‘Staying Put, and How to Do It’

Moving is a stressful enough process, but throw visas and immigration into the mix, and suddenly it’s a whole new level of tedium. You’re trying to carve out a new and better life for both yourself and your family while trying to navigate cumbersome red tape at the same time. All of this together can quickly overwhelm even the most resilient of immigrant hopefuls. Fortunately, we have a list of facts and figures for you to make the whole process a little clearer.

In the U.S., it’s called permanent residency (PR), and in the U.K. it’s called indefinite leave to remain (ILR). If you have PR or ILR status, you have the right to live and work without restriction in your country of residence. Today we’ll focus more on the U.K. side of things and how you can obtain ILR status.

What are the criteria that qualify you for this ILR status, anyway?

For starters, you must live in the U.K. continuously for five years and meet specific income requirements; the minimum amount for inexperienced workers is £20,800 per year and £30,000 for experienced workers. You also need to keep a record of any time you leave the country, and for how long each time. Unexplained absences could affect your chances of achieving ILR status, so due diligence is critical here. Lastly, you must demonstrate a good grasp of English and a thorough understanding of what life is like in the U.K. Any foreign national looking to be naturalized in the U.K. will need to take a ‘Way of Life’ test.

Luckily, your ILR status will never expire once you obtain it. Upon one year of being granted this status, you can apply to become a British citizen. There are things, however, that you can do to lose this status. Crimes or offenses that lead to your deportation qualify, but leaving the U.K. for more than two years can also jeopardize your status. However, people with statuses revoked for non-criminal reasons may be eligible to re-apply upon re-entering the U.K. In this scenario, it’s best to consult with an immigration officer who can help you choose the most sensible path forward.

Many reputable immigration services can help you realize your dream of being naturalized into the U.K. Our friends over at RVS Solicitors work with many immigrants wishing to obtain indefinite leave to remain status. RVS Solicitors’ immigration solicitors ensure that your ILR application has all the required documents so that nothing slips through the cracks. Their expertise in British immigration law has attracted many high net worth clients over the years. Each case they take on is unique in that they meet the individual needs of each client and deliver them their specific, desired results.

Immigrating to a new country can be very intimidating, but you don’t have to do it alone. Consult with RVS Solicitors today for the most exceptional service in bringing your dreams to life.