK and holding ILR for 10, I am finally applying for citizenship but I have a problem with proving my residency in the last five years.

I've being reading through the requirements and in Annex B to Chapter 18 it says the following:

2. Checking the residence requirements
2.1
We should assess whether the applicant has met the residence requirements from checking the following:

• original passport(s) or travel document(s) which have been endorsed to show arrival in and departure from the United Kingdom; or

• Home Office records; or

• failing these, any other evidence (e.g. employer's letters, a Seaman's Record Book, tax and National Insurance letters)

If there are gaps in a person’s evidence of residence and it is clear from the information available that they could not have travelled, we may proceed. Examples of this might include a refugee who has no means of travel or where immigration records confirm continuous residence.

As I don't have a passport and there was a period in the last 5 years longer than the 480 day "disregard limit" during which I didn't claim benefits or have a job, it seems these records are the only way to prove my residency during that time. Does anyone know what kind of Home Office/immigration records are kept and if using them without any other proof is likely to result in a sucessful application?

Thanks

[vinny]

Get confirmation from your Embassy stating that they did not issue you with a new travel document, following your passport's expiry. Therefore, you were unable to travel outside the UK during the relevant period.