The United Kingdom remains one of the top destinations for individuals who have plans of relocating – and with great reasons. It is home to stunning natural sceneries and landscapes, competitive education, and even accessible healthcare alongside abundant job opportunities. The people are also known for their hospitality, and the country is bustling with culture and art. For all these reasons, it isn’t far-fetched to determine why the UK almost tops every immigrant’s list for prospective homes.
If you’re one of the people interested in making a home for yourself in the UK, it’s essential to know that there are necessary steps to follow in doing so. To obtain a permanent settlement, you’d need to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain, which allows you to reside in the UK without restrictions. Moreover, it’s also the first step toward getting full citizenship and naturalization.
The dilemma, however, is the application process. With the complexities surrounding the immigration process, you’d most likely need the help of immigration lawyers UK to guide you throughout. You can also seek the help of experienced and professional immigration lawyers Birmingham when it comes to meeting the requirements of immigration laws. They can assist you by providing you with valuable advice regarding visas, biometric residence permits, and eligibility criteria.
What is an Indefinite Leave to Remain?
An Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR is an immigration type that permits people to reside in the UK without any restrictions or imposed immigration conditions.
Moreover, an ILR is typically available for individuals who have been living legally in the UK for five years. Even so, some may already be qualified to apply for the ILR status even just after three years. The Indefinite Leave to Remain Status is the first yet final step you can take before becoming a full British citizen. Afterward, you can start applying for British citizenship when you’ve already had an ILR status for 12 months.
Requirements to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain
Before you can even be bestowed a status for an Indefinite Leave to Remain, you must first comply with the necessary requirements.
One of the requirements for ILR states that you need to be residing lawfully in the UK for a certain amount of time. The usual required time is five years, though it can be three years in other circumstances.
You also have to meet other criteria for qualification in order to be eligible to apply. These include the following:
- Must pass the Life in the UK test
- Must not have spent more than 180 days outside the country during any 12-month period upon arriving
- Must pass an English language test to at least a B1 level;l
- Must not have breached any immigration conditions or broken any laws during the time you have spent in the country.
Holders of the visas listed below may be qualified to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after only three years:
- Global Talent visa, if you’re endorsed by a qualified organization, won an eligible award, or if your latest endorsement was under the criteria of exceptional talent.
- Entrepreneur visa, based on business activities
- Innovator visa, depending on your achievements in business.
Those who have investor visas are qualified for ILR after two to three years, depending on their activities in business. Additionally, Commonwealth citizens who have served under the British Armed Forces can also apply for settlement in the UK for a continuous 4-year period.
Benefits of Having an Immigration Lawyer For Your ILR Application
While seeking the assistance of an immigration lawyer can come with additional legal fees, they nonetheless provide numerous benefits that can significantly help your case.
That being said, it’s recommended that you get a lawyer when settling your Indefinite Leave to Remain application. The immigration process can be tough and confusing to handle all alone. Without thorough preparation, you’d have to entertain the possibility and risk of an application refusal.
Having an experienced, professional immigration lawyer by your side helps prevent this because they can help make sure that you turn in a well-evidenced and well-prepared ILR application that appropriately meets all the rules of immigration, leaving no reason for the Home Office to reject it. It has been proven time and time again that lawyer-aided ILR applications have more chances of being approved and successful, mainly since they help you oversee the entire process with utmost convenience.
Immigration lawyers make sure that your application gets through the Home Office so that you may be able to achieve your dreams of permanent settlement in the country without undergoing too much delay or hassle. They also aid in assessing your eligibility for ILR, give essential advice in your case, and assist with all the essential paperwork.
