Hopefully a simple question... I'm a little unclear on exactly when I can apply for naturalisation.
I've been in the UK for 5 years and 10 months. I arrived in the UK in late January 2007 on a 5 year work permit.
When I had been in the UK for 4 years and 11 months and my work permit had 1 month before expiry, I applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain via the premium service and was my appointment was on the 20th of December 2012. I was approved on that day.
However, I didn't receive my biometric residence permit until Mid January 2013 and the permit says "Valid until 20-12-2022" and "Place and date of issue UK 14-01-2013".
So what I need to confirm is what date satisfies all criteria for naturalisation. As I understand it, I need to have been living the UK for at least 5 years, which I have already satisfied. However, as I understand, I need to have been on Indefinite Leave to Remain for 12 months. I have been on ILTR since I was approved on the 20th of December 2012, but as stated above, the 'date of issue' of my biometric permit is 14th of January 2013 (due to the delay over the Christmas period in creating the permit). I don't want a bureaucrat to deny my application because they believe I have applied too early, but I'd like to apply ASAP.
Can anyone confirm or deny that I should be able to apply 12 months from the date I was approved in person, rather than 12 months from the date of issue of the biometric permit?
Thanks.
