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Hi everyone,

I’m trying to understand exactly when the 5-year qualifying period for ILR begins because my entry situation was unusual. I’d really appreciate advice from anyone with similar experience.

Here’s my timeline:
I received a Skilled Worker visa starting 15 January 2021.
At that time, I was living in Dublin, Ireland.

I travelled from Dublin to Northern Ireland by train on 16 January 2021, but because Ireland and Northern Ireland are in the Common Travel Area (CTA), I did not receive any UK entry stamp. Unfortunately, I no longer have the train ticket.

I started living in Northern Ireland and began working on 25 January 2021.

A few days later, due to a family emergency, I travelled to India on 10 February 2021.
I returned to the UK on 9 April 2021, entering via London, where I received my first UK entry stamp.

My question:
For Skilled Worker ILR, does the 5-year continuous residence period start from:
The visa start date (15 Jan 2021),
My CTA entry into Northern Ireland on 16 Jan 2021 (no stamp, no ticket),
The date I started living and working in NI (25 Jan 2021), or
The date of my first UK entry stamp (April 2021)?

I want to make sure I count my ILR period correctly and provide the right evidence. Any guidance or experiences in similar CTA situations would be really helpful.

Thanks In Advance

The date of entry is irrelevant. ILR qualifying period starts from the date of very first visa approval

All you need to know about applying early, the application date, 28-day concession and more

Thankyou so much zimba,

I have an additional query regarding my ILR application. As mentioned earlier, My Skilled Worker visa began on 15th Jan 2021 then I travelled to Northern Ireland, to collect my BRP card. This was my first entry into the UK, although I do not have bus/train tickets for this trip because travel between Ireland and Northern Ireland is within the Common Travel Area, and no immigration checks are carried out.

At that time, I was living in Dublin, Ireland, and due to COVID-19 regulations, my company required all employees to work from home. For this reason, I continued working remotely from Ireland.

Because I was concerned about entry records, I later travelled to India from Ireland, and on my return—via London Heathrow—I passed through UK immigration on 13rd April 2021, and received an entry stamp, stayed overnight in London, and then continued back to Ireland on 14th April 2021.

After working from home for some time, I moved to Northern Ireland on 5th May 2021. I did not have a tenancy agreement in my name initially, but I have bank transactions as evidence of my stay. My formal tenancy agreement started on 1 June 2021, and I have been living in the UK continuously since then.

Based on the above, I would like clarification on how to record my absences:

1. Should I list an absence from 15th January 2021 to 12 April 2021, as I was living and working from Ireland?
2. I entered the UK on 13 April 2021 for one day.
3. Should I then list another absence from 14 April 2021 to either 5 May 2021 or 31 May 2021, depending on when my move to Northern Ireland is considered valid?

Thanks in Advance

You are confusing yourself with this CTA thing. Any time spent outside the UK (including any time spent in the crown dependencies or the Republic of Ireland) is considered absence from the UK for immigration purposes. The fact that there are no border controls within the CTA is irrelevant

1. You can but this is not necessary. Time spent between visa issue date and first entry does not need to be entered
2. ONLY full days of absence should entered. Days of travel are not counted
3. Any period spent outside the UK should be listed, including any period spent in the Republic of Ireland.

Thank you for your reply, Zimba. I have one final question that should clarify all my remaining doubts.

My absences from the UK are as follows:
• 15 January 2021 to 12 April 2021 – Outside the UK (absence)
• 13 April 2021 – Travelled to the UK (not an absence)
• 14 April 2021 – Travelled to Ireland from the UK (not treated as an absence)
• 15 April 2021 to 4 May 2021 – Outside the UK (absence)

Am I correct in calculating the absences in this way?

Thanks in advance

I seek guidance regarding my ILR application and continuous residency calculation.

As an example dates:
BRP visa issue date: 15th January 2021
Vignette valid: 19th January 2021 – 19th April 2021

I was living in Ireland during this period. On 23rd January 2021, I traveled to Newry, Northern Ireland (UK) to collect my BRP and returned the same day (train ticket available).

I briefly visited the UK from 3rd April 2021 to 4th April 2021.
I moved permanently to the UK on 23rd April 2021 and have stayed continuously since.

Questions:
1.Does the 23rd January 2021 trip count as my first entry into the UK?
2.For continuous residency, should it start from 23rd April 2021, when I started living continuously in the UK, or from the visa issue date? Are the trips on 23rd January and 3–4 April 2021 considered absences?

Some solicitors advise that continuous residency is calculated from the date you began living in the UK continuously, rather than the visa issue date.

I would appreciate clarification on how this applies in my case.

Thank you for your guidance.
Kind regards,

You already were advised by zimba on your other post viewtopic.php?p=2204072#p2204072 It's explained what constitutes an absence/continuous residency.

1. You can use that date as the first entry. The date you put in the form is irrelevant.
2. It's the BRP issue date: 15th January 2021

The same topic has been discussed on this forum hundreds of times. No need to be overthinking.

Solicitors often give incomplete or incorrect advice.

PS: do not open new posts for every ILR question you have, keep all your ILR related queries in one.

Topics Merged!!!

Thanks lolo2,

can you please let me know what will be answer,

1.Is the account with a bank or utility company for which you have supplied information and supporting documentation held jointly by you and other people? [Yes/No]

In my case, my spouse’s name appears only on the electricity bill. Her name does not appear on the internet bill or the rental agreement. All utility bills (electricity and internet) and the rental payments are paid by me, and the accounts are held in my name.
Given that my spouse’s name is included only on the electricity bill and I am the sole account holder and payer, could you please confirm whether this should be considered a jointly held account, or whether I should answer “No” to the question regarding jointly held bank or utility accounts?

2.Does the account with the bank or utility company for which you have supplied information and supporting documentation relate to another person who is to provide you financial support? [Yes/No]

Thanks

You don't need any utility bill for ILR, where do these questions come from?

Ensure you're using the correct form SET(O).

I am on set(o) and it has these two questions

Then you should respond no.

Hi All,

I am preparing my application for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and would be grateful for clarification on the following points regarding supporting documents:

1. Do I need to provide all rental agreements covering the entire 5-year qualifying period, or is it sufficient to provide current address proofs?
2. Is it mandatory to scan and upload all pages of my passport, including blank pages, or only the pages containing personal details, visas, and entry/exit stamps?

I would appreciate your guidance to ensure my application is accurate and complete.

Thanks in advance

Topics merged!!!

Please keep all your ILR questions in ONE topic!!