Dependant ILR with new Entry clearance b/w qualifying period

I would like to know the 5 year qualifying period for dependents(spouse) can be calculated without considering new issue of visa in between qualifying period. We are on Tier1 (general) visa.

Dependent first EC issued: July 2009(3 years)
Dependent date of entry: September 2009
Date Dependent left the country(for maternity): June 2012(visa expired same month)
Dependent second entry clearance issued: Jan 2013
Dependent date of (second) entry : March 2013

Main applicant ILR eligibility date:July 2014

So, on July 2014 the dependent will be completing 4 years and 1 months(excluding the maternity absence) in UK overall. Because she applied for second entry clearance after the July 2012 rule changes she need to complete 5 years for ILR.

We based our decision to not extend her visa when she went for maternity on the previous rule of co-habitation of two years NOT being continuous. However, the rule change spoiled all the plans.

My question here is, as per the new rule does she need to complete 5 years from her second date of entry (March 2013)? Or is she eligible for ILR calculating 5 years from her first entry date?

Please provide your valuable inputs.

My guess is from her first entry date (319E).

vinny wrote:My guess is from her first entry date (319E).

Thank you, Vinny.

Vargasejim,

I'm in same boat as you. Were you able to apply for your wife? I check 319E and it is not still very clear to me.

Thanks,
Syb

I think she is eligible to apply for ILR based on her 1st entry date.

syb007 wrote:Vargasejim,

I'm in same boat as you. Were you able to apply for your wife? I check 319E and it is not still very clear to me.

Thanks,
Syb

I will get ILR on June 2014 and my wife will be eligible by September 2014 by calculating 5 years from her first entry date.

Thank you for your response. I got my ILR just 2 days back and will be applying for my wife in 2 weeks time. I will update you how it goes with my application.

Thanks,
Syb

Hi,
My case is not exactly similar to you both but it is relevant, you can read my query here. I earlier thought that the leave as your dependant spouse/Unmarried partner issued earlier will be counted towards probationary period but reply below says its not.
I did an email to "SettlementOpsPolicy@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk" regarding the EC after 9th July 2012 they forwarded my email to general enquiries. General enquiries response was quite straightforward (not good for me or some people's dependant), please find the response below. In my email I did include the details of my wife visa and explain her previous Tier 1 Dependant Visa and Student visa, explained every single bit of information to them but they forwarded to general enquiry, finally I replied him back with 319E(d)(ii) and ask him clarification on this (still waiting):

Earlier response from UKBA:
Dear Mr AAAA,

Thank you for your email dated 2013. Your enquiry has been forwarded to Home Office Public Enquiries because it is not a policy enquiry.

From the information you have provided, as your wife left the UK prior to the completion of her extension application and returned with a Fresh Entry Clearance which was applied for after the 08 July 2012, she will be subject to the Rules in place after 9th July. This means your wife will not qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain at the point when you make your application in September 2013. She will have a 5 year qualifying period for settlement starting from August 2012.

Yours sincerely,

UK Visa & Immigration

further update in relation to my email, please find settlement services reply below, please can anyone comment:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your e mail enquiry regarding the immigration rules for the partner of a PBS migrant in respect of indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which has been passed to me for response. As you are aware, before the immigration rules were changed 9 July 2012, it was possible for anyone who held leave this category, to be eligible to apply for ILR after 2 years. Since that date, anyone who had been granted leave to enter or remain before that date, will continue to be eligible to qualify for ILR after 2 years. However, anyone entering the UK under paragraph 319 after that date, will not be eligible to apply for ILR until they have spent 5 years in this category.

Although your wife was granted leave under paragraph 319 before 9 July 2012, she left the UK and allowed that leave to expire. She then re-entered the UK with new entry clearance under paragraph 319 after 9 July 2012, therefore she cannot count her previous leave towards the qualifying period. Under the new rules, she will not be eligible to apply for ILR until she has held continuous leave in this category for a period of 5 years from her last entry clearance date.

I trust this clarifies the situation.

Regards
Settlement, Family and Nationality Operational Policy & Rules |Operational Systems Transformation | Home Office

However, there isn't any 'continuous leave' requirement in 319E(d)(ii), is there?

Thanks Vinny, this is what more concerns me, I am really worried, I was thinking my wife student visa (when she was not my dependant) will not count towards the probabtionary period for 5 years but I was quite hopeful her first entry clearance as my dependant in January 2009 will be ok to count towards 5 years and as per that she will be eligible in 2014 December, but there reply said it isn't, do you think I will email back to them and ask them ? please if you can kindly quote me some points I will be grateful.


Kind regards,

Just something to add here from " Family members of points-based system migrants -This guidance is based on the Immigration RulesCombining Leave For ILR (Page 33)

Can you shed some light on this?

Do email them back.

Ask them where is a 'continuous leave' requirement in 319E(d)(ii)? The 'continuous leave' only occurs in 319(d)(i). Note that the first words in (ii) are "If (i) does not apply,..".

Moreover, I cannot find the definition of 'continuous leave' in this context. It's more complicated as leave is not required when one is outside the UK.

Update

Thank you very much Vinny, I really appreciate your response. I will certainly do that and keep updating. I will also refer that "Combining leave for ILR" previously quoted in my earlier post.


Kind regards

If there is a continuous leave requirement, then they may be using similar principles as outlined below.

Indefinite leave to remain – calculating continuous period in UK wrote:Continuation of lawful leave during absences from the UK

This page tells you about lawful leave continuing during absences from the UK. The continuous period is maintained if the:
 applicant leaves the UK without valid leave, but re-enters with new entry clearance within 28 days of their leave expiry date
 applicant leaves the UK with valid leave and re-enters the UK whilst that leave remains valid, provided the absence(s) do not exceed 180 days in a relevant 12 month period, or
 applicant’s leave expires for 28 days or less whilst outside the UK and the applicant returns with new entry clearance.

If the applicant’s leave expires whilst they are outside the UK and they apply for new entry clearance more than 28 days after their previous leave expires, then the continuous period is broken and leave is not aggregated.

Yes, you are right, thanks for pointing that out, it should be more precise and clear as per the above document. Thanks God it is just applicable for Main applicant
Also, I have found this (not sure it is relevant or not):

Section E-ILRP: Eligibility for indefinite leave to remain as a partner states that:
E-ILRP.1.4. In calculating the periods under paragraph E-ILRP.1.3. only the periods when the applicant's partner is the same person as the applicant's partner for the previous period of limited leave shall be taken into account.

E-ILRP.1.4 is probably significant if your partner runs off with someone else? Then the previous periods with you cannot be included for your ex-partner's ILR.

vinny wrote:E-ILRP.1.4 is probably significant if your partner runs off with someone else? Then the previous periods with you cannot be included for your ex-partner's ILR.

My wife is with me since we got married in 2006, so that means E-ILRP.1.4 is relevant and case worker should calculate based on previous leaves.

Yes. That's true as well.

However, E-ILRP isn't applicable here because E-ILRP.1.3 isn't applicable for applications under 319E.