🇬🇧 Indefinite Leave is not ‘indefinite’!

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Certainly not as indefinite as it sounds. It is important to bear this in mind if you are thinking of relocating or taking a job abroad. You could lose your ILR if you leave the UK for more than 2 years in a row. It happens a lot, especially now with many work opportunities worldwide.  


What’s the solution? To apply for British Citizenship, then go abroad. We say ‘apply’, not ‘get’. 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 date of decision.


Once you have an approval, you could come back to the UK for a citizenship ceremony, then apply for a UK passport. With a British passport, you can leave the UK for as long as you wish, without losing your status. 

 

 

Things to remember! 


1. At the moment, you have to return your ILR biometric visa card when you are granted Citizenship. Not when you obtain a UK passport, but before that, just after you have attended a ceremony. Once British, you will be expected to enter the UK with a UK passport, not your ILR. This is important when planing timing but also if your own country has restrictions on dual nationality. The UK allows multiple citizenships, they just want the ILR card back. 


2. At the moment all ILR cards (and all non-ILR visa cards) expire on 31.12.2024. Even if your status extends beyond that, the actual card says end of 2024. This is because from 2025 all visas are expected to go online, without physical stamps or cards.  

 

 

To talk to us about your case, please book a consultation here: https://www.1st4immigration.com/book-a-consultation/. Our guidance and experience is going to increase your chances! As always, a consultation fee counts towards our full service! 



1st 4Immigration is one of the most experienced UK immigration law companies, OISC - accredited at the highest Level 3. We have been in business for over 15 years, our OISC reference is 200800152, in which 2008 stands for the year accreditation. Office: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HN. 


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