ILR - 20 Years Long Residence

You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) 28 days before completing 10 years of lawful residence granted under the 20 years long residence category. An application for ILR on the basis of 20 years long residence can be made to the Home Office UKVI through Super Priority Service to get decision on the ILR application within 24 hours. An application for ILR under 20 years long residence category is made in accordance with requirements as set out in Appendix Private Life of the Immigration Rules. 

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide fast, friend reliable and fixed fee immigration advice and legal representations in relation to your application for ILR under 20 years long residence. Ask a question to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment online for a detailed immigration advice and consultation session with one of our immigration lawyers concerning your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category.

Requirements For ILR Under 20 Years Long Residence Category

A person applying for ILR under 20 years long residence should meet the following requirements of the Immigration Rules as set out in Appendix Private Life:

Valid Application

The applicant must submit a valid application for ILR under 20 years long residence category in accordance with requirements for a valid application as set out in Appendix Private Life of the Immigration Rules.

Suitability Requirements

The applicant must not fall for refusal under:

• the suitability grounds for refusal for indefinite leave to remain applications under Appendix FM paragraphs:
  • S-ILR.1.2, S-ILR.1.6 to S-ILR.1.10, S-ILR.3.1; or
  • S-ILR.2.2, S-ILR.4.2 to S-ILR.4.5 (subject to PL 12.4); or
• paragraph 9.6.1. of Part 9 of these rules (subject to PL 12.4).

The applicant must not have been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more.

The applicant must not have been convicted of an offence in the UK or overseas for which they have been sentenced to imprisonment for less than 12 months, unless the applicant has completed a qualifying period of 10 years continuous residence with permission as set out in PL 12.6. and has completed 5 years continuous residence with such permission since the end of their sentence.

Where any of the following occur during the applicant’s qualifying period for settlement, the applicant must be refused settlement unless the applicant has completed a continuous qualifying period of 10 years with permission as set out in PL 12.6. and has completed 5 years continuous residence with such permission after the date of the first grant of permission after the suitability ground came to the attention of the decision maker:

• involvement in a sham marriage or civil partnership (grounds for refusal under 9.6.1 of Part 9); or
• use of false documents or information or deception (S-ILR.2.2 and S-ILR.4.2 and S-ILR.4.3. of Appendix FM); or
• litigation debt owed to the Home Office, unless the debt has been paid (SILR.4.4 of Appendix FM); or
• debt to the NHS, unless the debt has been paid, or the total value of outstanding charges is under £500 (S-ILR.4.5. of Appendix FM); or
• the applicant has breached the conditions of their permission.

Where an applicant must complete a qualifying period of 10 years continuous residence (under PL 12.3. to PL 12.5.), they must have had permission as (or as a combination of) the following for that 10 year qualifying period:

• entry clearance or permission granted as a partner or parent under Appendix FM (except for permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner); or
• permission described in the Home Office grant letter as “family permission as a parent” or “family permission as a partner”; or
• permission on the private life route under paragraph 276ADE or 276BE(2) before 20 June 2022 or Appendix Private Life; or
• entry clearance or permission as a child of a person with limited leave as a partner or parent under Appendix FM; or
• permission granted outside the rules as a partner, a parent or child or because of private life on the basis of Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention.

The applicant must not be:

• in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
• on immigration bail.

Immigration Status Requirement

An applicant applying for ILR under 20 years long residence must have, or have last been granted, permission on the Private Life route.

Qualifying Period Requirement

According to PL14.2 of Appendix Private Life of the Immigration Rules, an applicant who is aged 18 or over at the date of application and does not meet the requirement in PL 14.1 must have lived in the UK for a continuous qualifying period of 10 years with permission set out in PL 14.3. or 14.4.

Where any periods of overstaying may be disregarded with respect to continuous residence, they are not included in the calculation of the qualifying period in line with judgement in case of R (on the application of Afzal) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] EWCA Civ 1909).

What Other Visas Can Be Counted Towards Qualifying Period?

Permission on the following routes (or any combination of those routes) counts towards the qualifying period of 10 years in PL 14.2:

• entry clearance or permission granted as a partner or parent under Appendix FM (except for permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner); or
• permission described in the Home Office grant letter as “family permission as a parent” or “family permission as a partner”; or
• permission on the private life route under paragraph 276ADE or 276BE(2) before 20 June 2022 or Appendix Private Life; or
• entry clearance or permission as a child of a person with limited leave as a partner or parent under Appendix FM; or
• permission granted outside the rules as a partner, a parent or child or because of private life on the basis of Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention.

Permission on any other route that includes rules allowing an applicant to qualify for settlement also counts towards the qualifying period in PL 14.1. or PL 14.2, if the applicant:

• did not enter the UK illegally (unless they have permission to stay on the private life route as a child or young adult); and
• has had permission either under paragraph 276ADE or 276 BE(2) before 20 June 2022 or Appendix Private Life for at least one year at the date of application.

Continuous Residence Requirement

The applicant must meet the continuous residence requirements as set out in Appendix Continuous Residence for the qualifying period for settlement.

English Language Requirement

Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening to at least level B1. The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language.

Knowledge of Life in The UK Requirement

Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement as specified in Appendix KOL UK.

Super Priority Service For Decision Within 24 Hours

As specialist immigration solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Super Priority Service for ILR under 20 years long residence category whereby decision on your ILR application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your ILR application through Super Priority Service. This way, you may not have to wait for the decision on your application for months (sometimes years).

How Can We Help?

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis in relation to your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category. Our fixed fee for your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category will entail the following:

• Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category to succeed.
• Advised on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category;
• Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to make sure that all the documents you provide in support of your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category are in accordance with the requirement of the Immigration Rules.
• Completing application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant application form for your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category.
• Submitting application through Priority or Super Priority Service: Where possible, our immigration lawyers will submit your online application for ILR under 20 years long residence category through priority or super priority service to get faster decision on your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category.
• Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.
• Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category explaining how all the legal requirements are met for the approval of your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category.
• Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category.
• Follow up work: Our immigration lawyers will carry out all the follow up work until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category.

Our One-Off Services For Immigration Applications

Our immigration solicitors can also provide a wide range of one-off legal services for UK visa and immigration applications. Using our one-off services can help those who do not want to use our full service for the immigration application. You can use one of the following one-off legal services offered for UK visa and immigration applications:

• One-Off Immigration Advice and Consultation
• Immigration Documents Checking Service
• Application Form Completion Services
• Submitting Application Through Priority and Super Priority Service
• Preparing Cover Letter For Immigration Application
• Uploading Supporting Documents Online

Our Fixed Fees For ILR Application under 20 Years Long Residence Category

• Our immigration solicitors will charge a fixed fee ranging from £1,000 to £2,000 (no VAT) for your application for ILR under 20 years long residence category. We can provide Super Priority Service for your ILR application to be decided within 24 hours. The agreed fixed will depend on the complexity of the application and the volume of work involved in the application for ILR under 20 years long residence category.
• Our fixed fee for the application does not cover any disbursements e.g. UKVI fee for the application and the applicant has to separately pay the Home office UKVI fees for the application.