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I was granted ILR today at the Croydon PSC and handed a letter that said the BRP should be received by me within seven working days. The letter also advised that I should not make any travel arrangements until I have received the BRP.

We have a long standing commitment to travel to Rome next Wednesday, 27 August, i.e. in eight days time. We cannot postpone or cancel this travel.

I would welcome advice on (a) how long does the BRP usually take to be delivered? and (b) what are the implications of leaving the country without the BRP? I still have a valid spouse visa in my passport.

Thanks

Up to 10 working days, ring DX every morning.

Thanks Amber, I will do as you suggest.

Any thoughts on the second part of my question - is it really an issue to leave the country for a few days simply because I don't yet have a BRP, given that I still have a valid spouse visa in my passport?

Coming back in might be the issue.

Thanks Amber, I very much appreciate your help.

I must say that I find it quite incongruous that 24 hours ago, when I hadn't been granted ILR, I could have left the country as planned but now, having been granted the ILR, I can't!!

Do you have any suggestions about whom I might contact in the UKBA or elsewhere who might be able to throw some light on this?

I have just contacted the UKBA and been advised that I cannot get back into the UK without the BRP which means that, unless the BRP arrives within a few days, I am going to have to cancel my travel plans which will impact on several other people as well as myself.

They advise me that the moment my ILR was approved, my spouse visa which up until that time had been valid, is no longer valid. Furthermore, if I was to come back into the UK without my BPR my passport will be stamped as a visitor and my ILR would then be extinct.

It appears as though my ILR has become an IOR - Indefinite Obligtion to Remain.

Words fail me.

It depends you see on delivery timescales.

In my case I have attended the appointment on 15/08/2014 and received BRP on 19/08/2014 (considering 16th and 17th being weekend)

Hope you receive in the next couple of days.

thanks, that does give me some hope.

For the benefit of others who may find themselves in a similar situation, my BRP arrived this afternoon, about 48 hours after the ILR was granted.

I am now free to leave the country for a short period of time knowing that they will let me back in!

I think you were finally relieved.

Although they say 7 - 10 working, I have received mine in 2 working days and so did you and few of my other friends.

Yes, it is a great relief.

In retrospect, the whole experience was quite good. The PSC at Croydon are to be congratulated on their professionalism at every stage of the process. Very friendly, very helpful people.

Thanks also to those people on this forum who have been helpful and prepared to offer advice.

If I have any criticism, it is in relation to the SET(M) form itself. It leaves quite a bit to be desired in terms of its consistency and ease of use. It would benefit from some professional editing.