Spouse visa to ILR. Question on travel days.

[Divu]

Hello Friends,

I will be soon eligible for my ILR through 10 years route and I have some questions on my upcoming travels.

I came to the UK on Jan 2010 and since then I have switched from student, PSW, work visa and now I am on on spouse visa for which I have validy for another year and half.

My husband and I have planned to travel for 4-6 months to asia and I am aware, I cant do this with my spouse visa due to ILR's day count. I also have a trip planned in March.

ILR takes 6 months to process, so I dont really want to give away my passport. I need some time to save up for the whooping 3 grand for priority ILR service. Would you advise, I travel during my spouse visa and then come back for my ILR or would you rather advise I apply and then leave for my travel?

Is there any other easier solution that I am missing or have I got any facts wrong? Am I right in thinking, I can only be out for 180 days in one trip or a total of 540 days of multi trip count?

Please help!

[CR001]

My husband and I have planned to travel for 4-6 months to asia and I am aware, I cant do this with my spouse visa due to ILR's day count. I also have a trip planned in March.

There is NO absence limit for a spouse visa holder. The absence limit is ONLY applicable to PBS dependents and PBS migrants.

ILR takes 6 months to process, so I dont really want to give away my passport. I need some time to save up for the whooping 3 grand for priority ILR service. Would you advise, I travel during my spouse visa and then come back for my ILR or would you rather advise I apply and then leave for my travel?

It doesn't take 6 months!!! No one can advise you on what to do. Only you can make that decision. Note that if you apply for ILR based on spouse visa, you need to meet all the financial requirements again.

Is there any other easier solution that I am missing or have I got any facts wrong? Am I right in thinking, I can only be out for 180 days in one trip or a total of 540 days of multi trip count?

If you apply for ILR based on long residence, you cannot have absence in the WHOLE 10 years of more than 540 days and you cannot have ANY single absence of 180 days as this will break your continuity of residence.