Immigrationboards.com

I have four ILR application queries and hope someone can help:

1. My work permit expires on 23 June 2011, so need to book an appointment within 28 days before this date. However, I started work with my current employer on 26 June 2006, so am working on the basis that I should book my appointment within 28 days of this date so I fall within 5 years of my employment start date and my visa start date - is this correct?

2. I sat my Life in the UK test on 7 Feb to get it done and dusted - I couldn't find any limitations on how far in advance of your appointment you can do the test - am I OK to have done this in Feb?

3. I am on an old work permit (5yrs), so figure I need to apply on the SET (O) excluding long residency form - is this correct?

4. I want to book an in person ILR appointment so I can keep my passport and travel over summer. Working on the info I've outlined in point 1, I am trying to book an appointment for w/c 6 June. I'm registered with the online booking service and noted that they 'opened' appointment bookings for this week yesterday. However, regardless of what info I input (application type/office/day etc to test the system), there are no appointments available at any of the offices in the UK for this week or the two weeks prior to this. Does anyone know if this is because they have all gone or because they haven't released the appointments yet? I rang the appt booking line and they are only booking to 24 May, which is of no help to me and they don't know the deal with the online system.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

1. Your 5 years start the day you arrived (or got stamped if you were already in the country) so it's 5 years from that date then count backwards 28 days.

2. Feb 7 is fine. I took mine 6 months in advance.

3. Yes

4. The appointment dates appear like 8 weeks in advance but the actual appointments don't come on until something like 5 1/2 weeks ahead. By phone it is 6 weeks in advance (I did mine by phone). So call them first thing 6 weeks before the date you want.

Thanks very much for the speedy and helpful response. Much appreciated.