Social groups and cultural ties?

I’m a bit confused on the ILR application. The part it’s checking what ties you have to your homeland it asks “Are you part of any social groups or do you have other cultural ties”

I’m not sure what to put. If not, it wants to know why.

Any examples of what folks have written there?

Could I add an additional observation.

In the past 5 years we were out of the country:
13-30 July 2017
5 July - 28 August 2019.

That doesn’t effect the ILR 5 year period does it?

UK Entry 25/10/16
BRP expires 28/12/21

It was a free fill form when I did it and simply said “friends and family”. Had it asked for more specific bits I would have said “mother, father, brother” and left it at that

I’m a bit confused on the ILR application. The part it’s checking what ties you have to your homeland it asks “Are you part of any social groups or do you have other cultural ties”

I’m not sure what to put. If not, it wants to know why.

Any examples of what folks have written there?

I’ve always assumed this question is asking about social support systems you may have or belong to back in the US, that could offer support and help to you if your visa was refused and you had to return to the US.

For example:
Church groups
Local communities
Sororities/Fraternities
Clubs/Societies


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Could I add an additional observation.

In the past 5 years we were out of the country:
13-30 July 2017
5 July - 28 August 2019.

That doesn’t effect the ILR 5 year period does it?

UK Entry 25/10/16
BRP expires 28/12/21

No, this will have no bearing on your application.

All you have to show for ILR (same as for FLR) is that:
- the UK has been your primary residence for the length of your visa
And
- you and your partner/spouse have lived together for the length of your visa

When it comes to applying for citizenship, there is a limit to number of days outside the U.K., but it’s a large number of days.

If you are married to a UK citizen, then you just have to show you were not outside the UK for more than 270 days in the last 3 years, with no more than 90 of those days in the final 12 months before applying.


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Thanks for confirmation on time spent out the country.

That makes sense the explanation of that they want. It’s one of those that are worded oddly. It was only friends or family on the FLRm this one a bit more detailed.

I’ll copy and paste it. First one dead easy.

Do you have any family in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years?  (List their names, where they live, how you are related to them, and what type of contact you have with them)

Do you have any friends in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years?
No - Explain why you do not have friends in any of these countries

Are you part of any social groups or do you have other cultural ties in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years? (This could include social networks or connections to any of these countries)
Explain why not
This could include reasons you or your family would not be able to integrate into any of these countries

So yeah you’re right. Just need to make sure I word the answers correctly.

If you don't meet the requirements, the Home Office staff must now look to see if you have a human right claim to remain in the UK before they refuse.

There is no right to a family life in the UK under human rights. There has to be " ‘insurmountable obstacles’  to why you cannot live in another country.

Page 55 of 96  Published for Home Office staff on 24 June 2021
The assessment of whether there are ‘insurmountable obstacles’ is a different and
more stringent assessment than whether it would be ‘reasonable to expect’ the
applicant’s partner to join them overseas. For example, a British citizen partner who
has lived in the UK all their life, has friends and family here, works here and speaks
only English may not wish to uproot and relocate halfway across the world, and it
may be very difficult for them to do so. However, a significant degree of hardship or
inconvenience does not amount to an insurmountable obstacle. ECHR Article 8 does
not oblige the UK to accept the choice of a couple as to which country they would
prefer to reside in. 
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/996667/family-life-_as-a-partner-or-parent_-private-life-and-exceptional-circs-v14.0-ext.pdf


Page 56 of 96  Published for Home Office staff on 24 June 2021
 
Ability to lawfully enter and stay in another country
 
You should consider the ability of the members of the family unit (both the applicant and others) to lawfully enter and stay in another country. The onus is on the applicant to show that it is not feaasble for them and their family to enter and stay in another country for this to amount to an insurmountable obstacle. A mere wish, desire or preference to live in the UK is not sufficient. 

Page 56
Serious cultural barriers to relocation overseas
 
This might be relevant in situations where the partner would be so disadvantaged by
the social, religious or cultural situation in a particular country that they could not be
expected to live there.

You can read further explanations and the other reasons for the UK to be obliged to let an applicant stay under Article 8.

Hi,  I've just finished filling out & paying for my ILR application yesterday so I'd like to comment about this below portion of your question.

"Could I add an additional observation.

In the past 5 years we were out of the country:
13-30 July 2017
5 July - 28 August 2019.

That doesn’t effect the ILR 5 year period does it?

UK Entry 25/10/16
BRP expires 28/12/21"

There is a section which asks about away from country.  It says NOT to include any holidays/vacation time in a 2 week or under timeframe.  Longer timeframes are to be included.  However, (& this first bit here is my opinion) the  2017 portion of out of country is technically included in a timeframe from your FLR paperwork & I don't believe is relevant now but I suppose you could include it.

Your 2019 out of country WOULD need to be included because it extends past the 2 week mark.  As you're sending/scanning in every single page of your passport, whomever gets your application is going to see the date stamps.  If you don't include it in the application they may question why.

Hope this helps.  Good Luck to you!!!  I go for my BIOS next Tuesday.