Visa holders under different categories, including Business Visas, Family Visas, Dependent Visas, and Work Visas,s can apply for the 5-Year ILR. As a part of the 5 year ILR requirements, you will need to prove continuous residence in the UK and meet other compliance requirements based on your original visa.
Who is Eligible to Apply for 5-Year ILR in the UK?
Professionals
Some Work and Business Visas enable migrants to apply for ILR after 5 years towards Indefinite Leave to Remain. Here, business professionals include innovators and investors who are injecting funds into the UK economy. ILR may be granted after 5 years on an investor's visa to those who have invested £2 million into the economy of the United Kingdom. Innovators have to comply with all endorsement requirements and business plans that might differ from one instance to another.
Workers may also be eligible for ILR after 5 years by using different qualifying immigration categories that intersect with application routes used for the Skilled Worker Visa as well as the Global Talent Visa.
Representatives
The other visa category that can be used by applicants for the ILR after 5 years is the Sole Representatives of Overseas Business, which are representatives of businesses working in the UK to expand their businesses' contribution to the UK economy via trade.
Families
The 5-year settlement route is a popular route that most families of migrants and dependants seek. Proposed civil partners, spouses, civil partners, and unmarried partners of a permanent resident in the UK can apply for this visa route.
If a spouse visa holder has complied with full visa eligibility throughout the 5-year qualifying period for settlement, he/she will be able to apply via the 5-year route.
Key Eligibility Requirements for the 5-Year ILR Route
Applicants may have to meet various specific eligibility requirements depending on their categories of visas. For example:
Spouses on a spouse visa must have lived with their married partner since the last renewal of the visa and must intend to continue their partnership after the application.
Skilled Worker visa holders must work with their UK sponsor, maintaining the same occupation code and job.
Global talent visa holders must continue to be endorsed as potential leader or leader in their field.
Meet the English language requirements
Financially qualify and maintain finances for the entire 5 years
Pass the Life in UK Test
Meet the continuous residence requirement
Continuous Residency Requirements
This means you must meet the continuous residence requirement to apply for ILR. Applicants must not have left the UK for more than 180 days within any year of the 5-year timeframe.
Financial Requirements
In assessing your eligibility under the 5-year rule for ILR, certain financial requirements are to be met, and these requirements depend on the visa currently being held. Here are some examples:
£29,000-pound salary, £3,800 for the first child, and £2,400 for every other child after that per year is required. This means spouses with a spouse visa must keep meeting the financial requirements of a family visa.
On the other hand, the minimum salary that Skilled Worker visa holders must meet while applying for ILR is £38,700 per year minimum or the going rate for your occupation or a lower amount if you have a job in shortage occupation list or you hold a relevant Ph.D.
Conclusion
If you don't want to restrict yourself to Immigration controls, the 5-year ILR route is a great way. Hiring immigration lawyers in Glasgow will ensure you stay compliant with the UK immigration rules and save you from visa refusals.
