How to count absences for Indefinite Leave to Remain? From what date? Date of entry, date when the visa was issued or date of ILR application?
This is one of the most
common question for those applying for an ILR in the Points-Based System
routes, such as Tier 1 and Tier 2, as well as in the Ancestral route.
The limit on absences is
well-known, 180 days in each 12 months of the (5 years) qualifying period. The
questions is: how do we count these 12 months, from which date? From the date
of entry to the UK? No. From the date of when the visa was issued? No. A
calendar year? No.
The answer is: from the
date of application for an ILR. Since there is no obligation to apply for an
ILR on the 1st day you are eligible, ‘your’ 12 months for this purpose
will depend on the day when you’re applying for an ILR. To make it more
complex, you can apply for an ILR within 28 days before you qualify, thus potentially
‘moving’ your application date and therefore ‘your’ 12 months again.
There may be further
questions re whether to count the period between the date your Entry Clearance was
issued and the date you entered the UK; plus a further question whether to
count this period as an absence.
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