ILR

[cakiranjain123]

Hi there - I hope you’re keeping well.

I’ll be applying for ILR shortly and had a clarifying question regarding the earliest date from which I can submit my ILR application.

For clarity, the relevant dates are:

• 8 October 2021: BRP issue date
• 22 October 2021: Visa vignette start date and actual date I entered the UK

My understanding is that I can use the BRP issue date to calculate my ILR application window and, therefore, could potentially submit my ILR application on 10 September 2026 (28 days earlier based on 8 Oct 2021). However, I would need to record the period from 8 October 2021 to 22 October 2021 as an absence. Have I understood this correctly?

Additionally, there is a question in the application:

"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.)"

Given that I entered the UK on 22 October 2021, I should enter 22 October 2021 here (rather than 8 October 2021). Is that correct?

If yes, I'm concerned this may cause some confusion, as I am submitting the application on 10 September, and if I use 22 October 2021 as the entry date, then 24 September would only be 28 days earlier. I just want to make sure this is the correct approach and that it will not result in any queries or challenges regarding the application date.

Thanks in advance

Kiran

[zimba]

Use the earliest issue date of a document you have been issued. So use the BRP date.

For administrative reasons, an immigration document cannot be backdated. So any document issued has an issue date when it was printed/issued. In your case, the BRP date is the date of your visa approval and the vignette date is when that sticker was printed, which was later. Your qualifying period starts from the very first visa issue date, so the BRP date.

The 28-day concession has NOTHING to do with when you apply for ILR.

READ: All you need to know about applying early, the application date, 28-day concession and more

Your ILR qualifying period is calculated/determined according to the immigration rules, NOT the date you put on the form. The qualifying period is counted from first visa issue date as the date of entry is irrelevant

READ: Which date to use: When did you first enter the UK