Overstayed 18 years and ILR

[Melissa8102]

Hi All,

Really need your assistance with this matter.

I came to the UK in 2006 with an Aupair visa and got married here in 2008. After one week of getting married, my visa expired in 2008. I was told by the home office that I must return to my country and apply for a visa there, but I haven't done so yet. Since that time, I have been living illegally in the UK. I'm still married but I don't have any children. My husband, who is 62 years old, suffers from heart disease. I was instructed by the doctor to keep an eye on him and call an emergency call because he has trouble breathing while sleeping. He has stopped working.
I want to legally reside and work in the UK. 18 and half years have passed since I arrived in the UK. Am I able to apply to make my stay legal ?


Any advise would be helpful.

Thanks
Melissa

[meself2]

It's way too early to talk about ILR.

You would have to either apply as a spouse (and be put on 10 year route/do a 5 year route switch) or wait for another 2 years and apply for long residence to stay in UK as youve been here for 20 years (which is also a 10 year route).

Other members will give you further advice.

[zimba]

I agree that unless you do not gain any form of lawful residence, there is no path to ILR. If you are married to a British citizen, an FLR(FP) application should succeed.

[secret.simon]

What citizenships/nationalities do you hold?
In particular, do you hold the citizenship of any country/ies in the EU/EEA?
Alternatively do you hold Commonwealth citizenship?
Is any of your grandparents born in the UK?