Calculating Continuous Leave (Ancestry)

[morganfarr]

Hi Everyone!

According to the document "Indefinite leave to remain – calculating continuous period in UK" that I found on the UKBA website (link below), on page 19 it states:

No more than 180 whole days absence are allowed in any of the five, two, three or four consecutive 12 month periods, preceding the date of the application for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). --> This is fine, and I understand that this means that within the qualifying period (in my case 5 Years), I can't be out of the country for more than 180 days.

Except it then talks about compassionate leave etc, and other exceptions to this rule including: "Absences must be connected to the applicant’s sponsored or permitted employment, or the permitted economic activity being carried out in the UK, for example, business trips or short secondments. This also includes, if appropriate, any paid annual leave.

I'm particularly interested in the "paid annual leave" portion.

Can I discount my 25+ annual leave days (per year) against this 180 days? (it would appear so by the above paragraph, but then it goes on to state:

In the following categories, absences must be for reasons connected with the applicant’s purpose for being in the UK or for serious or compelling compassionate reasons. Evidence, as specified above, must be provided for compelling or compassionate reasons only:
(Lists UK Ancestry below).

I'm confused if my PAID ANNUAL LEAVE will be taken into consideration on the UK Ancestry, and Qualifying Period of 5 years, and not being out of the country for more than 180 days.

(because if I have had 25 annual leave days a year for 5 years - already that's 125 days OUT of the country)...

I really hope someone can clarify this issue for me!!!

Thanks so much!


**http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary