Indefinite Leave is not ‘indefinite’!

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
Certainly not as indefinite as most people think. This post is of vital importance to those who have secured an Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residency status) in the UK and who are thinking of relocating abroad or taking a job abroad. You will lose your ILR if you leave the UK for more than 2 years in a row and will have to start all over again in the future. Indefinite Leave can be lost, and many lose it, as a result of being away for more than 2 years, such as working in Australia, USA or the Middle East etc.

What’s the solution? First to apply for British Citizenship, then to go. Please note we say ‘to apply’ and not ‘to get’. In other words, assuming you meet the requirements and can provide the right documents (which we can advise on), your application for Citizenship is based on the time before the date of application, not after. So, you can apply and then take a job offer abroad because your absences will be counted up to the date of application, not the date of decision.

Once you have an approval, you could come back to the UK for a citizenship ceremony where you would be given a certificate. You become British with that certificate, not with a passport. Once you are a British citizen, you could leave the UK for as long as you wish without losing that status. Not to mention that with a British passport you will be able to work in any EU country!

PS Those applying for an ILR recently may have noticed that a biometric card (while saying Indefinite) is valid for 10 years. Those who applied under the EU law had it for many years now (those who applied on EEA4 form, ie non-EU family members of EU nationals). So, this is not a mistake and the card will have to be renewed every 10 years, meaning another application, another fee etc. Unless of course you become British by then.

For an individual advice or to make an application please contact us:info@1st4immigration.com or visit www.1st4immigration.com 
 
If you are an Immigration Adviser or a Solicitor please visit our immigration Training and CPD website: www.1st4immigration.com/training






Popular posts from this blog

Updated May 2020: UK visa work continues - latest update

By -
UK immigration authorities continue to process visa applications, albeit not as fast as they normally would. The visa centres are beginning to gradually re-opening from 1 June 2020 in the UK and abroad. Regardless of when your particular centre re-opens, it is still possible to submit your application online. If your visa expires soon, you can apply for your next visa "on-time", i.e. before your current visa expires, by making such an application online and then waiting for the further steps. This keeps you within the Rules and does not make you an overstayer.  Even better, the actual documents (supporting evidence) can be submitted later, thus giving you even more time to prepare while remaining within the Rule on visa expiry dates. We usually have 45 days to provide the documents (ie upload them online to the Government portal) after the online "submission" mentioned above. This is extended for as long as it will take to clear up the backlog.  If you...
Read more

🇬🇧 Spouse vs Fiancée visa: pros and cons

By -
Image
    How are they different? What are advantages of each of them? Our helpful table below gives you the visa options for partners of UK citizens. Spouse visa (including civil partners) Fiancée visa Marital status Have to be married (or get married) and apply for a UK visa as a Spouse. Can come to the UK, get married within 6 months and then apply for a Spouse visa. Where to apply? Can apply outside the UK, in a country where a foreign spouse lives or works (but not visiting). Can switch inside the UK from most categories. Only outside the UK This includes a situation where the current UK visa allows switching to a Spouse visa but the couple has to take the Fiancée route (such as if they need time to meet the Financial Requirement). Duration of the visa 2.5 years, then extension for another 2.5 years, then permanent residency after 5 years. 6 months, then Spouse visa for 2.5 years, then extension for another 2.5 years, then permanent residency after 5 years on Spouse visas only ...
Read more

UK Visas and Immigration plans to go paperless in 2018. If it works, family visas – for spouses, partners, children etc – will be submitted online instead of the current paper forms and supporting documents.

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
Image
How do we know? We, 1 st 4Immigration Ltd,   were chosen by the UKVI to take part in a survey to provide a feedback on the upcoming system. We are very honoured! As can be seen on the Home Office letter (pictured), we were selected as one of only approximately 50 firms in the whole country, following the request of the Home Office to the OISC. We had a visit from 2 Home Office officials in November 2017. What a great day and what a productive visit! The officials informed us they had been trying hard to promote the online application process for in-country applications, such as FLR(M) for spouses and partners of UK citizens. The online applications have existed for entry clearance (when applying outside the UK) for many years now. Yet the in-country online application process has so far been relatively unknown and unused. It can be found here: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/family-routes At the moment most FLR(M) and FLR(FP) applications ar...
Read more