Habitual Residence Proof OF ILR Nightmare

I have three dependant children. I am American, and have resided in this country since 1983. I was 13 when I moved here with my mother who married a British Man and also was granted ILR. I was granted Indefinite Leave to Remain at that time. I have not left the country for any more than the odd rare holiday. Have been married then divorced...

I was given a photocopy ILR letter in 1983 age 13 and yes a stamp in a Passport. Since this date 34 years ago. The passport is no longer in existence. We have had one large house fire in 1986 in Middlesex, however I am not sure if this is when it may have been lost or it has been lost in time. It was never queried when I had holidays, Always it was just stamped VIPP (Verified in Previous Passport). I never renewed the stamp as it was not necessary and it was so much money.

I worked many years, paid my taxes. However, I fell on very bad times and was in a terrible marriage and was a victim of domestic violence.

I am now ill and trying to claim ESA. I have been told that they are running Home Office Checks as they do not accept I have Indefinte Leave. This is ludicrous. Unfortunately the home office have destroyed all paperwork! I have now sent all my info to the Biometric Card Office in the hope of a card - but am completely lost -- I do not know what I will do... this is crazy. I will lose all tax credits and Housing help..

They also claim my paper letter is not admissible as proof of ILR as it has no reference number yet it is all we were given?!

I do not know what I will do.

Please can anyone advise? Thank you x

Unfortunately, it's true.

Do you have any passports with the endorsement
that states "Given Indefinite Leave to Enter the United Kingdom" or similar?

Any photocopies of passports?

Doesn't the ILR letter that you have contain a Home Office Reference? It should have the Home Office date stamp with the caseworker's id number, etc.



If you are employed, then your employers should have proof of your ILR.

My Home office letter has no references like the one shown - it is dated 1983 and is very non specific. I have sent off my passports now to Biometric Residence Card and I think may have the smaller stamp - now that I see that one, but cannot be sure

What proof would previous employers have of ILR? Thank you

I’m following this with interest. I was born in the USA and settled as a child with my British born mother around 1979. Around this time I have passports with the old style wet ink stamps showing indefinite leave to enter the UK. The most recent of these is stamped in to an expired passport in 2009.

However when I tried to renew my sons British passport recently using my settled status (ILE) the passport office have said they have no record of me.

This I’m told is windrush (Non Commonwealth settled between 1973 - 1988).

I’ve now contacted the Windrush Taskforce with photo copies of my old ILR wet stamps.

I’ve always traveled on the expired passport with the ILE stamp in and my current one but now I’m concerned.

Can anyone shed light on this please?

Unfortunately, they periodically destroy records. Hence, Windrush nightmares.

However, as child’s British passport is valid for only five years, I’m surprised that, when renewing it, they don’t have any record of it nor of you.