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Hi there,

A question about section 5 of the following form: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _03-16.pdf

We are required to list all absences from the UK but it is seriously lacking in context. If over the last 5 years I have left the UK countless times for weekend trips to Paris, work trips to the US for 5-10 days and other short holidays, how on earth can I know all the dates of these, especially EU destinations with no passport stamps!? Am I required to list each and every exit from the UK including weekend trips to Paris?

Thanks in advance!

emuoct wrote:Hi there,

A question about section 5 of the following form: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _03-16.pdf

We are required to list all absences from the UK but it is seriously lacking in context. If over the last 5 years I have left the UK countless times for weekend trips to Paris, work trips to the US for 5-10 days and other short holidays, how on earth can I know all the dates of these, especially EU destinations with no passport stamps!? Am I required to list each and every exit from the UK including weekend trips to Paris?

Thanks in advance!

Its up to the applicant to submit adequate evidence to support their case.
In this case you need to satisfy caseworker you have not broken continuity of residence in UK; and, if you have acquired PR, that you have not subsequently lost it due to prolonged absence.

Ofcourse HO are not hard-hearted Philistines, if you cannot remember specifics then submit approximate details of trips (details of month/year).

Thanks for the speedy reply. So I can just fill in rough dates of each holiday/trip for the ones that I have no stamps for in my passport, and it probably won't matter if I miss a few so long as I clearly show I've been a continued resident? (My work history and supporting documents should satisfy this I guess).

emuoct wrote:Thanks for the speedy reply. So I can just fill in rough dates of each holiday/trip for the ones that I have no stamps for in my passport, and it probably won't matter if I miss a few so long as I clearly show I've been a continued resident? (My work history and supporting documents should satisfy this I guess).

Yes, that's it in a nutshell.
You may wish to explain in a brief note that certain periods are hard to recall. If your residency docs also help prove you were in UK at the time (in absence of passport stamps) then all good.

The edge cases would be over 6 months absence in a recurring 12 month period; or a one-off absence up to 1 year for no good reason (and/or absence over 1 year).

Understood! Thanks very much. Roughly how long does it take to hear back after submission, do you know?

emuoct wrote:Understood! Thanks very much. Roughly how long does it take to hear back after submission, do you know?

Hear back - acknowledgement etc; don't hold your breath. (No handholding from UKVI/HO).

Hear back: issue/denial: 2 or 4 or 6 months (or more).
Watch timeline threads.

Good luck.

OP's link pointed to the EEA PR application, presumably aiming at BC in due course.
Now's the time to think ahead and keep records of travels going forward which then makes filling in the form AN requirement a doddle.

alterhase58 wrote:OP's link pointed to the EEA PR application, presumably aiming at BC in due course.
Now's the time to think ahead and keep records of travels going forward which then makes filling in the form AN requirement a doddle.

Good point. There's been a bunch of questions on EU-related absences and PR - I may have mixed it up with one of those.
But the listing of approximate dates and adding a note to explain still holds good.