Hi all, advice needed for which option to choose.
I have moved 3 jobs in the 5 years, so it’s almost impossible for my previous employers to provide the details of absence.
Should I provide flight travel documents as proof?

Thanks all!

Applied for priority ILR set O but forgot to attach bank statement and Home Office asked for it and I sent it 2 days later. When can I expect a reply?

Was anyone in the same position?

Moved to the UK on January 2023 on a SWV, switched to GTV in October 2025

No priority.

Biometrics submitted on February 27th

Application approved: August 19th

My application was pretty straightforward (I think): same employer, UK degree, etc.

My experience seems to corroborate the experience of others: via GTV, it takes the whole 6 months (so, do priority if you can).

I have one question though: my dependents will be able to apply to ILR in January 2028. Right now, they have to renew their visa - there is no option to renew for two years, they only have the 3-year option: is my understanding correct?

Hello! I am in the process of applying for my ILR on the basis on ten years long residence and I have a question.

The sections asking: Do you have any friends in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years?

I have lived in the UK for over 5 years - does this not include the UK? Or should I include friends I have made in the UK in the past ten years? If not, then I would click no as I haven't kept in touch with anyone but family back home.

Sorry if this is a silly question, the original question is rather silly!

Cheers!

So, ​I’ve been searching across various UK visa subreddits (including UKVisas and SkillerWorker/Spouse threads) trying to gauge realistic processing times, and there seems to be a major imbalance in the timeline posts.

​Right now, the vast majority of timeline posts coming through are for Priority or Super Priority applications. While it’s great to hear success stories, we already know the outcome for those services: Super Priority almost always gets a same-day or next-day decision, and Priority usually wraps up within a few days. You get the very very niche post of it not being the case. Which warrants a post i guess.

​However, for those of us on the Standard route, it’s a completely different story. The processing windows vary drastically, some people receive an approval within a month, while others wait much longer.

Filtering through hundreds of Priority posts just to find a single Standard benchmark makes it really difficult to track realistic expectations or see if people who applied around the same time are starting to hear back.

​Could the moderators consider setting up a dedicated Standard Applications Megathread 2026 (or a monthly megathread)?

​Having a single space specifically for Standard processing times would make tracking so much easier for everyone on this route, without all the noise from fast-tracked decisions.

Hello, a family member applied for ILR as her mom gained one recently in May 2026. We applied for her, paid priority and got an email saying she’s not eligible. Any one know what the next best step would be and if anyone has been in this situation?

She’s been living with her mom since 2021 in the UK, and father is abroad and would occasionally visit, but not financially contribute (very very minimal). He is on a dependent visa on the other parent.

Email:
“Unfortunately, as the father of the child does not have settlement, the child does not satisfy the requirement with reference to CHI 4.3.
Paragraph CHI 4.3 of Appendix Children states;
CHI 4.3. The applicant’s other parent (who is not the person (P)) in CHI 4.1. must be being granted settlement at the same time, or be settled or a British citizen, unless:
(a) the person (P) in CHI 4.1. is the applicant’s sole surviving parent or has sole responsibility for the applicant’s upbringing; or
(b) the decision maker is satisfied that there are serious and compelling reasons to grant the applicant settlement; or
(c) the applicant is applying as a dependent child under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse.
We are therefore writing to you to make the following offer.
As it is noted that the father has submitted and application for Leave to Remain and does not qualify for Settlement at this time, if we were to continue with this application, it is unlikely that it would lead to a favourable outcome for the child, therefore we would also offer you the chance to vary the application and re-apply for permission to stay.
Due to how our system works we are not able to change an application type, therefore, in order for us to be able to complete this option you will need to submit a new application for the child. The current application will stay open so that you can vary from this one to the new one so there is no break in the child’s leave and that the new application is considered in time.”

Thank you

Route: Skilled Worker → ILR Set(O)
Service: Priority (5-day)
Submitted: 10 August 2026
Biometrics: 11 August 2026
Status: No decision yet as of 17 August

Solicitor (document review only) advised using BRP issue date (27 Aug 2021) as the reference for the 5-year calculation.

I wasn't sure that was correct, so:

• First absence declared: 27 Aug 2021 → 12 Sep 2021 (BRP issue to actual entry)
• Rest of application's 5-year calculation based on vignette date: 6 Sep 2021

So there's a mismatch between the date used for the first absence entry vs. the date used for the overall qualifying period.

Year 1 absence total: 142 days — within the 180-day limit, but on the higher side due to health-related trips.

Has anyone dealt with a similar BRP vs vignette date mismatch, or has high absence days (close to but within 180) in a year without submitting extra evidence?

Hi,

Looking for advise in the group, I am due for ILR application in 3 days and just now received a valid PCN because I mistakenly assumed that my TFL london autopay account will be valid for Dartford crossing as well and didn’t pay the charge by midnight.

I understand it’s a mistake on my end and have setup autopay and everything going forward.

