Sole Representative Visa to ILR: Unlock the Gateway to Permanent Residency in the UK
Sole Representative visa holders in the UK are eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years. The five-year qualifying period typically comprises three years on the initial Sole Representative visa and a two-year extension on the same. ILR serves as the gateway to permanent residency in the UK, granting its recipient the legal permit to live, work, and study there.
ILR holders can even apply for British citizenship after an additional twelve months of residence. Furthermore, it also unlocks free access to the National Health Service(NHS), ensuring comprehensive healthcare for recipients during their UK stay.
Stay with us if you want to settle permanently in the UK through the route provided by indefinite leave to remain. Let’s discuss the Sole Representative visa to the ILR path.
Requirements for Sole Representative Visa to ILR
To be eligible for ILR as a sole representative of a foreign company, you must fulfil specific requirements set by the Home Office. The list includes:
- Holding a current Sole Representative visa
- Living and working in the UK for at least five years
- Representing an overseas firm or being a representative of an overseas news agency, newspaper, or broadcasting business
- Your foreign employer still requires your contribution
- A sole representative of a business must either establish a UK-registered office or a subsidiary of the overseas employer, both of which should be actively trading
- You must meet the continuous residence requirement for which you can’t spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months
- People aged between 18 to 64 years must pass the official ‘Life in the UK’ test
- People aged between 18 to 64 years must meet the English language requirements
Requirements of Continuous Residence and English Language
Qualifying for residency duration of 5 continuous years can be made up of time on any of the following visas:
- Representative of an Overseas Business visa
- Sole Representative of an Overseas Business visa
- Representative of an Overseas Newspaper, News Agency or Broadcasting Organisation visa
Under the continuous residence rules, ILR applicants should have worked full-time for their foreign employer or in the UK office they have established. Sole Representative ILR applicants, on the other hand, should not have engaged in other business or worked for other companies during their stay in the UK.
Let’s talk about the English language requirement. Applicants must have an English language qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 levels. People holding a degree taught or researched in English also meet the English language requirement.
Applying for ILR
You (as a Sole Representative visa holder) and your dependent can both apply for ILR following a few steps. Kindly note that your dependents will only be eligible to apply for ILR if they also have been continuously living in the UK for at least five years. Your spouse or children can be included in your ILR application if they meet some eligibility criteria. However, in this post, we will not discuss those requirements. You can consult with indefinite leave to remain solicitors to know about them.
Let’s suppose your dependents are also eligible for indefinite leave to remain in the application at the same time as yours. In that case, you, along with your dependants can apply for ILR by following the below steps:
- Submit the application form1 for ILR as a Sole Representative visa holder. The form submission can be done online.
- Each applicant must pay the application fee of £2,885.
- Register and attend an appointment at a UKVAS office to provide your biometric data, which includes digital photos and fingerprints. Kindly note that completing the biometric enrolment is essential for each applicant.
- UKVI may also ask you to provide some documents. You can submit it online or during the appointment at the UKVAS office.
We hope these steps will help you apply for ILR as a Sole Representative visa holder. Once submitted, expect to receive a decision within six months. Kindly note that your lawful stay in the UK will be maintained even if your visa expires before a decision is reached on your application. Meanwhile, it is also essential to understand that evolving immigration rules and the complexity of requirements make the ILR journey challenging. Thankfully, indefinite leave to remain solicitors can make the ILR process easier and improve the chances of approval by reviewing your application, organizing the required documents and evidence, identifying any potential weaknesses, and fixing them.
You can hire one of the best indefinite leave to remain lawyers from Intime Immigration Limited, also known as Intime Solicitors. The expertise of our solicitors will not only streamline your journey but also significantly increase your chances of success. Partner with one of our indefinite leave to remain solicitors to avail of invaluable guidance and handholding support throughout the ILR process.
New Year, New Rules: UK Immigration Law Updates for 2024
Planning to move to the UK in 2024? Then, you must be aware of the latest updates in UK immigration law. Here’s your complete guide!
UK Spouse Visa Refusals: How to Get Over the Challenge
Facing a spouse visa refusal? Feeling overwhelmed, what to do next to join your partner in the UK? Don’t be! Find your solution right here and clear all clouds!
UK Immigration Lawyers- When Do You Need them and How to Find the Right one
Discover when you must seek professional assistance from a UK immigration lawyer and how you can find the right one. Talk to our Immigration Experts.
