Thanks Zimba. Yes we both share the same understanding that the decision will be based on the most recent 10 years absences but here is why I am asking my question.
1) In the application form, it asks “
When did you first enter the UK? . This is the date you entered the UK when the period of stay you are basing this application on started.” So for this question I can put a date prior to the most recent 10 years.
2) But then it asks "
How long have you lived in the UK?". My understanding is that they are asking how long I have lived in the UK including the period before the 10 years.
3) Then they ask "
Since you started living in the UK have you spent time outside the UK?". This question seems more related to the 2nd question so it looks like they are asking for my absences since I started living in the UK not just the past 10 years. Actually, there is another question in the application form: "
Have you spent any part of your 10-year continuous period with leave to enter or remain in the Crown Dependencies?". If they only require my absences outside the UK during the most recent 10 years only they would have probably asked the question this way "Have you spent any part of your 10-year continuous period outside the UK?" rather than asking "
Since you started living in the UK have you spent time outside the UK?".
Hope you got my point.
