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10 years residence - absence date after qualifying period
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 10:46 am
by kennyhtnguyen
I came to the UK in September 2011, in which for the 10 year long residence, my qualifying period ended in September 2021.
However, after that, I was away for 4 months until now, February 2022, because I read through the document guidance: As long as in the past you have built up a qualified period you can leave and come back to apply at any time.
So I am currently applying for the ILR. In Immigration history, there is a question "Since you started living in the UK have you spent time outside the UK?".
Do I have to report the time I have spent outside the UK, or I only have to report all the absence within the qualifying period?
Thank you!
Re: 10 years residence - absence date after qualifying period
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:13 pm
by zimba
You declare all absences within the 10 years you are basing your long residence claim
Re: 10 years residence - absence date after qualifying period
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:31 pm
by kennyhtnguyen
Zimba wrote: ↑Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:13 pm
You declare all absences within the 10 years you are basing your long residence claim
Thank you for your response. So that's mean I don't have to declare my recent absence and it would not affect my application even they can check it in my passport, am I correct?
Re: 10 years residence - absence date after qualifying period
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:49 pm
by AmazonianX
kennyhtnguyen wrote: ↑Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:31 pm
Zimba wrote: ↑Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:13 pm
You declare all absences within the 10 years you are basing your long residence claim
Thank you for your response. So that's mean I don't have to declare my recent absence and it would not affect my application even they can check it in my passport, am I correct?
Correct.
Re: 10 years residence - absence date after qualifying period
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 4:56 pm
by secret.simon
Of course, keep in mind that all absences will come into play for any future naturalisation application.
Naturalisation is not a part of the immigration pathway, which ends at ILR, and has its own different rules, laws and requirements.
Re: 10 years residence - absence date after qualifying period
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 5:44 pm
by ywlgy
You may include a cover letter to ask the caseworker to assess your application based on the period, e.g. September 2011-September 2021, if adding the 4 months would exceed 540 days limit. Not long ago someone reported here a refusal because the caseworker wrongly considered only the latest 10 years.
No mandatory documents for ILR on UKVCAS
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 1:39 am
by kennyhtnguyen
I am currently applying for the 10 year long residence ILR. After I booked an appointment, I was required to upload supporting documents on the UKVCAS website.
However, as I have gone through there is no mandatory documents to be uploaded, the rest are optional documents which is quite confusing for me:

As far as I know, according to the documents checklist after I completed the ILR application form on UKVI, there are four type of documents that I have to bring with me to the appointment (which would be mandatory):
- Passport
- BRP
- Degree certificate (to prove level of english)
- Previous Passport, travel documents
What should I do? Shall I just upload my scanned documents into the Optional section?
Re: No mandatory documents for ILR on UKVCAS
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 10:36 am
by kennyhtnguyen
There are also a few more questions that I would like to ask since the appointment date is approaching:
- Regarding the family consent, I only signed the first page as the other two are not applicable to me, is that ok?
- Regarding the supporting documents, I only provided the documents listed in the checklist from UKVI, would it be sufficient? Or should I try to provide as much as possible such as tenancy agreement, bank statements, utility bills, etc...
- So far my documents would go into the following categories, can you guys help me to double check:
Proof of identity/ Travel History: Current and expired passports, BRPs
Education: Life in the UK test email confirmation of passing, University Degree Certificate (Bachelors & Masters)
Proof of Application: Signed application form, signed consent form, document check list
Many thanks!!
Re: No mandatory documents for ILR on UKVCAS
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 12:38 pm
by zimba
It is all good