If you are on a route to settlement, then you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after completing the required amount of years living in the UK as required by your route. The type of visa you have will affect the length of residence required before you can apply.
What are your options?
Under current legislation this is either five years, for example those on spouse or civil partner visas, ancestry visas or skilled worker visas; or in some instances ten years residence is required for example those on the ten years partner or parent route or people who have switched visas over time and wish to rely upon ten years of legal residence in the UK.
There are different requirements depending upon the type of visa you have but as well as the residence requirement, individuals must pass the life in the UK test and English language test at the required level, unless exempt.
Rights and entitlements
A grant of indefinite leave gives an unlimited right to live and work in the UK. However, if you leave the United Kingdom then you must return within two years. An absence of two years or more will cause indefinite leave to lapse and an individual would have to apply from outside the United Kingdom for the right to return as a “returning resident”. Indefinite leave to remain does not protect you from potential deportation, if you commit a serious offense.
Do we offer legal aid?
We do not offer legal aid, but represent you on a fee earning basis if you do not qualify for legal aid.
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