Did you leave for your country to switch visa before your stay expired? Did you return to the UK within six months of you leaving? If you answer these questions in the affirmative, then your solicitor has given you the wrong advice. You will still be eligible to apply for ILR regardless of you switching to Tier 1 dependant visa abroad.
Funnily, your case is exactly the same as my wife's. If you had left the UK prior to your visa expiring, switched visa abroad, and returned to the UK within six months, your continuous stay would not be broken
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
All the very best wishes.[/quote]
Agreed with TheJuryMustDie. The main criteria to become eligible for 10 years ILR is
- 10 year continues lawful stay in the UK.
- No stay outside of UK of more than 6 months in one go.
- No more than 540 days out of the UK in the entire 10 years.
Plus other attributes of Life in the UK and English requirement. If you came back to UK within 6 months regardless of your visa type. You are eligible to apply for ILR under 10 years route.[/quote]
HELLO,
you need to double check with senior solicitors and also with experienced members of this forum like Shahjee because in my poor opinion the solicitor you met perhaps spot on as the time spent on dependent visa does not count towards long residence but please this is not the final answer but this is exactly i heard from many members but once again the best thing is always to confirm.[/quote]
Shahfurgan,
You probably should have resisted the temptation of 'advising' when you knew your opinion on the subject matter was poor. It could end up confusing the OP even further.
As Arsal385 alluded to in his last post, ten years lawful stay under any category counts towards long stay residency. I'm actually surprised a solicitor would give the OP such advice.
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)