Immigrationboards.com

Dear board members,

I'd really appreciate your help with regard to a slightly unusual query I have about applying for citizenship (naturalisation).

I have had ILR since Jan 2012, having come to the UK on a work permit in Jan 2007. I have lived and worked here since 2007, except for a period of 18 months in 2012-13 when I worked abroad, which was due to a family situation.

So if I count no. of days I've been outside UK in last five years and it is coming to approx. 600 days ( 545 days break after ILR + 55 days of my annual holidays in previous years).

My question is am I eligible to apply for citizenship say in the month of Sep-2014 (first entered to UK on 10-Jan-2007) having spent more than 7years in the UK with a break of 1.5years.

Immigration rules stats that "if your absences are up to 730 days we would expect you to have been resident in the UK for the last 7 years."

I'm trying to understand if I'd be called a resident in the UK for the last 7 years even if I'm having 1.5 years break within this 7 years.

Summary of stay.

Jan-2007 to Jan-2012 = 5 years
Jan-2012 to Jun-2013 = 1.5 years break
Jun-2013 to Sep-2014 = 1 Yr 3 months.

Your responce is truly appreciated.

Many Thanks,
Govy

How many absences do you have in the final year?

Just two weeks (14days).

As far as I know you can apply for discretion for being absent 600 days as you have been UK resident for the past 7 years.
Since I also had to apply for discretion as my absences were over the allowed limit I did thorough research and have been following every related topic here and nowhere did I come across that if you were absent for a longer period at once that it should be treated differently than other absences.
Having said that it is not 100% guaranteed that should you apply for discretion that you will be granted approval but if you have made UK your home together with your family and have large part of your estate here than it is most likely.