t123456789 wrote:What is your timeline like? If you arrived in 2005 and got ILR in 2010, it sounds like you applied for asylum almost straight away. If you were eventually granted leave to remain (and if you made appeals in time), then you weren't here illegally.
The catch is that you have to had applied for asylum with in reasonable time. This is not defined, but generally 30 days would be rough estimate. Also if you were a minor when you arrived that'd help your case.
arrived in UK in october 2005 at the age of 16
made claim for asylum 2 days later,
my claim for asylum was refused and was granted limited leave to remain until 31 Dec 2005 (on the immigration status document it shows 31 Dec 2005 but on the refusal letter it shows 31 Dec 2006)
I had tribunal in early 2006 but the decision stayed the same (refusal)
Between 2006 and 2010 I was without leave to remain in the UK, I wrote letters to the home office and the reply I get was there is backlog of around 600k of old cases and the home office is in the process of clearing the backlog by 2011.
Out of the blue in early 2010 I got indefinite leave to remain...this is what it says on the letter
''Your case has been reviewed, having fully considered the information you have provided, and because of the individual circumstances of your case, it has been decided to grant you indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. This leave has been granted exceptionally, outside the Immigration Rules. This due to your length of residence in the United Kingdom and compassionate circumstances. This means you are free to stay in this country permanently''
I was supported by social services financially and with accommodation, was also getting income support from 2007. Also got council flat before 2010. I couldn't work due to my status (2006 to 2010)
Update:
NCS at my local council told me they will not send the application, they said I should post it myself. Will make up my mind in next 2 days whether to send it or not.