John?Vinny?Kayalami?Chess?MwazirILR:1st date of entry to UK

I will be going to a PEO this Monday for my appointment for my ILR application.

I have already filled in my form but was wondering if I have done it right.

In Section 6.1, the question is "when did you first enter the UK? This refers to the date of your first entry into the UK *at the beginning of the period of stay on which this application is based"

Now I have been in the UK since 1997. I will be applying based on 5-yr work permit, and my work permit start date was 27th Aug 2003.

What should I be filling in this column?
(i) 27 August 2003?
(ii) 12 November 2002? (which was the previous entry date before I got my work permit stamp)
(iii) 5 October 2003? (the first entry BACK into the UK after a business trip abroad?)
I actually asked the person I spoke to on the Immigration Enquiry Line on the Set(O) form but they didn't know the answer and couldn't provide a satisfactory one...saying it doesn't matter as I will be AT the appointment in person and could explain. But that doesn't actually enlighten me on what actually to fill-in, in the column?

Also I have read from other posts that some applicants have gotten their employers to write a letter detailing each and every business trip abroad. I haven't done this and don't think i have enough time to do so. Is this absolutely essential?

I have gone on holidays abroad spanning 4-5 weeks at a time ... I don't suppose this is a problem? I am still well within the limit of 225 days within the 5 year period.

Also I have a missing stamp from when I got back into the UK - for some reason the Immigration officer at the airport forgot to stamp my passport and I didn't notice until I was filling in my Set(O). But I am guessing this doesn't matter as I would have filled in a Landing Card at the time, and my details would have gone into the computer database anyway?

Ooo and are we supposed to provide payslips for every month for the last 5 years? I have 5 missing from the 60 I've got.

And what is the rule for qualifying period? Holder of work permit for 60 months (minus 28-day to date of expiry) or is it having to have worked for exactly 60 months? I am a few days short of that as I got my work permit 5 days before I actually started work. (Home Office stamped and sent back my passport so I could actually LEGALLY start work a few days later) I have been getting rather mixed messages from the people on the other end of the 0870 number!

I would apppreciate if someone could help advise.

Thanks in advance.

Julsee x
ps: I am not being a slacker and asking these questions as a means of a shortcut to the answers. I have honestly perused the assorted guidance and forms and the information on the BIA website I found have been a bit sketchy to the say the least. And I am a bag of nerves at the moment.