What is the earliest can I Submit ILR application?

[kishoreg15]

Hello Friends,

Following up on the thread: https://www.immigrationboards.com/viewt ... p?t=340015

I have a similar question, to apply earlier and go for Biometrics when I hit the qualified timeframe. Need your help to get some clarity.

Here are my details:

Visa Type: Skilled Worker
BRP Place & Date of Issue: UK - 3rd Feb, 2020
Vignette Visa Start Date: 15th Feb, 2020
Date of Entry in UK: 23rd Feb, 2020

From the above thread, I get a sense that I will be entering the qualified time based on the Date of Issue, rather than a Vignette Visa start data. Am I correct in my understanding? Any reference to official guidance would be really helpful.

Thank you for your assistance.

Best regards,
Kishore

[zimba]

You are correct. Whatever advice is given applies to you too. The date of application is not that critical

[kishoreg15]

Thank you for the response, Zimba. My question was more or less on the below two dates:

BRP Place & Date of Issue: UK - 3rd Feb, 2020
Vignette Visa Start Date: 15th Feb, 2020

Which one to consider, date of issue or actual visa start date on the vignette to plan my Biometrics date via Super Priority Service?

[zimba]

The BRP issue date

[kishoreg15]

Thank you once again. I have read and reread all the posts to get full clarity on this. Going by the case worker guide you have shared in the other post on page 32 it clearly states grant date:

"The time between the grant of entry clearance and the date they entered the UK counts towards the total of absences."

However, one thing is still puzzling me. How does a visa grant (issue) date considered, whereas I am not allowed to enter the country until my actual visa start date as per vignette? Are they confusing us with the grant date vs start date?

[zimba]

Because while your visa was approved, you still needed a sticker to enter the UK and that was issued later. For administrative reasons, a visa cannot be backdated so the sticker is issued from the date it is printed which means it will have a later date. However for calculating the qualifying period for the purposes of ILR, the first visa issue date is considered. Note that you are not the first person getting this advice and these are common knowledge in the immigration system

[kishoreg15]

Thank you for the clarification, Zimba.