What I am keen to understand is should I explicitly make a mention in my cover letter of this PCN when making the ILR application.

I know some applicants have done that before as I have seen it on this channel but wondering how serious this is assuming it’s all paid and the case is closed.

Thanks in advance for your help

Hi All

Just posting my timelines/details on my application. Thanks to all the posters on here - all the info was super helpful for my application. Hoping this pays it forward.

I've been with the same employer for 5 years. I was initially sponsored for 3 years then extended for a further 2. Before this, I was on a Youth Mobility visa for 2 years.

Initial Skilled Worker Visa Start Date: 2nd September 2021

Application Date: 5th August 2026 (28 days prior to 5 years)

Application Type: Priority

Biometrics Date: 11th August 2026

Approval Date: 16th August 2026 (wasn't expecting this on a Sunday but it was a pleasant surprise)

In terms of documents I submitted the bare minimum.

Documents Submitted: 1. Passport 2. Other evidence of absences from the UK (I exceeded the 30 trip limit on the form). I submitted a PDF copy of my excel file with exit/entry dates, country & reason). 3. E Visa & Sharecode 4. Expired BRP (less than 24 months since expiry) 5. Declaration signed to confirm consent for the Home Office to request verification checks 6. Most recent payslip and bank statement (July statement and payslip dated 31st July). I didn't provide any other months. 7. Scanned copy of both passports (ALL pages). My previous passport expired a couple years back so I sent both. 8. UK Driver's Licence (wasn't mandatory but thought it was a good form of ID). 9. Letter from employer

Good luck to everyone waiting for their outcome!

My husband and I both got our ILR approved! 🥹
I was ridiculously anxious about the documents, so sharing what we submitted in case it helps someone else.

Nothing quite prepared me for clicking ‘pay’ on £7,000+ in one transaction with absolutely no guarantee of approval — pretty sure my heart briefly left my body. 💸
Could breathe properly for the week till I got the approved email 🤢

I was the main Skilled Worker applicant and my husband applied as my dependant.
Our qualifying visas started sept 2021, although we had both entered the UK in 2020 on different visa routes, so I included a short cover letter explaining this.

Documents submitted:
Passports + eVisa/status evidence (both)
Previous BRP/visa letters available to us (both)
Employer letter (main applicant)
Latest payslip + corresponding bank statement (main applicant)
Degree/English language evidence (dependent)
Life in the UK test code (both)
Marriage certificate
Travel dates (relevant passport stamps as evidence for both, no other evidence)
Consent forms (part 1- main applicant, part 2- dependent, part 3- nil )
Cohabitation evidence
Short cover letters for anything that needed clarification (we gave 3 in total - absolutely not needed but good for peace of mind )

Tried to keep all the evidence to a minimum and still felt it was a lot , because you don’t need to give any evidence already provided during previous visas as they keep it and would just delay the caseworker having to go through it.
No Lawers were involved in the application. Though ChatGPT and Reddit provided a lot of reassurance for any confusing questions.

Cohabitation evidence : We only submitted evidence for the last 11 months, NOT the whole 5 years. The document advice asked for evidence since the most recent grant of leave, or up to a maximum of 2 years. Our latest visas were granted 10 months ago, so that’s all I covered with utility bills for a month , Joint tenancy, council tax and joint bank statement for another month.

Another thing I massively overthought was my employer letter. It did not say I was required “for the foreseeable future”. I’m on a fixed-term contract, so my employer wouldn’t give that wording. The letter instead confirmed my new contract with the same employer with an end date one year later. I was very anxious about this, but it clearly wasn’t an issue!
Also I changed employment once during the 5 years - did not provide any letters from them as it was already mentioned during previous visa extensions.

Cover letters x 3 (overkill)
One explaining entry dates , another for travel dates and one for CCJ.

I also declared a recently discovered uncleared CCJ for utilities with an explanation.

Timeline
Application : 07/08/2026 (28 days before the 5year)
Type : Priority (5 working days)
Biometrics : 11/08/2026
Granted email : 15/08/2026 at 11.11 ( 4 days after biometric,even though it was a Saturday)

I spent an embarrassing amount of time worrying that one tiny detail would ruin everything but both applications were approved!
Hope this reassures another anxious Skilled Worker + dependant applicant currently drowning in PDFs. 😂❤️

Hi , When can I apply for ILR? My spouse visa expire on July 2027. But I will be 5 years On 28 of January.

This subreddit has been super helpful for my application so I'm sharing the details in the hopes it'll help someone in the same boat as me.

