How can ILR holder get fast-tracked for eVisa?

[maggy593]

Hello,

I have been granted ILR in 2018 and have back then been issued a BRP which expires on 31Dec24. I am currently applying for a 2 year Schengen visa and need to prove to the embassy of a EU country that my right to stay in the UK does not end on 31Dec24 but instead is indefinite. Otherwise they will only give me a short Schengen visa which expires before my BRP expiration date.

The home office letter is useless because it only says that they are sending me a BRP, it does not explicitly say that I have been granted ILR. The BRP card itself does say "indefinite leave to remain" but it has this 31Dec24 expiration date.

I don't have a UKVI account and I have not yet been contacted by UKVI with an invitation to create one.

What is the fastest way for me to get an account so I can access my eVisa? Would need this in the next 1-2 days because the embassy will soon process my visa application.

Alternatively, can you think of any other fast ways to prove ILR beyond 31Dec24?

Thank you!

[zimba]

Proving ILR is indefinite makes no sense. ILR means indefinite leave to remain and embassy workers of other countries very likely know this

The eVisa system is NOT open to all yet and it is estimated to be rolled out fully this summer. So there is no fast or slow way to get an account yet.

At the end of the day, it is up to the destination country to grant you a visa. Even having an ILR does NOT guarantee that you will be given long-term visa at all. This has nothing to do with your BRP expiry but the decision of the visa officer of another country. I know many many people with ILR who did not get long term Schengen visas, even after being granted such visas several times before. There is no rule that says you will get a long term Schengen visa just by proving that you have ILR

[maggy593]

Many thanks for your reply, zimba.

Proving ILR is indefinite makes no sense.

I fully agree.

ILR means indefinite leave to remain and embassy workers of other countries very likely know this

I hope that this will be the case and that the embassy worker won't be confused by the BRP expiration date. The only document which says that I have ILR is the BRP card. The Home Office decision letter does not explicitly mention the grant of ILR.

At the end of the day, it is up to the destination country to grant you a visa. Even having an ILR does NOT guarantee that you will be given long-term visa at all. This has nothing to do with your BRP expiry but the decision of the visa officer of another country.

Agreed. Having a valid UK residence permit over the requested long term period is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for thr grant of a long term Schengen visa and the embassy may exercise discretion. If, howerever, the case worker were to incorrecly conclude that my UK residence permit expires on 31Dec24 then they would certainly not issue a Schengen visa with validity beyond 31Dec24.

I just called UKVI and they told me there is no way to expedite the eVisa account opening. UKVI is also, sadly, unable to produce any document which proves my ILR status.

[meself2]

I don't know which EU country you're dealing with, but maybe call/email them (latter is preferred) explaining this? If they respond that you're okay, you can apply.

Also you can't apply for a 2-year visa, really. Embassy decides for you.
I got a 45 day visa after 3 year one (with a long gap, to be fair).

[AmazonianX]

At the moment the eVisa is by email invitation from HO, if you don't get the email you can not apply.
As the months progresses it will be fully rolled out.
Contact the embassy to clarify as advised above, see if you agree to what they say, if the Schengen visa application is a must, apply and get what you can. I also find that a cover letter submitted with your application clarifying a matter like this can be helpful.

[maggy593]

Thanks all. For future reference in case others are in the same situation: I got this resolved in the end by providing a share code https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work/ ... ode-online to the embassy. The share code can also be produced without an UKVI account.