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I am ready to submit my ILR application after spending 5 years in the UK on my UK Ancestry Visa.

Near the end of the form Set (O) (section entitled "6. Pay") it asks you to select a service. The only option I can see is standard service (£2,404), with a decision expected within 26 weeks.

I thought there was a priority and super priority service option available at extra cost. (See here: https://www.gov.uk/faster-decision-visa-settlement). After doing some googling, I've seen some things which say these priority services are not currently available for ILR applications via UK Ancestry Visa.

So I called the UKVI contact centre for more info. An adviser said that there are set numbers of priority services allocated to applicants each day so if you don't see an option on the form it's best to refresh/try the form at a different time/day. Can anyone confirm if this is true?

Thanks!

Thanks, that's helpful - sounds like it's true.

So now I just need to login multiple times each day to check whether a priority option becomes available before my visa expires.

My draft ILR application (section entitled "4. Documents") lists out both "Mandatory" documents and "Other" documents - see below (anonymised) - with a health warning that failure to supply the "Other" documents could lead to the application being delayed or refused.

Some of these seem like overkill or are repetitious IMO.

So before I submit the application, my questions for this forum are:

1. Given the volume of documents, do applicants typically include a cover letter that lists out the below documents? Hard to know what the next step for "upload[ing] copies of your documents on our commercial partner's website" looks like. Perhaps it is clear which document is uploaded against which category? Or do you just upload them all and trust the caseworker will know what's what? Any info/experience on this would be helpful.

2. I've listed out the documents I expect to provide in underline below. I'd welcome any tips if you think any of these are off mark.

Thank you!!!

Mandatory
1. The passport issued by COUNTRY for NAME. My current passport.

Other
2. Document(s) showing that you are able to work and intend to take or seek employment in the UK. I am currently employed. Same documents as item 7? What else would I provide?
3. Consent form for the Home Office to request verification checks on NAME for joint accounts or third party support. UKVI consent form, signed by me and joint holder of bank account relevant for bank statements at item 10.
4. Evidence that you have a grandparent who was born in the UK or Islands (including the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Ireland (if they were born there before 31 March 1922) such as:
- your full birth certificate. My birth certificate.
- the full birth certificate of the parent through whom you are claiming UK ancestry. My father's birth certificate.
- the birth certificate of your grandparent who was born in the UK or Islands. My grandfather's birth certificate (born in UK).
- if you, your parent, or grandparent have changed name since birth, evidence of this, for example, marriage or civil partnership certificates. No change of names, but I will provide marriage certificate for my grandfather/grandmother and for my father/mother.
I provided all of the documents in this item 4 when I applied for UK Ancestry Visa to begin with, so I figured I would provide them again.
5. Evidence of NAME's immigration status in the UK. I am currently on a UK Ancestry Visa (duh). Same document as item 9?
6. Declaration signed by NAME to confirm consent for the Home Office to request verification checks. Same document as item 3?
7. If you are employed at the date of application, please provide
- a letter from your current employer which confirms they will continue in their current job with that employer. What does this letter need to say exactly? I am on a fixed term contract at the moment, so should it say: NAME is employed at EMPLOYER, with start date X and end date Y?
- Documents to show you are employed, such as recent wage slips. Would last 3 months payslips be sufficient? Or last 6 months to be safe?
If you are self-employed, please provide one of the following:
- business and/or company accounts
- official letter from a registered accountant which confirms self-employment
- official tax documentation.
If you are unemployed at the date of application, please provide alternate evidence to show your employment record throughout the five year period in this category of leave, and of any attempts to make and find work. If you have been unemployed for long periods over the five years, you must provide reasons why you have failed to find work and evidence to show you have been looking for it. You must also provide evidence of how you can support yourself without a regular income.
8. NAME's birth certificate showing their parents' names. Same document as at item 4?
9. Current Biometric Residence Permit for NAME. My current BRP (I've only had the one BRP during my UK Ancestry Visa period).
10. Evidence of your finances. Bank statements, building society savings book(s), pay slips or other formal documents as evidence of your ability to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds. Note, we do not accept internet or cashpoint statements as evidence of finances. If you claim that a relative or friend is providing you with financial support, in addition to evidence of your own finances, you must provide bank statements or other documents of the kind described above as evidence of their financial resources. The documents showing the finances available to you and to any person supporting you should cover at least the last three months. Bank statements for the last 3 months. I could provide the last 6 months to be safe.
11. All previous passports, travel documents or national identity cards that you have used to travel to or remain in the UK. My previous passport (I've only had my current and one previous during my UK Ancestry Visa period). I do not have any of the other documents listed.

Per gov.uk website: "The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you’ve been in the UK for 5 years on your Ancestry visa. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier." (https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/indefi ... -to-remain)

Relevent dates for me:
(1) Date of UK Ancestry visa permission / leave to enter: 25 Aug 2017
(2) Date of entry into UK on this visa: 13 Sep 2017
(3) Date of UK Ancestry visa expiry: 25 Aug 2022 (5 years)

I've read that the period between the start of the UK Ancestry visa period (date 1 above) and when you first enter into the UK (date 2 above) can be counted towards your 5 year continuous residence period as an absence (time spent outside of the UK). This is fine for me because it doesn't break my continuous residence period per the rules.

Does the above mean I can apply for ILR 28 days before the end of my 5 year visa period ending on 25 Aug 2022 (i.e. apply earliest 28/29 July 2022)?

Or does the 5 year clock start from when I actually entered the UK on 13 September 2017 (so 5 years after that would be 13 Sep 2022 and hence earliest application date for ILR would be 16/17 Aug 2022)?

Thanks!

Thanks Zimba.

I get that 3C lawfully extends my permission to be in the UK while my ILR application is being reviewed.

My question is more about the correct start date for my 5 years (so I can determine which date is the earliest I can apply for ILR being 28 days before the end of the 5 year clock).

Scenario 1
If the clock starts when my UK Ancestry leave to enter was granted (25 Aug 2017) then I’ll be here for 5 years come 25 Aug 2022 and so I can apply early for ILR anytime after 29 July 2022 or thereabouts.

Scenario 2
If the clock starts when I first entered the UK with the UK Ancestry leave to enter (13 Sep 2017) then I’ll be here for 5 years come 13 Sep 2022 and I can apply for ILR anytime after 16 Aug 2022 or thereabouts.

So I’m not sure if Scenario 1 or Scenario 2 is the correct way to look at it? Your view would be much appreciated!! Many many thanks.

I understood Scenario 1 is the correct one and that the period between when my UK Ancestry leave to enter was granted (25 Aug 2017) to when I first entered the UK with the UK Ancestry leave to enter (13 Sep 2017) can just be characterised as an absence (time outside of the UK) but still counts towards the 5 year period.

Context: I’d like to submit the application for ILR asap and will try for super priority.

It is from the visa issue date. Time spent between issue and first entry will count as absence

Fantastic, thank you!

userjc wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 09, 2022 2:03 pm

Thanks, that's helpful - sounds like it's true.

So now I just need to login multiple times each day to check whether a priority option becomes available before my visa expires.

As an update for anyone interested: I found that super priority processing slots were being released at 1am UK time each day. They get snapped up quickly (within 10-15 minutes), so have your form filled out completely other than payment and be ready to click fast. I managed to get one a few days ago!!!