If you have stayed in the UK long enough and are planning to be a UK resident soon, then you must have heard countless times about indefinite leave to remain. You may have also already looked it up.
However, the problem is that it can be hard to grasp the concept of an ILR application if you’re new to it. You have questions like, “Does an indefinite leave to remain visa really lets immigrants stay in the UK for as long as they like?”, “How about school?”, “How about work?”. Whichever, it can get overwhelming, especially if you start learning the visa’s benefits.
To make this easier for you, we have prepared an easy-to-understand guide about an indefinite leave to remain visa in this article. Let’s start!
What is an Indefinite Leave to Remain?
In a nutshell, an indefinite leave to remain is a type of visa that will allow you to legally stay and live in the UK for as long as you like.
There’s no catch. You just need to pass the application process and abide by UK laws once approved. Either way, you can expect the visa not to have an expiration date. Basically, it’s like booking an unlimited stay in the country.
In a more profound sense, you can treat ILR as a preparatory stage before applying for a settlement status in the country. This will let you collect enough reckonable residence without being restricted by immigrant laws until you can be considered an official UK citizen.
When Can You Apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain?
Typically, if you have been staying continuously in the UK for 5 years or more (with the condition of not having 180 absences or more in 12 months), you can already look into the process of applying for an ILR. Note that this comes with other conditions, but time-wise, 5 years is the specified time.
To add, you should only push through the process if you have full knowledge of the UK’s daily life and UK English since the immigration office will test you on these topics for assessment.
For a piece of advice, you should highly consider consulting with IRL lawyers before applying for the visa. They are professionals that will definitely be a big help throughout the process of obtaining an indefinite leave to remain visa.
Things Allowed Under Indefinite Leave to Remain
You will be glad to know that unlike a tourist visa, student visa, or work visa, an ILR won’t tie you to a specific purpose. You can work, study, visit tourist spots, and even go in and out of the UK whenever you like. Simply, you can do any activity that you want as long as it’s legal and won’t put you in any kind of trouble.
To add, you will also be able to get access to some benefits like free healthcare and limited financial support, to say some.
Things that Aren’t Allowed Under Indefinite Leave to Remain
Now, there are only a few things that you can’t do considering your IRL visa, but all of them are a one-hit offense. Meaning, doing disallowed tasks and activities can get your IRL revoked immediately.
For an overview, you can’t stay outside the UK for a continuous 2-year period. At the same time, you should also try your best not to get caught up in any illegal matter and other things that can cause deportation. While the former will allow you to reapply under valid reasons, the latter only has a slim chance of letting you in the UK again.
Note that you also won’t get access to benefits like pension (unless you have been making tax contributions under the title for 10 years). Voting is allowed, but it also comes with restrictions depending on your current immigrant status.
Summary
Overall, an indefinite leave to remain will allow you to stay in the UK for an indefinite amount of time. By this, it means that your eligibility to stay, work, and study in the country won’t expire, considering that you follow the conditions that come with it.
Keep in mind that an indefinite leave to remain visa is not “magic.” Like any other travel document for immigrants, it comes with requirements, due dates, qualifications, and basic technicalities.
Because of this, it’s recommended that you find immigration services to work with throughout the application process. Doing so will not only make it easier for you, but it will also have a significant effect on getting your visa approved. Not to mention, you can also rest assured that you’re doing everything in line with UK’s laws.
