ILR Eligibility application timing for SWV switched to GTV

Seeking advice on how early I can apply for ILR? Below are my timelines.

Applied for a Tier 2 (General) work visa from outside the UK.

• 22/08/2020 - Granted entry clearance visa

• 25/08/2020 Date of issue of my first BRP

• 16/11/2020 - Entered the UK and started working

Note: The delay in entering the UK was due to COVID-19 travel restrictions from my home country at the time. My first employer was happy to wait until I was able to travel.

• 11/11/2024 - Switched from SKW to GTV (Exceptional Promise) for 1 year.
  
  Thank you in advance!

You're already eligible for ILR under the GTV route - provided your sponsor is not Tech Nation and meet all the other requirements.

The date of entry is irrelevant.

lolo2 wrote: ↑

Sat May 17, 2025 12:56 pm

You're already eligible for ILR under the GTV route - provided your sponsor is not Tech Nation and meet all the other requirements.

The date of entry is irrelevant.

Thanks for your reply. Apologies for asking again, but could you please clarify why I am already eligible for ILR? I haven’t yet completed five years of continuous residency in the UK.
My Global Talent Visa (Exceptional Promise) was granted based on a peer review endorsement by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Because the qualifying period for ILR under GTV route is only 3 years if you got endorsement by the Royal Academy of Engineering. As any time spent under Tier 2/SKW visas count towards ILR, you were eligible for ILR shortly after moving to the GTV route

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... plications

zimba wrote: ↑

Sat May 17, 2025 8:34 pm

Because the qualifying period for ILR under GTV route is only 3 years if you got endorsement by the Royal Academy of Engineering. As any time spent under Tier 2/SKW visas count towards ILR, you were eligible for ILR shortly after moving to the GTV route

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... plications

So to confirm, the above is true regardless if the GTV was granted under "Exceptional talent" or "Exceptional promise" as long as it was endorsed by the RAE?

Sorty, I just feel dumb I didn't know that!

Please read the guide as the link is provided !!

TKaizen317 wrote: ↑

Sat May 17, 2025 7:53 pm

My Global Talent Visa (Exceptional Promise) was granted based on a peer review endorsement by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

It doesn't matter if you're an exceptional "promise" or "talent", as your endorsement was granted by RAEng you qualify for ILR after completing three years in the UK with a GTV as per the rules. Time on SW visa can be combined as explained above.