Question about ILR application after 5 years of HSMP

[ken218]

Hi all,

I have a question regards to ILR application. On the homeoffice website, it was stated that you need to be in UK for 5 years before you can apply for ILR, and during the 5 years, you shouldn't have left the country for more than 3 months each time.

for the 5 years, do they mean from the day you enter the country? or from the day your EC was approved?

What happen if you only enter UK about 2.5 month after your EC was approved? will the ILR application get rejected? (because start counting from the day you enter the country) If that is the case, does that mean I will need to apply for work permit/HSMP again to make up the 3 months that I am missing?

Please give me some advice, thanks!! XD

[SYH]

When you entered the country is the beginning of your 5 year period

[herts]

Hi ken,
I think you havent yet got the EC?
Well, you get a visa for 2 years and then have to extend it for 3 years. If you are not in the country for 4 years and 11 months then have to apply FLR (HSMP) again to make up for 5 years.
And the 5 year persiod is counted from the day you enter UK.

[ken218]

Hey guys, Thanks for the replies!

So if i want the ILR application to go smoothly, I need to make sure I enter the country as soon as I get my EC... that is rush. but anyway, that is the law they set, we can only follow it.

herts you right, I haven't got my EC yet. just planning in advance, so I don't do anything stupid :p now there is another complication. some people get EC rejected, and obviously you will have to apply for it again (and again) till you get it. and you need to do it before your HSMP letter expires... so it is not wise to apply at the last minute, but if you apply too early, you will need to rush to UK.

somehow it feels like they trying to make life as hard as possible for others