How do I qualify to apply for ILR ?
Do you qualify for ILR ? The fees charged for ILR is, £2,389 (currently 2021 ) so it is important to get it right if you are intending on applying for settlement.
You may have been in the UK for over 20 years or even longer and feel this length of time in itself will be sufficient. You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you’ve been in the UK legally for 10 continuous years (known as ‘long residence’). Is there a correct time to apply? What if you apply late after your leave has expired? Will there be consequences? it’s a good idea to get immigration advice tailored to suit your personal circumstances.
Note Our specialist team at firstprecedent is able to provide you with the immigration advice, tailored specifically to your circumstances.
Let’s start with what is Indefinite leave to remain. It gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like and apply for benefits if you’re eligible. It can be used it to apply for British citizenship. It also enables one to leave the UK for up to 2 years, and up 5 years without losing your status if EU national.
Apply under 10-year route (private Life)
The 10-year partner route is available to those in the UK as the partner of someone who is British or settled in the UK or is in the UK with limited leave as a refugee or granted humanitarian protection (excluding those pre-flight family members who can qualify under Part 11 of the Immigration Rules). To qualify for settled status ILR it takes 10 years, on this route, and this is a long time especially as it may restrict options to securing civil service employment. This is the most common route to qualify for ILR, if you have been on the 10-year route and have successfully extended your leave under this basis consistently for the last 10 years. The 10-year route extends your visas for 2.5 years at a time up to 10 years.
Apply for ILR on basis of your employment
You may be able to apply if you have a work visa.
You must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years. If you have a tier 1 visa, it can be 2 or 3 years. If you have an Innovator or Global Talent visa, it can be 3 years.
See list below
- Tier 2 International Sportsperson or Skilled Worker Visa
- Global Talent Entrepreneur Tier 1 Investor
- have an innovator visa
- represent an overseas business
- have a Turkish Worker or Business Visa
- Ancestral visa
- a private servant in a diplomatic household with an International Agreement visa, or a domestic worker.
Qualifying under the EU Settlement scheme
Let’s not forget about the EU settlement scheme which provides options for EU national and family members to obtain either settled or pre settled status . This can also lead to qualifying for ILR. The deadline for most people to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021. However, this has been extended under certain circumstances if you have reasonable grounds for unable to apply before the cut-off date 30 June 2021.
First Precedent is an immigration company , we are fully licenced by the OISC and authorised to provide immigration advice. We are based in the West Croydon Area. Located 2 min away from UK Visas Wellesley Road.
We are in Interchange House 81-85 station Road, West Croydon CR0 2RD. If you are looking for legal representation, please call us on 0208 769 1750 or email us on [email protected]