Being physically in UK 5 years before exemption? Please help

Good Afternoon,



Asking for a family member who is on settled status (NON EU citizen) already divorced. So, she got settled status last year in July so technically she can apply for citizenship in July, however, in June 2020 she went to Ukraine due to Covid personal reasons, grandparents were literally dying one by one at that time period, then it was lockdown and limited travel in October 2020 and she came back to UK, on 1st December 2020..


We know the rule of being physically present in the UK 5 years before application for citizenship, however, is it worth to apply considering the circumstances of COVID and can HO apply exemption?

In citizenship booklet it is written "If you cannot meet this requirement, your application is likely to be refused. If you believe there were exceptional circumstances which prevented you from being in the UK on the first day of the qualifying period, please provide details when you apply"



Thanks

She willingingly left the uk in the middle of a pandemic.

Keep it simple, she should wait till 1st/2nd December to apply or risk a refusal and losing the fee.

Just wait a few months and apply then to be more confident in a positive outcome.