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Posted: **Fri Jul 04, 2025 1:18 am**

I came to UK on 09/06/2015 on Tier2 ICT visa. Switched to Tier 4 student visa on 16/09/2019 which had validity until 07/01/2021. However due to covid and closure of international border I was given exceptional assurance(EA) from 05/01/2021 until 30/04/2021. I got a job on 01/04/2021 and skilled worker visa was applied before 30/04/2021. My current skilled worker visa is valid until 29/03/2026.
I have applied for ILR via long residency on 25/06/2025. Does the above mentioned period of EA will cause issue to my application? Would it have been any better if I would have applied 4months later?
Anyone had similar scenario please share your experience.
Admins & moderators please let me know your feedback based on your expertise in this area.

Posted: **Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:02 pm**

The long residence guide says:

No periods of overstaying (disregarded or otherwise) are included in the calculation of the qualifying period. No periods of exceptional assurance between 1 September 2020 and 28 February 2023 are included in the calculation of the qualifying period. However, any extensions of permission granted under the Coronavirus extension concession and the following grace period (covering 24 January to 31 August 2020) count toward the qualifying period requirement. See guidance on the Coronavirus Extension Concession (CEC) and the Exceptional Assurance Concession.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... accessible

You are not eligible for ILR given that any time spent under exceptional assurance is excluded. However, there could be even a bigger problem and potential break in your continuous residence. You got EA until 30/04/2021 and applied for a new visa on 01/04/2021 but the EA did NOT grant any leave and hence your application could not lead to any section 3C protections. This means after 30/04/2021 you effectively were overstaying until your skilled worker visa was issued.

When was your skilled visa granted ? Did you get an EA extension after 30/04/2021 ?

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