APPLY FOR INDEFINITE LEAVE TO REMAIN AFTER 10 YEARS

English Language Requirements and Life in the UK Test

Applicants aged 18 to 64 years old must meet both the English Language and Life in the UK Test requirements, known as ‘Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK' (KoLL), in order to gain residence in the UK or obtain a 10 year ILR.

1. You may meet the knowledge of the English language requirements, which can be satisfied by having an academic degree taught or research completed in English or by passing an accepted Secure English Language Test (SELT) at level B1 or above. You may be exempt from the English language requirement if you are from a majority English-speaking country.
2. You must further pass the Life in the UK Test.

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You may be exempt from both KOLL when applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 10 years because of your age, a long-term physical or mental condition, or if you have lived lawfully in the UK for 15 years continuously in certain Visa categories.

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You may also be exempt from proving the English Language requirement if you are applying for 10-year ILR as:

• victim of domestic violence;
• foreign and Commonwealth citizens on discharge from HM Forces (including Gurkhas);
• highly skilled migrants applying under the terms of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) judicial review, and their dependants;
• bereaved spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, or same-sex partners of people present and settled in the UK for 10 year ILR;
• parents, grandparents, and other dependent relatives of people present and settled in the UK, applying under paragraph 317 of the Immigration Rules, even if they are aged between 18 and 64;
• adult dependent relatives, under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, even if they are aged between 18 and 64;
• retired persons of independent means;
• people who have extensive time spent in a secure hospital;
• people applying for 10-year ILR as a refugee;
• people applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain on the basis of discretionary leave;
• people applying for ILR on the basis of humanitarian protection;
• people applying for 10 year Indefinite Leave to Remain outside the Immigration Rules, for example under discretionary arrangements such as those for Gurkhas, widows, overage dependants and orphans;
• people applying for 10-year ILR 10 as a stateless person;
• a citizen of certain English-speaking countries;
• Skilled Worker, T2 or Tier 2 Visa.

The above exemption only applies to Indefinite Leave to Remain 10 Years' Long Residence application with the knowledge of English language requirement, and they are still required to satisfy the Knowledge of Life in the UK test.

Documentation – What you need for your 10 Year ILR application

You will need to submit your application for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 10 years with the relevant documentation in order to successfully apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain through 10 Years’ Long Residence.

This includes:

• your valid Visa (Visas), digital status or Biometric Residence Permit,
• current passport (or another valid ID),
• as well as every past passport that you have held throughout your 10 years of stay in the UK, where available.

You may also need to submit additional documents depending on your circumstances. As a QC immigration client, we will provide you with a list of documents that is customised to your case for 10-year ILR.

When can I apply for ILR through the 10 Years' Long Residence route?

The earliest we may submit your application to the Home Office is 28 days prior to completing your 10-year qualifying period and certainly before your current Leave to Remain or Enter Visa expires. The process of applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 10 years can take up to 6 months. There is an option to purchase Super Priority service, which shortens the decision-making time to 1 working day; however, the slots are very limited.

It is also important that you present a strong case with all the necessary documents. Get advice and help from our expert immigration lawyers today.

Costs and Fees

There is a one-off fee of £2,885 from 4 October 2023 to pay at the Home Office to process your application for 10 year ILR. You will also have to consider additional costs, such as legal advice and certified translations. If you cannot obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain 10 years, you will only need to pay £1,048 to extend your stay in the country.

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How Long Does It Take to Process an Application?

In general, the process of applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 10 years takes about six months. Specifically, this pertains to the review of your application and its approval or rejection by the government. However, this is only the case if you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 10 years through the standard procedure.

Circumstances That May Shorten the Route

Say you wish to significantly speed up the process of applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 10 years. In that case, it is advisable to use additional means, specifically by adding an extra £1,000 to the cost of services for the 10-year ILR and obtaining "Super Priority" status.

In this case, instead of waiting for up to six months for the application to be processed when you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 10 years, you will receive a response within one or two working days after providing your biometric data (which is a mandatory component in the list of procedures for 10 year Indefinite Leave to Remain).

How the team at QC Immigration can help

QC Immigration specialises in ILR 10 years’ long residence applications and UK Visas under the Immigration Rules. We have maintained an exceptional success rate, even when handling complicated cases. Contact us now for an initial consultation to discuss your unique case and for the best chances for a successful application with this Visa category.

Bringing on legal professionals to advise you and help you shape a strong application is highly advisable. Having to deal with an appeal or an administrative review can prove to be a drawn-out and costly process. Therefore, it's best to do what you can in order to be successfully granted Indefinite Leave to Remain on the 10 year route on the first attempt.

Book your consultation today

How Does the Process Work?

We use all our experience to expedite your ILR application on a 10-year basis and enhance the chances of your application's success. That's why we've devised an optimal collaboration process to help us provide you with quality services for preparing your application for ILR based on 10 years. It includes several steps:

• Receiving your inquiry and consultation.
• Gathering documents for 10 years’ long residence ILR.
• Analyzing the documentation and your eligibility to meet all rules.
• Legal justification of the application.
• Submitting the application and client support.
• Ensuring compliance with all regulations and standards.
• Assistance in interview preparation and Home Office communication.
• Drafting statements, legal arguments or our Legal Representative Letter where relevant.

In summary, you'll achieve your desired outcome much faster and have the opportunity to remain in the United Kingdom permanently, enjoying nearly all the privileges as a full-fledged citizen.

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