Trips outside of the UK: holiday vs business

[TimTon]

Dear All,

I am again submitting this request on behalf of my friend.

She is asking the following:

Do you have any dependants not applying with you at this time? Her husband was originally her visa dependant but they both got ILR so he is not a visa dependant anymore. He is also not applying with her at this time. Her children are British. Does she need to answer Yes or No to this question?

Did you meet the knowledge of English requirement as part of an indefinite leave application made on or after 28 October 2013? Does it mean English language certificate or a degree as well? She has a degree from a UK university that she was always using in her previous applications to satisfy English language requirements so never used an English language test C1 or above. Does she need to answer Yes or No to this question?

Have you provided evidence of your English language ability in a previous application? The answer is Yes as she did provide her UK degree certificate in all previous applications. But when answering Yes, the form is asking "Tell us the previous visa, entry clearance or leave to remain you had" - does she need to enter "Indefinite Leave to Remain" (this was her last application)? Or something else (for example, all previous visas she had where she submitted the degree certificate to proof her English language ability)?

Referees Can both referees be friends?

Thank you so much and apologies for so many questions. Will appreciate if Gurus could help with this.

[vinny]

I don’t think that they are trick questions. But may require an understanding of the subtleties of the English language.

If she has dependants and they are not applying with her, then “yes”.

If she met the knowledge of English requirement as part of an indefinite leave application made on or after 28 October 2013, then “yes”. If her UK degree didn’t met the knowledge of English as part of her ILR requirement, then she may have failed getting ILR.

If they asked for all previous applications, then she may list all previous applications. A Leave to Remain application includes an Indefinite Leave to Remain application. However,

The difference between " former", "previous" and "last"

The word previous refers to sequence. It means that the person or object was/did something before something else took over or replaced it. As StoneyB rightly clarifies in his comment, "the previous" means the directly preceding member in a series, however "a previous" can refer to any earlier member in the series.

The word last, in this context, means the same as "previous", but is only used to refer to the immediately preceding item. (Jay warns that "last" can be ambiguous as it is also used to refer to the final entry in a series.)

Referees may be friends but not relatives of the applicant nor each other.

[TimTon]

I don’t think that they are trick questions. But may require an understanding of the subtleties of the English language.

If she has dependants and they are not applying with her, then “yes”.

If she met the knowledge of English requirement as part of an indefinite leave application made on or after 28 October 2013, then “yes”. If her UK degree didn’t met the knowledge of English as part of her ILR requirement, then she may have failed getting ILR.

If they asked for all previous applications, then she may list all previous applications. A Leave to Remain application includes an Indefinite Leave to Remain application. However,

The difference between " former", "previous" and "last"

The word previous refers to sequence. It means that the person or object was/did something before something else took over or replaced it. As StoneyB rightly clarifies in his comment, "the previous" means the directly preceding member in a series, however "a previous" can refer to any earlier member in the series.

The word last, in this context, means the same as "previous", but is only used to refer to the immediately preceding item. (Jay warns that "last" can be ambiguous as it is also used to refer to the final entry in a series.)

Referees may be friends but not relatives of the applicant nor each other.

Thanks for this - all makes sense except the previous application part - the form is saying "Tell us the previous visa, entry clearance or leave to remain you had" - so not in plural but singular form. Does it mean she only needs to mention the ILR (the most recent application) or the application before ILR (as the form says "had" so in the past not present)? Thanks.

[AmazonianX]

State all previously held UK visas and or leaves.

[TimTon]

State all previously held UK visas and or leaves.

Thanks for this!

[TimTon]

Dear All,

Considering that there were no long-term absences (and well within allowance), can/will the UKVI request a proof that the trips were for business purposes not holidays?

This is because my friend travelled 5-6 times for business needs but her employer said they will not provide any evidence for this for whatever reason (I don't know why).

Will this be an issue or UKVI doesn't really care if its a holiday or a business trip as long as its within absence allowance? Can she just write "holiday" instead of "business"? Thanks.

[CR001]

Considering that there were no long-term absences (and well within allowance), can/will the UKVI request a proof that the trips were for business purposes not holidays?

Only passport stamped pages is required.

This is because my friend travelled 5-6 times for business needs but her employer said they will not provide any evidence for this for whatever reason (I don't know why).

No such evidence from an employer is required!! Perhaps your 'friend' should read the guidance notes!

Will this be an issue or UKVI doesn't really care if its a holiday or a business trip as long as its within absence allowance? Can she just write "holiday" instead of "business"? Thanks.

Absence is absence, simply state what the absence was for.

[TimTon]

Considering that there were no long-term absences (and well within allowance), can/will the UKVI request a proof that the trips were for business purposes not holidays?

Only passport stamped pages is required.

This is because my friend travelled 5-6 times for business needs but her employer said they will not provide any evidence for this for whatever reason (I don't know why).

No such evidence from an employer is required!! Perhaps your 'friend' should read the guidance notes!

Will this be an issue or UKVI doesn't really care if its a holiday or a business trip as long as its within absence allowance? Can she just write "holiday" instead of "business"? Thanks.

Absence is absence, simply state what the absence was for.

Thank you, I will advise her.