MartinMorrison wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 11:18 am
Hello,
I have a premium appointment booked for Thursday to submit my naturalisation application, after 3 year ILR route (exceptional talent) + 1 year free of restrictions. I have decided not to use the IDV app , though was said I am eligible, due to concerns about delays/issues with the app.
I have about 150 supporting documents totalling about 700 pages. Is it best to upload these UKVCAS 'Document Upload' on my desktop and submit before the appoint, or at the appointment, or better to print out all my supporting documents and have them rescan and submit them at the appointment? The latter is what I did for my ILR application.
Seperately, my absences of 839 days were due to travel I had to take for work to establish and grow my UK business. I have a letter from my employer for every trip of over 45 days and 5 pieces of evidence for each trip, eg proof of a meeting outside the UK with a client. Was wondering if anyone has had to submit proof of absences due to work and been succesful and if so which documents you submitted as proof of this?
Thanks
Apologies for the obvious question, but have you got 5 years of continuous residence in the UK? In your post you only refer to 4 years in the country. Also consider trimming down your evidence, 150 supporting documents are only going to slow down your application. You don't need 5 pieces of evidence for each trip.
To apply under discretion for absences please review this
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... retion.pdf page 17:
Where the applicant has absences of between 480-900 for applications under
section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981, or 300-540 for applications under
section 6(2) and otherwise meets the requirements you must only consider
exercising discretion where the applicant has established their home, employment,
family and finances in the UK, and one or more of the following applies:
• at least 2 years residence (for applications under section 6(1)), or 1 year (for
applications under section 6(2)), without substantial absences immediately prior
to the beginning of the qualifying period. If the period of absence is greater than
730 days (for section 6(1)) or 450 days (for section 6(2)) the period of residence
must be at least 3 or 2 years respectively
• the excess absences are the result of:
o postings abroad in Crown service under the UK government or in service
designated under section 2(3) of the British Nationality act 1981.
o accompanying a British citizen spouse or civil partner on an appointment
overseas
• the excess absences were an unavoidable consequence of the nature of the
applicant’s career, such as a merchant seaman or employment with a
multinational company based in the UK with frequent travel abroad
• exceptionally compelling reasons of an occupational or compassionate nature
to justify naturalisation now, such as a firm job offer where British citizenship is
a statutory or mandatory requirement
• the applicant was prevented from being in the UK because they had been
removed from the UK, and the decision to remove them was later overturned
• the applicant was incorrectly prevented from resuming permanent residence in
the UK following an absence
• the excess absences were because the applicant was unable to return to the
UK because of global pandemic
I would consider writing in the cover letter which of this requirements you fulfill explicitly - if you have 3 years of residence without substantial absences before the beginning of the qualifying period your application will be stronger.
All advice comes from personal research and experience and should not be regarded as professional opinion.
