Q: I am currently on a UK Tier 2 working visa and hope to eventually obtain my British citizenship. Can you please explain to me what the residential requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) are, so that I can ensure I fulfil these during my qualifying period, as I need to travel outside the UK quite often?
A: In order to meet the residential requirement for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain, Home Office guidance states that one must be able to demonstrate that they have not been outside of the UK in excess of 180 days across the 5-year qualifying period.
The UK Home Office will discount days spent outside of the United Kingdom in excess of the 180 days if the additional days were taken for compassionate reasons, in line with the applicant’s annual leave or were taken to allow the applicant to travel for business. However, the Home Office will require strict proof evidencing that the days taken were for one or a combination of these reasons.
Please keep the above in mind during the qualifying time for ILR, as this will prevent having to extend your current visa, in order to fulfil the requirements for ILR.
If you have any concerns about your current eligibility please contact our office.
Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants
JP Breytenbach
Director of Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants
www.bic-immigration.com
info@bic-immigration.com