5 years evidence of living in UK - question about documention

[culka11]

Hi there,

I am currently applying for BC; I have settled status as a family member of an EEA (ROI) citizen. The Settled Status BRP was issued in 2021; I held an EEA PR before this - which was sent back when the settled status brp was issued.

My questions are regarding the requirement to prove I have been in the UK for 5 years (my passport does not get stamped):

- Is this any five years? (Rather than the five years covered by the SS?). Can I simply provide documentation for the last five years?

- I have been a mix of self-employed, PhD student, and PAYE during the last five years; I am planning to get a letter from the university where I did my PhD, collection of P60s (from teaching at the uni, so relatively low-income) and evidence from self-assessment. Does this sound like enough?

- because I have been self-employed, the application requires the 'most recent tax year account statement and corresponding HMRC tax return as proof of self-employment'.  I can get the tax return online - the pdf has a giant digital stamp across it saying 'copy only do not send to hmrc'; will this be accepted? For the tax year account statement: is this the SA302? Do I just print it from my profile? Is there a different doc HMRC issues I am missing?

- In general terms, does the home office accept print outs from HMRC - given self-assessment stuff is all online?

Appreciate your help!

[alterhase58]

Hi there,

I am currently applying for BC; I have settled status as a family member of an EEA (ROI) citizen. The Settled Status BRP was issued in 2021; I held an EEA PR before this - which was sent back when the settled status brp was issued.

My questions are regarding the requirement to prove I have been in the UK for 5 years (my passport does not get stamped):

- Is this any five years? (Rather than the five years covered by the SS?). Can I simply provide documentation for the last five years?
No - it has to be five years counting back from the AN application date - you can't select which 5 years. Citizenship is separate from immigration with it's own rules and requirements.

- I have been a mix of self-employed, PhD student, and PAYE during the last five years; I am planning to get a letter from the university where I did my PhD, collection of P60s (from teaching at the uni, so relatively low-income) and evidence from self-assessment. Does this sound like enough? Sounds ok - your income etc is not relevant as employment is not a requirement, documents are for proving residency.

- because I have been self-employed, the application requires the 'most recent tax year account statement and corresponding HMRC tax return as proof of self-employment'.  I can get the tax return online - the pdf has a giant digital stamp across it saying 'copy only do not send to hmrc'; will this be accepted? For the tax year account statement: is this the SA302? Do I just print it from my profile? Is there a different doc HMRC issues I am missing? Submit what you have and print-out from HMRC.

- In general terms, does the home office accept print outs from HMRC - given self-assessment stuff is all online?
Yes - and you will scan print-outs for upload to UKVI online system. No issue.

Appreciate your help!

[contorted_svy]

Hi there,

I am currently applying for BC; I have settled status as a family member of an EEA (ROI) citizen. The Settled Status BRP was issued in 2021; I held an EEA PR before this - which was sent back when the settled status brp was issued.

My questions are regarding the requirement to prove I have been in the UK for 5 years (my passport does not get stamped):

- Is this any five years? (Rather than the five years covered by the SS?). Can I simply provide documentation for the last five years? Last five years, not any five years, as that is your qualifying period.

- I have been a mix of self-employed, PhD student, and PAYE during the last five years; I am planning to get a letter from the university where I did my PhD, collection of P60s (from teaching at the uni, so relatively low-income) and evidence from self-assessment. Does this sound like enough? Yes. PhD letter, P60 and SA302 + tax return, one per year.

- because I have been self-employed, the application requires the 'most recent tax year account statement and corresponding HMRC tax return as proof of self-employment'.  I can get the tax return online - the pdf has a giant digital stamp across it saying 'copy only do not send to hmrc'; will this be accepted? For the tax year account statement: is this the SA302? Do I just print it from my profile? Is there a different doc HMRC issues I am missing? That is what I have sent and it was accepted. You are sending it to UKVI, not HMRC, different departments.

- In general terms, does the home office accept print outs from HMRC - given self-assessment stuff is all online? Yes, though you won't need to print anything, you will upload all your evidence online.

Appreciate your help!

[culka11]

Thank you both! This is helpful and very reassuring.

One last question: do you think i need to submit the self assessment return for 2023-2024 before applying? (The tax year just ended, so while I have until January, it is possible to submit now as well. I just rather would not if not necessary - I do have other proof of residence.)

Thank you!

[contorted_svy]

Thank you both! This is helpful and very reassuring.

One last question: do you think i need to submit the self assessment return for 2023-2024 before applying? (The tax year just ended, so while I have until January, it is possible to submit now as well. I just rather would not if not necessary - I do have other proof of residence.)

Thank you!

If you are self employed, yes. File your taxes now and submit the 23/24 tax return with your application.

[culka11]

Argh but to know - thank you again!