Immigrationboards.com

Hi All,
Please can someone advise if I can apply for British citizenship?

My timeline
2011–2015: Student visa
2015: Student extension
2017: Family/FLR refused (Article 8 )
2018: Judicial review refused; Home Office gave time to leave
2018: Voluntary departure (left within the period allowed)
2018: Re-entered as dependent of a Skilled Worker visa holder
2021–2024: Visa extended
2024: ILR granted

I have held ILR since 2024. I returned lawfully in 2018 and obtained ILR afterward. I left voluntarily after the JR was refused and was neither removed nor banned. My questions

• Do I have to wait 10 years because of the 2016/2017 refusal, or can I apply now?

• Will the past FLR refusal and JR refusal automatically count against my “good character”?

Have you ever been an overstayer, or engaged in other illegal migration offences?

No, not at all.

The only time I was uncertain was between the Judicial Review being refused and leaving the country voluntarily. We had requested time from the Home Office, and they approved it. According to the caseworker's comments, she noted no negative impact and assured us she would leave a positive remark on the file.

I read that when a Judicial Review is refused, it technically means it won’t be considered as legal status. However, it also mentioned that since it wasn’t within your control, you couldn’t leave the country immediately. Does this impact Good Character requirements?

Do you mean Appeal or Judicial Review? They are two completely separate processes.

Only an appeal gives you Section 3C protection. Judicial Review does not.

It was Judicial Review.


The JR refusal means the High Court upheld the Home Office decision it's a legal challenge, not evidence of bad character. Many legitimate applicants pursue JR without it harming future applications.

Does it mean no impact on future application?

As the JR does not give you lawful status, you may have been an overstayer. In any case, if that is the only issue with your good character (no other immigration offences, motoring offences, fines etc) just declare it and it will be OK.

I can confirm no other issue offences immigration offences, motoring offences, fines etc

I tried to be stay within the law.

Any suggestion or sample of cover letter what should i write ? Thanks

We don't provide templates for that. Why was your application and the JR refused?

The Home Office believes there isn't enough evidence to support the application and that there are insufficient ties to the UK.

Also my English test and Life in the UK test expired several years ago. I would like to know if I can still use them or if I need to retake both tests.

You can reuse your Life in the UK test. Have you used your recent English test in a visa application that led to settlement?

For ILR, I used my English test passed in 2017 as a dependent of a Skilled Worker visa holder.

Dependent of a Skilled Worker visa holder: English test passed in 2017
ILR: English test passed in 2017
Naturalisation: ? Unsure if the same test can be used?

If you used test for ILR then it is accepted for naturalisation.

You can reuse the test you used for ILR, even if it's older than 2 years.