Counting 28 days from 9 Jan

[zimba]

Thank you very very much. I now see where the misunderstanding stems from. What you are saying is that if she applies on 1 December but the decision is made on 12 December - that is ok.

But! The official ukba website says that the earliest you can apply is 28 days before you are eligible.

And if she is eligible on 9 Jan 2026, she cannot apply earlier than 12 December anyway.

UKBA does not even exist. In fact, it was disbanded in 2013.

Such restriction does not apply at all. No where under the immigration rules, there has ever been such a requirement which says you must apply at a specific point. Never ever such a thing existed.

The whole 'do not apply unless you are within 28 days' advice is due to historical reasons. I have routinely covered this issue and I explained its context under the link I gave you which you not only did not properly read, but happily ignored.

I have been covering this over and over on the forum: viewtopic.php?t=354440#p2194446

[Lawgic]

Ok Zimba, thank you very much. I mentioned UKBA, but it’s the official gov.uk website. If you are suggesting they listed incorrect or incomplete info, I accept your point. Either way, the applicant will apply no earlier than 12 December just to be on the safe side. And will attend biometrics soon thereafter. Thanks again for all your hard work and precise knowledge of the intricacies of the immigration rules, cases and the law in general. I hope to ask your advice again in the future. This forum is blessed to have you here. God bless

Thank you very very much. I now see where the misunderstanding stems from. What you are saying is that if she applies on 1 December but the decision is made on 12 December - that is ok.

But! The official ukba website says that the earliest you can apply is 28 days before you are eligible.

And if she is eligible on 9 Jan 2026, she cannot apply earlier than 12 December anyway.

UKBA does not even exist. In fact, it was disbanded in 2013.

Such restriction does not apply at all. No where under the immigration rules, there has ever been such a requirement which says you must apply at a specific point. Never ever such a thing existed.

The whole 'do not apply unless you are within 28 days' advice is due to historical reasons. I have routinely covered this issue and I explained its context under the link I gave you which you not only did not properly read, but happily ignored.

I have been covering this over and over on the forum: viewtopic.php?t=354440#p2194446

[CR001]

Just to clarify, we’d go for the priority service so hoping to get the decision before 9 Jan, in which case we would rely on the 28 day rule and so need to calculate those 28 days

Also, to reiterate, as you keep saying priority service. The 5 day priority service option does NOT apply and is not available for SET M applications.

You have only two options, standard service or the £1000 super priority service.