Need help with ILR application

[sunitaM]

Hello Everyone

I need your guidance in applying for ILR. Following are my details:

Nationality: Indian
Visa Category: Tier 2 General
Visa Start Date: 11th Dec 2014
Visa End Date: 31st Dec 2019
Entry Date in UK: 30th Dec 2014

Could someone please guide me with following questions please:

1. For some-reason, I have visa for 5 years and 20 days. ILR can be applied 28 days before. Therefore, in my case, earliest I can start is 3rd Dec (28 days before 31st Dec)? Is this correct?

2. I am a bit confused with ILR Application Date, which one of following is considered as Application Date (which should not be before 28 days for matching ILR eligibility criteria):

"Online Application Submission Date"
"Online Fees Paid Date"
"Appointment Booking Date"
"Appointment Date: Attending UKVACS Date"

3. I have 2 children (5 years and 2 years). Elder one born in India (before entering UK) and younger one born in UK. Both of them are in Tier 2 dependent visa expiring on same date as mine. I wanted to know following:

a. I can skip ILR application for younger one and apply British Citizen via MN1 but this is possible after I get ILR. By the time, I get ILR, my son visa might get expire. Even after visa expiry, can I still apply for BC via MN1?
b. Can I follow similar option for elder one as well?
c. Visa fee is also applicable to children which is same as adult? Is this correct? Is there any option to apply for family Visa?

4. I spent some time in India for 3 months and 2 months in 2 different years. Is it safe to mention the reason for travel as "Family commitments" even though I was working from India and getting paid in UK. Do I need to submit any letter from my employer?

5. I haven't started preparing for "Life in UK" but wanted to know, how many months prior one should start ILR application process which would avoid any hassle?

Kindly guide me.

Thank you

[CR001]

1. You can apply no sooner than within 28 days before the initial visa issue date, i.e. 11th December 2019 minus 28 days.

2. The date of application is the date you submit and pay online. It is NOT the date of your UKCVAS appointment. So do NOT apply too early. Members who have applied too early, have been refused.

3a. You can skip ILR for the UK born child and register as British after your ILR yes. No issue re visa expiry.
3b. No you cannot. Child born abroad needs ILR. When is the other parent applying for ILR??
3c. Same fee for everyone, regardless of age. What do you mean 'family visa'?? There is no 'family discount' for ILR.

4. You need a letter about absence from your employer. As you were absent for more than 30 days, you might require extra explanation.

5. LIUK doesn't expire. You can do the test whenever but it must be at least 2-7 days before your ILR application submission.

[sunitaM]

Thank you CR001 for detail information.

3b. No you cannot. Child born abroad needs ILR. When is the other parent applying for ILR??
3c. Same fee for everyone, regardless of age. What do you mean 'family visa'?? There is no 'family discount' for ILR.

Reply: I am planning to apply ILR for myself, my wife and my son born in India through single application (by adding dependents). I was under impression, ILR fee is for single application but I was wrong, it is for per person even though all applicants are applying via single ILR application.

4. You need a letter about absence from your employer. As you were absent for more than 30 days, you might require extra explanation.

Reply: I was away from UK for 60 days but I was working from home country. I didnt took leave for more than a week and I was paid as well. Do I still need letter from Employer?

Adding one more question: Both I and my wife have master degree from India. My VISA was processed by 3rd party and they said my qualification meets English language requirement. I am not sure how they mentioned this, was it based on Point System or they checked with UKNARIC.

I am applying for ILR on my own and one of eligibility criteria is to meet English language requirement. Do I and my wife need to verify our degree certification via UKNARIC to get (AQUALS)? UKNARIC needs all transcripts (marksheets) and letter from university about medium instruction. Being in UK, I am not sure, how to get those documents from university in Home Country? Any idea would be helpful please?

Thank you

[CR001]

3b. No you cannot. Child born abroad needs ILR. When is the other parent applying for ILR??
3c. Same fee for everyone, regardless of age. What do you mean 'family visa'?? There is no 'family discount' for ILR.

Reply: I am planning to apply ILR for myself, my wife and my son born in India through single application (by adding dependents). I was under impression, ILR fee is for single application but I was wrong, it is for per person even though all applicants are applying via single ILR application.

Correct. There is no discount. Each applicant has to pay the same fee.

4. You need a letter about absence from your employer. As you were absent for more than 30 days, you might require extra explanation.

Reply: I was away from UK for 60 days but I was working from home country. I didnt took leave for more than a week and I was paid as well. Do I still need letter from Employer?

Yes you still need a letter and you will need to explain why you had more than 30 days absence working abroad.

Adding one more question: Both I and my wife have master degree from India. My VISA was processed by 3rd party and they said my qualification meets English language requirement. I am not sure how they mentioned this, was it based on Point System or they checked with UKNARIC.

I am applying for ILR on my own and one of eligibility criteria is to meet English language requirement. Do I and my wife need to verify our degree certification via UKNARIC to get (AQUALS)? UKNARIC needs all transcripts (marksheets) and letter from university about medium instruction. Being in UK, I am not sure, how to get those documents from university in Home Country? Any idea would be helpful please?

You need to do UKVI Red Route NARIC for both foreign degrees and you need the English and comparable assessment. It costs about £150 per degree. Same price as the 15 minute B1 English test. NARIC website tells you what you need or you can simply do the B1 English test each plus LIUK test obviously.

[sunitaM]

Hi CR001

Thank you once again for the information.

Yes you still need a letter and you will need to explain why you had more than 30 days absence working abroad.

My reason was, family commitments. My parents are old enough and they wanted to spend sometime with their grand-children. I am not sure if Home-Office will accept this. Do you have any suggestion for explanation please? I need to convince my employer as well to give me a letter for the same.

You need to do UKVI Red Route NARIC for both foreign degrees and you need the English and comparable assessment. It costs about £150 per degree. Same price as the 15 minute B1 English test. NARIC website tells you what you need or you can simply do the B1 English test each plus LIUK test obviously.

That's really helpful. I think, both me and my wife should appear for B1 English test in place of spending effort and money in getting our certificates validated from UKNARIC.

Thank you once again.

[CR001]

Search for 'absence' in the document below and see all the explanations that are given.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... 3_2019.pdf

[sunitaM]

Thank you CR001 once again.