How Long Can You Be Away ?

[Wasp]

This is the other question of great concern to me .

I read on the Forum that you can be outside the country for 180 days after which returning on your ILTR can be difficult . Then elsewhere I read that it's 2 years !!!

Is there a reliable number for this ? My ( Thai ) wife will need to go home to care for her elderly sick grandmother . Nobody else is around for this . But realistically she will be caring for her until she passes away and a funeral takes place . Then my wife can return .

But how do you time this ? The old lady may have a month left but she may last 20 months !!! You just don't know and it's a huge worry .
So is there an answer to the question of how long before my wife simply MUST be back on a returning plane ?

[CR001]

Two years outside the UK and ILR can be lost. Short visits will not maintain ILR status.

[Wasp]

Sorry CR001 . I don't understand when you say ...... " Short visits will not maintain ILR status. "

Do you mean short visits will not affect or damage ILR status ? And what is ' short ' ?

[CR001]

Sorry CR001 . I don't understand when you say ...... " Short visits will not maintain ILR status. "

Do you mean short visits will not affect or damage ILR status ? And what is ' short ' ?

Maintain = keep it/not lose. Visits to the UK will NOT keep her ILR safe and in place. Short = week/couple of weeks.

[Wasp]

I thought you meant short visits to Thailand .

I understand .
You can't go away for 20 months .... come back for 3 weeks .... and expect to be able to go away for another 20 months .

Thank you CR100.