Long Term Residency Visa
The Long term residency visa applies to people who have resided in the United Kingdom for a sufficient length of time.
This particular visa is granted at the discretion of the UK Home Office and is an immigration service which lets any individuals who have spent very long periods of time in the UK a chance to stay in the country on Indefinite Leave to Remain, also known as permanent residence in the UK.
Benefits
Once an applicant successfully obtains Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR) there is no time limit place on their stay in the UK and also as a UK resident there are no restrictions on the type of work or business they are allowed to undertake.
Duration
As mentioned above there is no time limit on ILR, however it is always recommended that a person on ILR status should not spend more than two years outside of the United Kingdom. A UK resident on ILR should consider the UK as their home and if the individual only spends short periods of time in the UK this may lead to them losing their ILR status.
A person on ILR in the UK may become eligible for British Naturalisation to the UK if they meet the requirements for citizenship.
Eligibility Criteria
Length of Residence
Long term residency applications are granted for exceptionally long periods spent in the UK; usually these visas are issued after 10 or 14 years residence in the United Kingdom.
10 Year visa
The 10 year rule applies to applicants who have legally been living in the country for ten years. If approved by the Home Office the individual is granted permanent residency and has no time limit on their continued stay in the United Kingdom.
14 Year visa
The 14 year rule applies to long term residents who have lived in the United Kingdom continuously for more than 14 years whether this maybe legally or illegally. In this type of case if the applicant is successful they will be awarded Indefinite Leave to Remain. Applications of this type are considered by the Home Office as long as there are no other circumstances which may counter the application, such as a criminal record.
7 Year visa
The 7 year rule applies to those who may have lived in the UK for more than 7 years and may be facing removal from the country, however if they have young children who have been living with them in the United Kingdom for those 7 years also then they may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Spouse and Dependent Immigration
Spouse immigration and Fiancé Immigration is not permitted as part of your application for Indefinite Leave to Remain if it is under the long residence category. The long residence category does not permit you to bring your spouse, fiancé or unmarried partner to the UK, although they may be eligible to enter the UK on another visa such as the Tier 1 General or Work Permit.
For more information feel free to contact Capital Visas via the enquiry form on our website or speak to one of our specialists directly on 0207 100 1919.
Capital Visas have assisted many individuals to settle in the UK. Our immigration consultants and caseworkers have a wide range of immigration expertise and experience; being a leading specialist in UK immigration we can assist you in every aspect of your relocation to the UK. Feel free to fill out our online enquiry form or contact us on 0207 100 1919.