the gap from sept 2000 to jan 2001 was because her mom is scatterbrained and didn't apply in time, I guess? she was a 10 year old at the time the second gap from nov 2011 - jan 2012 she said was because she submitted it through the US military (she's American and lived on base) and she wasn't aware ...

Aren't these gaps in the visa considered 'overstaying' and therefore an immigration offence?

And when qualifying for naturalisation, you can't have committed any offences?

I thought she had overstayed because of two gaps in her visa... is this not the case? I'm confused.

I thought maybe they'd just waived it or something?

My unmarried partner was granted ILR based on 10yrs residence in August last year so she's been a permanent resident for almost a year. She's lived in the UK for 16 years, since 1999. We're planning on getting married before the end of this year, also. Technically she has overstayed from Sept 2000 t...

I'm a UK permanent resident. I have my ILR BRP card on basis of 10yrs long residence. For some reason I thought I need to inform them when I change addresses if I'm living at a new address for more than six months. Is this correct? If so, how do I get in contact with them?

Thanks so much for all your help, everyone.

She got it. So happy right now.

okay, we're going to give it a go anyway her appointment is on Tuesday, so I'll get started on the cover letter now. I have a degree in English so hopefully I can write it well but keep it concise. Thanks for everyone's help. I am sort of hoping they'll exercise discretion seeing as young people her...

They make no exceptions for ILR? She'll never get citizenship? She's a perfect candidate in every other sense..... I'm so depressed right now. I feel terrible.

What about if she's been employed in the UK for 7 years?

so they'll still grant you your visa even if the extension arrived late/they can see you overstayed? I wasn't aware.


How much do you think it'll affect her chances? Will they deny her request for irl based on the period of overstay do you think?

But why did they renew her visa in jan 2012 if her previous expiry was nov 2011? doesn't that signify that they didn't class her as an overstayer and therefore renewed it?

She can't have overstayed, correct? Otherwise, if she'd "overstayed" past 08 Nov 2011/28 days after, why did immigration renew her visa in jan 2012?

why did immigration renew her visa in 12 jan 2012 if her previous visa expired 08 nov 2011? i thought they deport you if you're an overstayer? her visa just says "limited leave to remain" even though she's on a (work visa??) working for us military in the uk

Oh my god- I just had a thought. Someone PLEASE Help this is urgent. If they find out my wife overstayed (by accident), even though she had her visa renewed a month or two later, will they deport her? She's currently on a work visa with the US military. If they'll deport her after finding out at the...

Are you certain about that last bit? As long as it's a 10 year period, doesn't need to be most recent, the clock doesn't "reset"? Have written a cover letter anyway, explaining that it wasn't her fault/it's the policy of the military visa office which she wasn't made aware of...please be l...

Thanks for the reply. How do we prepare accordingly for them to exercise discretion? For instance, what should I write in the cover letter? I mean, it does seem a bit unfair to be penalised for the mistake of the US Military visa office... they talk to up basically everyone's visas and such. It's no...

That's not her fault though surely as she wasn't aware the military doesn't send the visas out until the end of the month?

Will they grant her ILR anyway, because she's been here over half her life?

They give illegal immigrants who are aged 18-25 and have been in UK over half their life their residencies.... my wife is 25, has been here over half her life (15yrs). Surely they would make an exception since she been here 15yrs and only had one gap in her visa? We can't establish if she submitted ...

What does this mean -"the applicant must not be in the uk in breach of immigration laws except for any period of overstaying if the application was submitted before 9 july 2012 which will be disregarded"? Does it mean if you went over your 28 days for renewing your visa it doesn't count if...

Bit of a dilemma. Wife is applying for ILR (LR), has been here since year 2000. Her PEO appt. is in Solihull on She's been here legally for all 15yrs. However - there is a gap in her visa in 2011. She submitted her visa within the 28 days after the expiration date (which it states on the application...

Hi everyone,


Trying to book my PEO appointment and it keeps saying error and won't let me!

Can I book appointment over the phone? It's really crucial I get the slot I need which is available right now but could go soon!

Anyone? please help!

wait, there is a premium service for long residence applications? thought they got rid of that?

Got through to them. Woman told me no record of her application. Which means her mom didn't send it (mom was the one who paid for it but obviously didn't do it, lied to us and told us she did). So there's that. Thanks for all your help anyway.

hmm, made a post but it's not showing up Anyway. Tried calling. Automated voice service said it basically can't help me. Tried email them using appointmentenquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Is this the right email? So sick of this and ready to give up. Seems like they don't want to help you, they're re...

Sorry - more questions. Will try ringing HO on Monday to find out what's happening with the application. Do you think they'll be able to tell me what stage it's at over the phone as long as my wife confirms her identity? I mean, would they have that kind of information available to them? Sorry if th...