Long Residence (10 years) and Refugee

[Bilawals]

Hi All, I have a couple of questions regarding my situation.

I am planning to apply for ILR on the basis of Long residence and currently I hold a refugee leave to remain which is valid till 2022.

I entered the UK as a student in April 2009, had an extension and then a refugee leave.
I did my research and it says refugee can apply for ILR 10 years route regardless of the immigration category's held as long as it has been continious and there are no gaps. This is my current situation. I have been legally in the country for 10 years without any gaps.
My questions are:
1.I passed an Academic IELTS test with 7.0 in 2008. Can I still use it for my ILR application? The test centre is still in the approved test centres (PK602).
2.I only have a IELTS photocopy (orignal misplaced), can I submit that if the test is acceptable?
3. Do I need to provide additional supporting documents with my application or just the ones in the list of documents at the end of the application?
4. If granted ILR can you travel back to your home for holiday without any issues on return or when applying for a passport?

Thank you very much. I would really appreciate your responses.

[vinny]

Safer to take an approved B1 test.
Probably safer not to return to your country of origin.

[Bilawals]

Thank you for your response.
Another question. I had applied for a visa extension in 2010 which was refused with a right to appeal. I appealed against the decision and was eventually granted in 2013. Do the waiting 3 years can be included in time spent in the UK?

[vinny]

Yes.

[Bilawals]

Hi do you have to pay the ILR fee if you are taking the long residence route but are a refugee? What about the life in the UK test and English test as in some places it says refugees are exempt fromt these tests but I am sure If that will be the case when going throught the lonf residence route?

Thanks

[CR001]

Hi do you have to pay the ILR fee if you are taking the long residence route but are a refugee?

You pay the fee online when you apply using form SET LR. Being a refugee makes no difference for long residence ilr.

What about the life in the UK test and English test as in some places it says refugees are exempt fromt these tests but I am sure If that will be the case when going throught the lonf residence route?

As a refugee, you are only exempt if you apply for ILR based on 5 years refugee status using form SET P. There is no exemption for you on form SET LR and you need both English B1 and LIUK tests.

[Bilawals]

Thank you for your respinse. That makes it clear.
I have an IELTS 7.0 but expired and a BTEC HND level 5, would any of these be able to prove language skills or count as B1? Or shall I sit another English test?
Thanks

[CR001]

You need a new test that is on the current ho approved list.

[Bilawals]

I have checked the old test centre and it is still under the approved test centres list. PK602
Shall I go ahead with it?

[seagul]

I have checked the old test centre and it is still under the approved test centres list. PK602
Shall I go ahead with it?

Since your last grant of leave wasn't actually needed any English test and your test certificate must not have the UKVI unique reference number for verification, therefore, it wont be accepted.

[Bilawals]

Hi all, I’m not sure if someone is in a similar situation as mine as I have searched the internet thoroughly and not found a direct answer. I have applied for ILR on the basis of Long residence by paying around £3200 and I still have my refugee status valid till 2022. Since my ILR is based on long residence rather than ILR after spending 5 years on refugee status, is it acceptable to travel to my home country to visit. I would like to see my mother as she is quite ill. If I do will I be troubled on my return ? Will it affect my application for British nationality? And once I have an ILR ,can I hand back the travel document and attain my national passport?
A bit of a background on my case:

I have been legally in the UK all this time with some 3C leaves.
My refugee status is based on my conversion to Christianity which I still practice. But going back to visit is different from settling and practicing my religion openly which can have serious consequences from family and society.
If anyone could please guide me regarding this ,it will be highly appreciated.
Thank you very much.

[zimba]

No. You were granted asylum probably based on your claim that your life will be in danger going back. Your 10 years includes time spent as an asylum. If you go back, UKVI can revoke your ILR as it will prove that you acquired ILR through deception by lying on your asylum application.

[Bilawals]

No. You were granted asylum probably based on your claim that your life will be in danger going back. Your 10 years includes time spent as an asylum. If you go back, UKVI can revoke your ILR as it will prove that you acquired ILR through deception by lying on your asylum application.

Thank you for your reply. Would it be ok once I have a British passport?

[zimba]

Home Office has the powers to revoke your citizenship too. However most refugees who travelled back home after becoming British have not faced issues so far but the risk will always be there. Future governments may take a stricter approach

[Bilawals]

Home Office has the powers to revoke your citizenship too. However most refugees who travelled back home after becoming British have not faced issues so far but the risk will always be there. Future governments may take a stricter approach

Oh ok. Can I use my national passport after ILR to travel to other countries or I can’t use that either?

[zimba]

That is not relevant to British authorities

[Route to ILR]

Home Office has the powers to revoke your citizenship too. However most refugees who travelled back home after becoming British have not faced issues so far but the risk will always be there. Future governments may take a stricter approach

Oh ok. Can I use my national passport after ILR to travel to other countries or I can’t use that either?

What is your country of nationality???

[Bilawals]

I have checked the old test centre and it is still under the approved test centres list. PK602
Shall I go ahead with it?

Since your last grant of leave wasn't actually needed any English test and your test certificate must not have the UKVI unique reference number for verification, therefore, it wont be accepted.

Thanks for everyone’s input but just so you know I applied for my ILR with the old English test and it was accepted. Hope this info will be useful to anyone who is in a similar situation. As long as the approved test is still on the list regardless how old it is and was used for even when you first applied for your visa under any category, it will be accepted.