Here are some details regarding my successful application for the ILR as a Limited Company Director at the Sheffield PSC.
Tier 1 General, Original issue - April 2009
First entry to UK - June 2009 and then left after a month. It was just a reconnaissance trip
Next entry to UK - October 2010
Even though I completed 5 years in October 2015, I couldn't apply because I was not working for best part of 2015 hence had to wait till now to apply.
The whole process from entry to approval took close to 2.5 hours and I wasn't called into clarify anything on my application.
When I came into the UK, I had a full time job and then worked through an umbrella company through the tax period 2011-12. From tax period 2012 - present, it has been as a Limited Company Director. Based on what I read on this forum, I realised I had no idea about my tax status with HMRC hence applied for SA302 to start with. When I received it, there were 2 surprises for me -
1. It listed the period 2010-11 when I was actually in employment and don't recall ever filing a SA
2. It was missing the 2011-12 period. When I enquired about this missing period, HMRC mentioned that it was under the PAYE method for that year. So, I asked them to send me that statement for that year.
I did not attach the SA302 or PAYE statement with my application, but I was given a questionnaire after they entered my case details into the system. The questionnaire details are as below. Almost ad verbatim -
1. Have you worked as Self Employed or worked as the Director or shareholder of a Limited company? If answer is yes, go to question 2 or return questionnaire to the desk officer
2. What is/was the nature of your business as a Self Employed person - Sole Trader, Contractor, Limited Company (Director or Shareholder), Other (please specify)
3. Confirm the financial years in which you were registered as Self employed in the UK? years started from 2009-10 to 2014-15
4.For financial years registered as self-employed, please confirm years for which a Self-assessment tax return was submitted to HMRC (This does not include a Company Tax return for a limited company) - again years started from 2009-10 to 2014-15
5. Please specify type of business you engaged in to generate income
6. Did you use an accountant to assist in submitted your SA tax returns to HMRC? If yes, go to question 7
7. Please provide name of accountants used
8. Confirm type of documents used in order to prepare your SA tax returns - choices were Invoice, Bank Statements, Dividend Vouchers, Payslips, Others
9. Are you satisfied that the SA tax returns submitted to HMRC accurately reflected your income? If not, why not and what further action have to taken to address it?
10 Any other comments
Along with this completed questionnaire, I attached the SA302 and PAYE statements from HMRC.
As mentioned before, there were no clarifications sought by the Case Worker and I was simply given the approval decision.
I was really scared after reading too many posts where the members seemed to have suffered but only after reading SkiiChamp's post that I got back my clarity. Which was to keep the supporting documentation simple.
I didn't attach any cover letter or complete the PBS point scoring sheet. Instead, my cover letter consisted of the categories of the points test in a table format as below with 4 headings -
Attributes (Earnings, Qualifications, Age etc)
Status Achieved -(£xx,xxx, Masters, etc)
Points claimed - (40, 35, etc)
Evidence -
- 1. Letter from Accountant including Management Accounts
2. Business Bank Statements
3. Personal Bank Statements
4. Dividend Declarations
5. Invoices
6. Contract
For the leave of absence from UK - I had less than 180 and I marked each entry with Personal or Work related. I had a covering letter for that highlighting the fact that my cumulative absence for 5 years was for less than 180 days and I didn't wade into providing any reasons for that.
Hope those waiting to file find the above useful. I am happy to share any particular part of my experience as requested if that would help better your case.
After having spent many sleepless and fitful nights over the last few months, I can finally rest easy tonight.
Thank you all once again!
cheers