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Absences count: are trips to the UK included?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 3:54 pm
by mike20
Hi,
I am new here, so apologies if I'm posting in the wrong place.
I would like to pose a question with respect to the naturalisation application absences list. I have a period of 11 month which I was absent from the UK, which of course I am planning to disclose as part of my application. However, I would like to ask you if I can include short trips to the UK as part of my "days in the UK count" - i.e. even if I have the absence of 11 months, are the trips to the UK discounted?
For instance:
- Left the UK in July 2018
- Visited the UK for a week (X-Y days) in November 2018
- Returned to the UK in June 2019
Should I include a long period of absence between July 2018 to June 2019, or should it be July - X November 2018, Y November 2018 - June 2019?
I hope this makes sense.
Thanks
Re: Absences count: are trips to the UK included?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 5:20 pm
by zimba
It should be July - X November 2018 then Y November 2018 - June 2019
However you cannot have more than 90 days of absence in the last 12 months from the date of your citizenship application or it will be refsued
Re: Absences count: are trips to the UK included?
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2019 8:09 pm
by mike20
Thank you very much indeed for your answer.
Is there any documentation confirming that? My concern is mostly the fact that for that week, I can't really claim I was a resident in the UK, I was mainly visiting. I can prove I was here of course but not with the intention to stay longer.
I'm okay with the 90 days in the past year limit.
Re: Absences count: are trips to the UK included?
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 1:59 am
by zimba
The absence requirement is separate from residency (EEA exercising treaty rights before PR) requirement. Do you already have PR ?? How many days were you absent in the last 12 months ??
Re: Absences count: are trips to the UK included?
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 10:18 am
by mike20
I don't plan to apply till next August and the dates I gave was just as an example, so I think I'm fine with the 12 month absences restriction.
I'm waiting to get my settled status application granted. Likely going to be this week.
But even for citizenship, it is required to give evidence of residence in these years despite having the settled status, right? I was reading that because of being an EEA citizen, I should send them letters from employers or academic institutions. Hence I was asking, if I present my trips as presence in the UK, and I have to show evidence, is it sufficient to show my airline tickets for example or a bank statement from that month showing transactions? Or are they not thoroughly checking all years residence again since they were checked for the settled status?
Re: Absences count: are trips to the UK included?
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 4:39 pm
by guru1s
mike20 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2019 10:18 am
I don't plan to apply till next August and the dates I gave was just as an example, so I think I'm fine with the 12 month absences restriction.
I'm waiting to get my settled status application granted. Likely going to be this week.
But even for citizenship, it is required to give evidence of residence in these years despite having the settled status, right? I was reading that because of being an EEA citizen, I should send them letters from employers or academic institutions. Hence I was asking, if I present my trips as presence in the UK, and I have to show evidence, is it sufficient to show my airline tickets for example or a bank statement from that month showing transactions? Or are they not thoroughly checking all years residence again since they were checked for the settled status?
If you do not meet a criteria for settlement scheme, you are most likely be qualified for pre-settlement scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-ci ... atus-means
If you get pre-settlement, you can't apply for BC after 12 months, as you need to get settlement status.
If you get settlement scheme, then you will be fine after 12 month applying for BC, but keep documents that you have provided for settlement scheme and add more evidence for the next 12 months.
Re: Absences count: are trips to the UK included?
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:40 am
by zimba
mike20 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2019 10:18 am
I don't plan to apply till next August and the dates I gave was just as an example, so I think I'm fine with the 12 month absences restriction.
I'm waiting to get my settled status application granted. Likely going to be this week.
But even for citizenship, it is required to give evidence of residence in these years despite having the settled status, right? I was reading that because of being an EEA citizen, I should send them letters from employers or academic institutions. Hence I was asking, if I present my trips as presence in the UK, and I have to show evidence, is it sufficient to show my airline tickets for example or a bank statement from that month showing transactions? Or are they not thoroughly checking all years residence again since they were checked for the settled status?
If they accept the evidence and give you settled status or PR, then they accept it for naturalisation too. But given your circumstances, I doubt you can even get settled status for now.