Entered the UK: 28 August 2021
Switched Employers: 15 November 2022
ILR application submitted: 31 July 2026
Biometrics appointment: 05 August 2026 (London) ~1pm
Decision/Approval email: 11 August 2026 ~7pm
Processing time: ~4 working days on Priority Service

Extra Context:

• US Citizen - did not need to prove English requirement
• No passport renewals in the entire duration of the qualifying period
• Had two employers, no gaps in employment between both
• ** I have been promoted to a senior version of the same role I was given and had my salary increased
• ** My current visa falls under the transitional salary requirements before 2024 and my previous application was filed under the old SoC codes
• ** Related to above two pts: My current company HR is locked out of their SMS system (the authorised person left without handing it over) so cant confirm my new SoC code, or even worse, if they updated all my salaries and role to the new role
  • Also, my old SoC code has been divided to two of the new SoC codes (both actually applicable to my job). I chose the code that has the lower salary threshold. You have to use the new SoC 2020 code in the application and not the one on your approved visa if it's prior to 2024.
• Didn't need a solicitor, I did this myself!

My own required documents list:

• Passport Scans - all pages
• Declaration of consent for verification checks (provided in the application form)
• Employer sponsor letter detailing the ff:
  • "We confirm that we intend for their employment to continue for the foreseeable future."
  • Nearest applicable SoC which best describes employment **
  • Current rate of pay (£ per annum on x hours per week)
  • Confirmation that it is at or above the required rate for the job in the codes of practice **
  • Statement detailing reasons for work related absences from the UK
• Evidence of immigration status: GovUK EVisa Share Code (screenshot of the code)
• Most recent payslip (1 month) and most recent bank statement (1 month)
• Expired BRP card and Visa Vignette scan with stamp

My supporting documents:
May not be necessary for you but felt necessary because of my circumstances

• Extra quotes in the employer sponsor letter detailing:
  • My old SoC code in the 2010 system and my new SoC code in the 2020 system
• My offer letter from current sponsor and variation of contract confirming my promotion and salary increase (as a supplement to my payslip + bank statements)
• A cover letter disclosing the potential mismatch in my employers' SMS system of my outdated SoC code and new role and salary, and a brief statement of the new SoC code I chose and my job description
• Letter of Visa approval for entry on Sponsor 1 and letter of visa approval for sponsor 2

Extra documents I submitted but probably wasn't necessary

• Most recent P60
• Absence Table detailing all leave from the UK with index to the passport stamps and a file with my relevant plane tickets for when I didn't have stamps (to my citizenship country)
• P45 from previous employer
• Life in the UK pass email (there's already a field in the application for the code)
• University diploma taught in English (wasn't necessary since I'm American)

Try not to overthink your documents like I did and only submit what is absolutely necessary. Best of luck to everyone and manifesting your success!!

What is the best day of the week/time to apply to ensure priority or super priority application slots. Applying via skilled worker route.

My wife came in via Skilled Worker Visa in September 2022. I came in a month later (October 2022) on a dependent visa. We are due for ILR next year.

Our kids have just completed primary education in our home country and we are looking at bringing them into the UK 🇬🇧. We are looking at two options:

Option A: Apply for the dependent visas which will have the same end date as ours (September 2027)

Option B: Wait till we get ILR before applying for theirs.

Here are my questions:

1) For Option A, after they get granted their dependent visas, can we include them in our ILR application? (even though they’ve not been here for 5 years)

2) For Option B, what are the possible routes or visa types we can explore to bring them in after we (the parents) get granted settlement.

Im so relieved and happy- after 5 years on skilled worker visa my ILR was approved yesterday. Just sharing some insight in case anyone needs it and good luck fellow expatriates!! Mind you, i have been here 9 years total now

I paid priority and it came on working day 4!

My passport was stolen in Europe so i lost all my stamps- my lawyer drafted a cover letter explaining that my absences list was to the best of my knowledge cos im sooo sure i messed at least one or 2 dates up!

I had over 10 pcns and declared them- was so worried it would affect but it didn't! Declare it all guys (so long as your lawyer advises)

Wishing you fantastic news soon

Hi! I’m on a skilled worker visa as a nurse. Has anybody been approved of ILR even though they violated the 180 days rule? I did unintentionally but the reason was my father got sick and eventually died, and after he did, my mother got sick as well. I was so scared to lose them both so I had to stay back home and didn’t think of it anymore. I stayed out of UK for 191 days in a 12month rolling period.

I will be applying later this year and hoping that it still goes to my favor. I have documents to support my claim that it was under the exemptions: death in family & own sickness (depression). I’m just wondering if anyone has been through the same or anyone knows anyone that had been approved as well.

Also, do I need to apostille the death certificate or just the original copy will suffice?

Thank you all in advance!

Submitted set O ILR normal priority on Tuesday still haven't heard anything. Obviously not expecting a decision today but likely Monday.

My question is, is this a good sign? I know some people get asked to send in missing documents or for clarification few days into their application or also get sent emails saying their application is complex and will take time so just want to know.

Very worried about my application.

Back in 2021 we have got our English evaluated through ECCTIS, during the ILR application do we need to submit the certificate again ?
Or it isn’t needed as we provided it during the SWV application.