Child - Indefinite Leave to Enter – Renewal
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:25 am
I am looking for guidance regarding renewing Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) and obtaining a British passport for my 5-year-old. Could MODs please provide some advice? 
Background Information:
i. My 5-year-old was born abroad and received her Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) in January 2023. She entered the UK in February 2023. The expiry date on the ILE is in December 2024.
ii. The mother is on ILE with the same expiry date as the child, i.e., December 2024.
iii. The father is a British Passport holder.
My Situation:
My work requires me to travel abroad, sometimes for extended periods. I am traveling abroad for at least three years starting in April 2024.
My Questions:
Given the above situation, I want to either extend my child’s ILE or apply for a British Passport, whichever is quickest. So, my questions are:
a. Can I extend my child’s ILE for at least 2+ years now, i.e., in March 2024? Is that an option? And, on average, how long does the process take to get a new ILE card with extended dates?
b. If an ILE extension is not allowed, what’s the process for getting a British passport at the earliest? Should the child apply for Naturalisation first, and then follow it up with an application for a British Passport? Or can we apply for the British Passport without the Naturalisation process first?
c. Worst case, if we travel out of the UK without either renewing the ILE or without getting her a British passport, and do not return for at least 3 years, would the same ILE with expiry dates as December 2024, be allowed in January 2028?
d. What other options are available that I could consider, so we are not denied entry into the UK in the future?
e. General questions: Does ILE ever expire, even if there’s an expiry date on the ILE card that was issued? Why was her ILE issued for only 2 years and not for a longer period?
Background Information:
i. My 5-year-old was born abroad and received her Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) in January 2023. She entered the UK in February 2023. The expiry date on the ILE is in December 2024.
ii. The mother is on ILE with the same expiry date as the child, i.e., December 2024.
iii. The father is a British Passport holder.
My Situation:
My work requires me to travel abroad, sometimes for extended periods. I am traveling abroad for at least three years starting in April 2024.
My Questions:
Given the above situation, I want to either extend my child’s ILE or apply for a British Passport, whichever is quickest. So, my questions are:
a. Can I extend my child’s ILE for at least 2+ years now, i.e., in March 2024? Is that an option? And, on average, how long does the process take to get a new ILE card with extended dates?
b. If an ILE extension is not allowed, what’s the process for getting a British passport at the earliest? Should the child apply for Naturalisation first, and then follow it up with an application for a British Passport? Or can we apply for the British Passport without the Naturalisation process first?
c. Worst case, if we travel out of the UK without either renewing the ILE or without getting her a British passport, and do not return for at least 3 years, would the same ILE with expiry dates as December 2024, be allowed in January 2028?
d. What other options are available that I could consider, so we are not denied entry into the UK in the future?
e. General questions: Does ILE ever expire, even if there’s an expiry date on the ILE card that was issued? Why was her ILE issued for only 2 years and not for a longer period?