Cover letter help - excess absencess

[trwdsk]

Hello, I am about to submit my application and based on all the guidance I reviewed it feels like I should meet all the criteria but i have 2 questions - one related to a short cover letter (if necessary to explain excess absences) and one related to the good character requirement. I am an EU citizen living here since 2013, fully employed since, EU SS since 2019, applying under 6(1).

Excess absences:
I have a total of 479 absences and I was wondering if someone could review my short cover letter and let me know if it seems reasonable. I am an EU citizen living in the UK since 2013 and have been fully employed ever since. The majority of these absences were accrued in 2020/2021 when I had to return to my home country to look after my parents (several times) once the first lockdown was lifted.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to elaborate on the excess absences I have noted my application.

As per my reasoning under the Residence requirements section, the majority of these absences (208) were accumulated during 2020/2021 when I had to return to my home country to look after my parents during COVID-19. As you can see from the attached P60s, I kept my residence here and was fully employed while working remotely with the approval of my employer. These absences would not have occurred if there was no COVID-19 pandemic and I would be grateful if the Home Secretary can exercise discretion in waving the 450 absences in a 5-year qualifying period in accordance with the AN Naturalisation criteria and guidance in the AN application booklet.

Kind regards,
Applicant


Good character:
I reviewed the guidance related to good character on this forum and in the guidance booklet. I appreciate Penalty Charge Notices are not considered criminal but what about when they have been unpaid (due to non-receipt) and escalated to the Traffic Enforcement Centre? For example, I am currently in the process of challenging a PCN that was escalated to the Traffic Enforcement Centre (who issued OfR) for a moving traffic contravention I did not commit but was nevertheless recorded in my name and sent to an old address so I could not action it at the time. I have already disclosed the details in my application tand that I am challenging it with the local council so my question is does this question my good character and do I need to worry about this?

[contorted_svy]

Hello, I am about to submit my application and based on all the guidance I reviewed it feels like I should meet all the criteria but i have 2 questions - one related to a short cover letter (if necessary to explain excess absences) and one related to the good character requirement. I am an EU citizen living here since 2013, fully employed since, EU SS since 2019, applying under 6(1).

Excess absences:
I have a total of 479 absences and I was wondering if someone could review my short cover letter and let me know if it seems reasonable. I am an EU citizen living in the UK since 2013 and have been fully employed ever since. The majority of these absences were accrued in 2020/2021 when I had to return to my home country to look after my parents (several times) once the first lockdown was lifted.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to elaborate on the excess absences I have noted my application.

As per my reasoning under the Residence requirements section, the majority of these absences (208) were accumulated during 2020/2021 when I had to return to my home country to look after my parents during COVID-19. As you can see from the attached P60s, I kept my residence here and was fully employed while working remotely with the approval of my employer. These absences would not have occurred if there was no COVID-19 pandemic and I would be grateful if the Home Secretary can exercise discretion in waving the 450 absences in a 5-year qualifying period in accordance with the AN Naturalisation criteria and guidance in the AN application booklet.

Kind regards,
Applicant


Good character:
I reviewed the guidance related to good character on this forum and in the guidance booklet. I appreciate Penalty Charge Notices are not considered criminal but what about when they have been unpaid (due to non-receipt) and escalated to the Traffic Enforcement Centre? For example, I am currently in the process of challenging a PCN that was escalated to the Traffic Enforcement Centre (who issued OfR) for a moving traffic contravention I did not commit but was nevertheless recorded in my name and sent to an old address so I could not action it at the time. I have already disclosed the details in my application tand that I am challenging it with the local council so my question is does this question my good character and do I need to worry about this?

Regarding your absences, unless they happened at a time when flights to the UK were not available, it is unlikely they will be waived (you write that it was after the first lockdown was lifted, so there was likely plenty of opportunity for you to come back). Good news is, you are in the range that your absences would usually be ignored if you fulfill all other requirements. Are your absences in the last 12 months under the 90 days limit?

[trwdsk]

Yes, I have less than 90 absences in the past 12 months.

[trwdsk]

Does anybody have any views on the PCN subject and if I should mention it on the Cover letter too? Or is it enough that it is mentioned under the relevant section of the application?

Thank you!

[Bash_]

according to the guidance, absences of up to 480 are normally disregarded in 5-year qualifying period, and you don't even need to explain in a cover letter - nothing hurts being over-cautious and explain in the cover letter.

All PCNs must be disclosed although not normally taken into account unless you failed to pay or many occurred over a short period of time.

[trwdsk]

In this instance the PCN is still unpaid as I am challenging it (it was never served to me) - is it ok just to disclose this in the application section on Good character and then email HO once there's an update? I am asking as this effectively makes me think if I am asking them to exercise discretion twice?