Navigating the Spouse Visa Financial Maze in 2024 – Your Friendly Guide
Learn the financial requirements and exemption of UK Spouse visa in 2024. Get help from the best spouse visa solicitors & lawyers today. Book a call now.
Your Guide to Find Perfect Referees and Unlock British Citizenship
Do you want to navigate the referee requirements for British citizenship? This comprehensive guide will help you to clear all clouds.
A Comprehensive Guide to Make Your UK Immigration Application Valid in 2024
A valid UK immigration application is critical to avoid negative consequences and maximize the chances of getting your visa approved. Applicants must understand that providing incomplete or incorrect information while applying for a visa eventually leads to rejection, causing a waste of money and time. Meanwhile, you may also face difficulties with future applications for the same reason.
Your application must meet certain requirements to be valid. You can partner with one of the best immigration lawyers in the UK to ensure that, or you can also stay with us for the same. Today, we will take you through a comprehensive guide to help you understand the most common validity requirements for a UK visa. Let’s start!
Choose the Appropriate Visa Form
To make your immigration application valid, you must apply for the visa through the appropriate form for your immigration category. You can check the immigration rules for each visa type on the United Kingdom’s public sector information website: GOV.UK. However, many people still don’t feel confident about accessing the internet to derive information. They can get help from expert immigration solicitors in the UK to choose the appropriate visa form according to their requirements and eligibility.
Complete All Required Sections
Applicants must fill in all the compulsory sections specified in the application form. It won’t be a problem if you fill out the visa form online, as the system won’t allow you to submit a form without answering the mandatory questions and uploading the required documents. However, people filling out application forms on paper have to be cautious about this to make their immigration application valid.
Pay the Application Fee
It goes without saying that applicants must pay the fee associated with their visa category for the successful submission of forms. Applicants can also apply for a fee waiver (either whole or some). The applicant doesn’t have to pay the regular fee if the authority approves the request. Otherwise, applicants must pay the full application fee.
Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge Fee
This fee is associated with applications that permit individuals to stay in the UK for more than six months when applying outside the UK or for any length of time when applying inside the UK. However, you don’t have to pay this fee if you apply for a short visit visa, permanent stay citizenship, or settlement visa. Some applicants also fall under a specific group exempt from this fee.
In most cases, the applicant must pay the healthcare fee first, then the application fee. Also, note that the Health Surcharge Fees will likely increase significantly in January 2024. We request you check the government website to learn more details about it or consult with immigration lawyers in the UK.
Identity Validation
Applicants must also provide proof of identity to make their application valid. Proof of identity is described in Paragraph 34(5)(b) of the Immigration Rules. For example, a valid passport is accepted as a valid identification document. The applicant can also submit his national identity card if he doesn’t have a passport. If applicants don’t have any valid passport, national ID card, old passport, or old ID card, they can also submit a valid travel document.
Fulfilling Visa Application and Biometrics
The UK visa authority has set out specific rules that applicants must follow to make their applications valid. You can learn more about them on GOV.UK’s visa and immigration pages. For example, you must provide your fingerprints and photo to the authority, choose a time and place for an appointment with visa officials, and meet the authority with needed documents. Kindly note that the GOV. UK ID Check app allows people to confirm their identity online so they can access certain government services hassle-free. This app works by matching users’ faces to their photo IDs. Applicants who can use this app can skip the appointment. We hope the above tips will help you make your immigration application valid. You can also contact Intime Immigration Limited(Intime Solicitors), a house of leading immigration lawyers in the UK, for personalized advice and assistance in immigration matters. Consult us now to conquer the UK visa maze.
Overcome All Immigration Hurdles with a Lawyer and Migrate to UK Shores Effortlessly
There are many benefits of hiring a lawyer for UK immigration. Check out this blog to learn about the top 3 among them.
A Deep Dive into The Basics of Indefinite Leave to Remain and Its 10-Year Rule
Have you been in the UK for ten years and are now seeking a ‘settlement’? Then, you should opt for the long residence route. Here’s all you need to know about it.
5 Considerations to Make When Hiring UK Immigration Lawyers
Never make a random choice when hiring a UK immigration lawyer. To ensure your immigration case is in safe hands, choose the best one. Here’s what to consider.