Tier 1(G) ILR application with unpaid leave & complications

Hello everyone,

Finally it is time for me to make my ILR application.
Thanks to this board which helped me out in the long journey so far for initial Tier 1 (General) application, extension, spouse visa application and extension and I have more questions to ask now.

I am planning to apply for ILR after March 15th this year, thanks to something outside my control.
I have always been an employee (no self-employment, second jobs etc) and no arrests, court judgements etc.

This is how my absences get split into, based on my application date :

• Year 5 - 48 days (22 days work trip, 26 days paid holiday)
  Year 4 - 97 days (unpaid leave 24 days, paid leave 7 days, work trips 44 days, compassionate leave due to bereavement 9 days,)
  Year 3 - 79 days (compassionate leave due to bereavement 10 days, paid leave 24 days, work trips 45 days)
  Year 2 - 39 days (all paid leave)
  Year 1 - 23 days (all paid leave)

Now, for year 5 (back in 2011), the company that I worked for has been dissolved and no one can give me a letter on official stationery, so 22 day trip evidence cannot be given. I believe UKVI will ignore this if they can see that I was employed with that company (please correct me if I am wrong)

Year 4 (2012) is what worries me a lot, as I had taken a vacation between jobs. At the end of Year 4 and beginning of Year 3, I had to take compassionate leave to deal with a bereavement (funeral, final rites etc.)

From 2012 - 2015, I have taken work trips to a city where my previous employer's offshore partners were located, which also happens to be my home town. This worked out well for the company and me but I am worried as to what sort of proof other than the employer's letter is needed. The previous employer who sent me on these trips will give me a letter describing the nature of my role (technical consultant), the necessity for me to travel (knowledge transfer, training and software project execution) and the list of trips I had to take. I hope that this is sufficient.

I have also worked a lot of days over the weekends (was a bachelor back then) and took off days in lieu. This will also be included in the employer's letter for paid leave, though I am not sure if UKVI will accept this.

Any advice from the mods or folks who faced a similar situation recently (as I believe that this tighter scrutiny of Tier 1 ILR seems to be happening now) is greatly appreciated. I would like to know how to deal with this unpaid leave situation in Year 4.

Thanks in advance !

BL69

guys, mods please any opinion on my situation ?

I am thinking of providing proof only for work trips and compassionate leave and not providing any for paid/unpaid holidays. Would that work ? It seems to have worked in the past.

Thanks !

Hi blacklabel69,
How did your application go ? I am in similar situation. Can you please update ?

Hi there,

I went with a solicitor and I got my ILR in about 90 mins at Croydon PSC. I wanted peace of mind and felt my case was not straight forward and it worked out. Good luck with yours !