Waiting on ILR - how long?

Hi everyone,

I submitted my ILR application in February and still have not heard any updates (so 4 months since submitted application). I plan on going to the US in August or late July and so would like to make sure I do everything I can to make sure it is approved before then.  I have not been back to the US in 2 years so need to get there soon!

I did have some complications with my visa so had a lawyer submit a letter for me ( my first visa was a tad bit too short, but if you count when I received my  first visa in the US I still fulfill requirements for 5 years with visa before I applied for ILR ).

Is there anyway I can check or help make my visa go faster? I just don't want it to turn into 6 months and still have no answers so want to be proactive as possible.

Let me know if anyone has any advice.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I submitted my ILR application in February and still have not heard any updates (so 4 months since submitted application). I plan on going to the US in August or late July and so would like to make sure I do everything I can to make sure it is approved before then.  I have not been back to the US in 2 years so need to get there soon!

I did have some complications with my visa so had a lawyer submit a letter for me ( my first visa was a tad bit too short, but if you count when I received my  first visa in the US I still fulfill requirements for 5 years with visa before I applied for ILR ).

Is there anyway I can check or help make my visa go faster? I just don't want it to turn into 6 months and still have no answers so want to be proactive as possible.

Let me know if anyone has any advice.

Thanks in advance!

Time spent before entering the UK doesn't count towards your 5 year period however you can apply up to 28days before you reach 5 years in any case. What were your exact dates?
Having said that, you will by now have been in country more than 5 years presumably so that might mean that it's OK now? What did the lawyer say?

Unfortunately with ILR, the service standard is 6 months so there is really nothing that can be done before then, unless perhaps there are compassionate circumstances for which you need to leave the country? But even in that case there's not much you can do except get in touch with your MP.

Thanks for the feedback I arrived in the UK April 1st 2016 and applied for my ILR I think before February 3rd ( the day my visa expired).

My lawyer said it should be OK since my visa was issued to me in the US end of January 2016. I had to get an extension since I was ill and so my temporary visa was updated to start March 15 2016 to April 14 2016. He said I could consider my first temporary visa issue date as my start date  and so qualified  as being in the UK for 5 years by February 2021.

Anyhow I am getting nervous there are complications and wonder if I should get my lawyer involved? I just want to make sure it is not 6 months by the time I hear back. I am also wondering if anyone else is having issues with their ILR taking a long time to be processed.

Thanks in advance!!


 

Anyhow I am getting nervous there are complications and wonder if I should get my lawyer involved? I just want to make sure it is not 6 months by the time I hear back. I am also wondering if anyone else is having issues with their ILR taking a long time to be processed.

Thanks in advance!!


 

I just did mine, and it took five months (June to November 2020). I think they still have a backlog, although some seem to be getting results faster than those of us who were dealing with this a year ago.

Good luck to you.

Time spent before entering the UK doesn't count towards your 5 year period however you can apply up to 28days before you reach 5 years in any case.

Here is the gov.uk site confirming this for a spouse of a British or Settled Person.

You can apply as the partner of a British citizen or person settled in the UK

Eligibility

You must have been living in the UK on your family visa as a partner for at least:

    5 continuous years if you’re on the 5 year route
https://www.gov.uk/settle-in-the-uk/y/you-re-the-family-member-or-partner-of-a-british-citizen/no/partner/you-re-still-with-your-partner

That result from using this calculator
https://www.gov.uk/settle-in-the-uk

Find out if you can apply to settle in the UK

Check if you’re eligible for settlement (also called ‘indefinite leave to remain’) in the UK.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let everyone know that almost 5 months after submission I finally got my ILR approved!!!

They called me on Wednesday and asked for one more piece of paperwork ( a letter proving I lived at my address at a certain time) that I needed to send right then an there by e-mail. Thank goodness I picked up the phone call from an unknown number!!

Then I was approved 10 minutes later!!

I want to thank everyone on this forum for all your help and really could not have done all this without all of you!

I want to especially thank Larra Bee  KSand24 who answered numerous questions and everyone else I can't remember. All I have left now is my citizenship in a year or so, which I heard is much easier to do then all this!!


Thanks again everyone!!!!  will recommend this forum to any US expats dealing with visa problems.

All the best,

Lori



 





 

Congratulations!

As you are married to a British Citizen, you do NOT have to wait a year. Apply whenever you like!  You qualify already!   

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let everyone know that almost 5 months after submission I finally got my ILR approved!!!

They called me on Wednesday and asked for one more piece of paperwork ( a letter proving I lived at my address at a certain time) that I needed to send right then an there by e-mail. Thank goodness I picked up the phone call from an unknown number!!

Then I was approved 10 minutes later!!

I want to thank everyone on this forum for all your help and really could not have done all this without all of you!

I want to especially thank Larra Bee  KSand24 who answered numerous questions and everyone else I can't remember. All I have left now is my citizenship in a year or so, which I heard is much easier to do then all this!!


Thanks again everyone!!!!  will recommend this forum to any US expats dealing with visa problems.

All the best,

Lori

That's such a relief! So glad you were successful, congratulations! 

As KFdancer said, there is no need to wait a year if you are married to a UKC. I realise you are anxious to travel to the US but if you watch the length of your trip, you could still go for the summer and apply on your return.

You must not have had more than 270 days outside the UK in the 3-year period before making the application (but see the section on Absences from the UK).
 
You must not have had more than 90 days outside the UK in the 12-month period before making the application, (but see the section on Absences from the UK).

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/998195/Guide_AN_final.pdf

Thank you for posting this. I've been anxiously waiting for updates on my application as well, but I'm just two weeks shy of the 5 month marker. Here's hoping I can get it in the same time frame as you!

Honestly in the same boat. Applied 31 March, biometrics done 28 April and I’m starting to feel impatient.

Thank you for posting this. I've been anxiously waiting for updates on my application as well, but I'm just two weeks shy of the 5 month marker. Here's hoping I can get it in the same time frame as you!

Honestly in the same boat. Applied 31 March, biometrics done 28 April and I’m starting to feel impatient.

Hope you guys hear soon! 

Hope you guys hear soon! 

Thank you! Me too.


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Honestly in the same boat. Applied 31 March, biometrics done 28 April and I’m starting to feel impatient.

I’m glad I’m not alone. I’ll pop back in to update when I’ve heard back so you/others will have another confirmation of timeline, if I do indeed get it before you get yours


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Finally! I can sing Hallelujah! I've received word that my ILR Set(M) application has been approved! Hooray! Now to figure out how to do the citizenship application...

Finally! I can sing Hallelujah! I've received word that my ILR Set(M) application has been approved! Hooray! Now to figure out how to do the citizenship application...

You’ve given me hope that mines not been lost!! I’m due to start a new job and train through a university and having this would mean I can rest easy. I know technically I am still legal here,  but it’s so much extra steps for my new employer to take. So happy for you!!!