eVisa required?

[springv]

Hi everyone.

I am looking to apply for British citizenship via ILR.

I have had the ILR since 2010. I do not have the BRP, eVisa nor UKVI account as I was not aware of the changes since I obtained my ILR in 2010, until a month ago when I travelled back to the UK (The immigration officer informed me about the changes).

I still have the vignette on my (expired) passport which I carry with me whenever I travel.

Do I have to apply for a eVisa/UKVI account prior to applying for a British citizenship?

Your advice is deeply appreciated.

Thank you.

[alterhase58]

If you have proof of having received ILR you can apply, you have the vignette. Your ILR has not expired.
You should also set up evisa for travel before you become a BC.

[contorted_svy]

You need to apply for a NTL (no time limit) which will then make you eligible for an evisa. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... accessible

[springv]

@alterhase58, @contorted_svy,
Thank you for getting back so quickly.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I think this is what I need to do:
1. Apply for UKVI account
2. Make NTL application eVisa
3. Apply for Citizenship

[springv]

On a separate but related note.

I came across this section on “Time you’ve spent outside the UK” https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-in ... 20the%20uk

It says:

You should not have:
spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the 5 years before your application
spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months

Then further down the page on “When To Apply” section https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-i ... ust%20have

It says:

You must have been physically present in the UK exactly 5 years before the Home Office receives your application.

I find the two sections contradict each other. Over the past 5 years, I have been aboard for holidays. However, I have not spent more than 450 days outside UK over 5 years, nor more than 90 days outside UK over past 12 months.

Hypothetically speaking, if I were to apply tomorrow, will be application be rejected?

[contorted_svy]

That depends on your travel patterns. can you post a list of your absences from the UK in the last 5 years?

[springv]

Depends on?

April - May 2022 : 22 days

June - July 2024: 24 days

July - Aug 2025: 26 days.

[contorted_svy]

Are you married to a British citizen? If not, can you post your absences also in 2020 and 2021?

[springv]

Apologies. I was in the UK in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

No, not married to a British citizen.

[springv]

I did not travel out of UK in 2020 and 2021.

Apologies. I was in the UK in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

No, not married to a British citizen.

[contorted_svy]

Your absence pattern won't be an issue. the requirements are not in clash with each other because one is about being physically present in the UK at the beginning of the qualifying period 5 years ago, the other requirements are about number of days of absence in the qualifying period and in the last 5 months. You can apply as things are and these requirements won't be an issue for you.

[springv]

@contorted_svy, thank you for getting back. Glad to hear that my travel patterns won’t be an issue.

Regarding proof of presence.

“If your passport is not stamped when you come into the United Kingdom, you must still provide your passport, but also provide alternative evidence of presence as above.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... d%20supply

“…provide your passport…”. Does this mean I need to post my passport(s) to Home Office? My ILR vignette is on an expired passport and I am not comfortable posting it in case it gets lost.

[springv]

On a separate but related note, my partner stopped working since 2020 due to the pandemic. How can/should my partner provide proof of presence for the past 5 years?

Travel patterns are the same as mine.

[contorted_svy]

What nationality are they? If non EU the passport will be enough. If from the EU request a SAR.

[springv]

What nationality are they? If non EU the passport will be enough. If from the EU request a SAR.

Thank you @contorted_svy

[springv]

@contorted_svy, thank you for getting back. Glad to hear that my travel patterns won’t be an issue.

Regarding proof of presence.

“If your passport is not stamped when you come into the United Kingdom, you must still provide your passport, but also provide alternative evidence of presence as above.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... d%20supply

“…provide your passport…”. Does this mean I need to post my passport(s) to Home Office? My ILR vignette is on an expired passport and I am not comfortable posting it in case it gets lost.

Regarding this, I read somewhere that the applicant needs to submit scanned copies of every page of the passport. There is no need to send them the physical passport. Is this correct?

[contorted_svy]

Yes correct.

[springv]

Thank you

[springv]

@contorted_svy, thank you for getting back. Glad to hear that my travel patterns won’t be an issue.

Regarding proof of presence.

“If your passport is not stamped when you come into the United Kingdom, you must still provide your passport, but also provide alternative evidence of presence as above.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... d%20supply

“…provide your passport…”. Does this mean I need to post my passport(s) to Home Office? My ILR vignette is on an expired passport and I am not comfortable posting it in case it gets lost.

Regarding this, I read somewhere that the applicant needs to submit scanned copies of every page of the passport. There is no need to send them the physical passport. Is this correct?

I have follow up questions regarding this.

1. “…scanned copies of every page of the passport” - I am assuming I am scanning the pages of my current unexpired passport.


2. My vignette is on my expired passport. Should I also scan my vignette from my expired passport and include that in my application as well?


Thank you.

[alterhase58]

Original documents don't need to be sent.
Scan the passport(s) covering your residency period.
Also scan the page with your ILR vignette.

[springv]

Original documents don't need to be sent.
Scan the passport(s) covering your residency period.
Also scan the page with your ILR vignette.

@alterhase58, thank you for getting back to quickly. Much appreciated.

On the “Documents” section of the online naturalisation application form, there is a checklist and under “Proof of living in the UK for [applicant’s name] for 5 years….” tick box. Under that tick box, there is a little section that says “If you do not have your passport or it was not stamped when you entered the UK, you need to include letters (for example, from your employer or government department) as proof.”

My passport hasn’t been stamped since 2018 whenever I enter the UK (my qualifying period will be between October 2020 to October 2025). My HR does take a long time to respond if I were to ask them to write me a letter. Can I provide copies of P11Ds (HMRC benefits in kind) as evidence?

[contorted_svy]

Get a letter from your HR department.

[springv]

Get a letter from your HR department.

Thank you @contorted_svy.

[springv]

Hi.

I have submitted my application and am in the process of uploading my supporting documents via the TLSContact portal. I have a few queries.

According to my document checklist, I am required to provide:

• colour copies of all pages of passport.

• Proof of living in the UK - Providing letter from HR as advised by @alterhase58.

• Degree certificate

• Two referee declarations

1. Silly question. Do I need to upload the cover of my passport?
2. Do I need to provide a cover letter? If so, what should I write?
3. I have booked my appointment with TLSContact to have my biometrics taken. In the confirmation email from TLSContact, it says “On the day of the appointment, if it is with UKVI at the time of your appointment, please bring an alternative piece of ID”. How would I know if my appointment is with UKVI?

Thank you.

[contorted_svy]

Hi.

I have submitted my application and am in the process of uploading my supporting documents via the TLSContact portal. I have a few queries.

According to my document checklist, I am required to provide:

• colour copies of all pages of passport.

• Proof of living in the UK - Providing letter from HR as advised by @alterhase58.

• Degree certificate

• Two referee declarations

1. Silly question. Do I need to upload the cover of my passport? No
2. Do I need to provide a cover letter? If so, what should I write? Not compulsory, you can attach one if you need to explain certain aspects of your application
3. I have booked my appointment with TLSContact to have my biometrics taken. In the confirmation email from TLSContact, it says “On the day of the appointment, if it is with UKVI at the time of your appointment, please bring an alternative piece of ID”. How would I know if my appointment is with UKVI? I am not sure, but I think this sentence is asking you to bring an alternative piece of ID other than your passport if your passport is with UKVI. All TLS contact appointments are for UKVI services.

Thank you.