Application question "Trips outside the UK"

[Xiao Wong]

Hi,

I'm applying for British citizenship, I have my ILR through the 10 years route.

In the application for citizenship I am filling out, under the section "Trips outside the UK", there is a question asking "When did you first arrive in the UK?". My advisor said I should put here the arrival/entry date of my trip from 5 years ago, as this is only about the travel history of the last 5 years.

Should I put this, or rather the date of my first arrival ever to the UK, from 12 years ago?

Many thanks!

[alterhase58]

These are two different things:
- absence listing is for the required residency period (5 years) only.
- Date of first arrival is the date from which you stayed long-term in the UK (nothing to do with trips out of the UK).

[contorted_svy]

Hi,

I'm applying for British citizenship, I have my ILR through the 10 years route.

In the application for citizenship I am filling out, under the section "Trips outside the UK", there is a question asking "When did you first arrive in the UK?". My advisor said I should put here the arrival/entry date of my trip from 5 years ago, as this is only about the travel history of the last 5 years.

Should I put this, or rather the date of my first arrival ever to the UK, from 12 years ago?

Many thanks!

You need to use the date of first entry 12 years ago. Your absences in the 5 years qualifying period will be listed elsewhere.

[Flowflex]

What's the basis of your interpretation?

[contorted_svy]

It's a simple question - when did you first enter the UK? I don't see many other interpretations other than to answer it with your first arrival in the country since you started living here.

[Ticktack]

It's a simple question - when did you first enter the UK? I don't see many other interpretations other than to answer it with your first arrival in the country since you started living here.

Sometimes it could differ for different scenarios. If the OP first entered the UK 12 years ago on a visit visa, then that doesn't really count.

If the first entry has been the major entry to stay on the path to citizenship, then by all means correct.

OP's travel/residency history isn't so clear from just stating 12 years ago!

However, he's got his ILR through LR so that clearly seems correct. Just stating other scenarios that might be