When have you actually 'applied'?

[melusine]

I'm sorry, I feel like this is a completely stupid question, but I still can't figure out/find the answer.

I'm on a UK ancestry visa, from which I hope to move to ILR. My visa runs 27 March 2017 - 27 March 2022. I entered the country (vignette stamped) on 14 April 2017. Do I count back from 27 March 2022 or 14 April 2022 to find the earliest day I can apply? I've seen other topics on this but I don't understand the answers!

Second question: so you can only apply when there's <28 days left on the visa, but when counts as actually having 'applied'? Is it when your biometrics are submitted? E.g. could I prepare and pay for my application in February, as long as my biometrics appointment is <28 days to the end of my visa? Or can I only submit and pay for my application <28 days from end of visa, and have to book biometrics after that?

Thanks in advance. Sorry about the stupid questions.

[CR001]

I'm on a UK ancestry visa, from which I hope to move to ILR. My visa runs 27 March 2017 - 27 March 2022. I entered the country (vignette stamped) on 14 April 2017. Do I count back from 27 March 2022 or 14 April 2022 to find the earliest day I can apply? I've seen other topics on this but I don't understand the answers!

I believe you can use the date your initial visa was issued. However, as there are only a couple of weeks since you entered teh UK, you could apply closer to the end of March if you wish.

Second question: so you can only apply when there's <28 days left on the visa, but when counts as actually having 'applied'? Is it when your biometrics are submitted? E.g. could I prepare and pay for my application in February, as long as my biometrics appointment is <28 days to the end of my visa? Or can I only submit and pay for my application <28 days from end of visa, and have to book biometrics after that?

Date of application is the date you submit and pay online and not the date of biometric appointment.