No mandatory documents for ILR on UKVCAS

[kennyhtnguyen]

I came to the UK in September 2011, in which for the 10 year long residence, my qualifying period ended in September 2021.

However, after that, I was away for 4 months until now, February 2022, because I read through the document guidance: As long as in the past you have built up a qualified period you can leave and come back to apply at any time.

So I am currently applying for the ILR. In Immigration history, there is a question "Since you started living in the UK have you spent time outside the UK?".

Do I have to report the time I have spent outside the UK, or I only have to report all the absence within the qualifying period?

Thank you!

[zimba]

You declare all absences within the 10 years you are basing your long residence claim

[kennyhtnguyen]

You declare all absences within the 10 years you are basing your long residence claim

Thank you for your response. So that's mean I don't have to declare my recent absence and it would not affect my application even they can check it in my passport, am I correct?

[AmazonianX]

You declare all absences within the 10 years you are basing your long residence claim

Thank you for your response. So that's mean I don't have to declare my recent absence and it would not affect my application even they can check it in my passport, am I correct?

Correct.

[secret.simon]

Of course, keep in mind that all absences will come into play for any future naturalisation application.

Naturalisation is not a part of the immigration pathway, which ends at ILR, and has its own different rules, laws and requirements.

[ywlgy]

You may include a cover letter to ask the caseworker to assess your application based on the period, e.g. September 2011-September 2021, if adding the 4 months would exceed 540 days limit. Not long ago someone reported here a refusal because the caseworker wrongly considered only the latest 10 years.

[kennyhtnguyen]

I am currently applying for the 10 year long residence ILR. After I booked an appointment, I was required to upload supporting documents on the UKVCAS website.
However, as I have gone through there is no mandatory documents to be uploaded, the rest are optional documents which is quite confusing for me:

As far as I know, according to the documents checklist after I completed the ILR application form on UKVI, there are four type of documents that I have to bring with me to the appointment (which would be mandatory):
- Passport
- BRP
- Degree certificate (to prove level of english)
- Previous Passport, travel documents

What should I do? Shall I just upload my scanned documents into the Optional section?

[kennyhtnguyen]

There are also a few more questions that I would like to ask since the appointment date is approaching:
- Regarding the family consent, I only signed the first page as the other two are not applicable to me, is that ok?
- Regarding the supporting documents, I only provided the documents listed in the checklist from UKVI, would it be sufficient? Or should I try to provide as much as possible such as tenancy agreement, bank statements, utility bills, etc...
- So far my documents would go into the following categories, can you guys help me to double check:

Proof of identity/ Travel History: Current and expired passports, BRPs
Education: Life in the UK test email confirmation of passing, University Degree Certificate (Bachelors & Masters)
Proof of Application: Signed application form, signed consent form, document check list

Many thanks!!

[zimba]

It is all good