A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (Via UK Ancestry)

I eventually qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain after living in London for just under 5 years (ILR). I've been prepared for this since the day I arrived! I saved all of my bills, contracts, pay stubs, and other material that I thought would be beneficial for the application.

Yes, I'm getting a little carried away thinking about this before I've even been here for a couple of years.

The evidence is one of the most perplexing aspects of applying for visas. What are they expecting you to provide!? Because the procedure is so stressful, I've detailed the facts and processes I followed to obtain my Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Because the process changes on a frequent basis, make sure you visit the gov.UK website before applying. This is all based on information provided by my sisters and me, as well as when we applied.

I've included links to all of the official documents we utilized so you may refer to them as well.

Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa Requirements for the Ancestry Route

The IRL criteria are as follows:

You've been living and working in the UK for 5 years on a UK Ancestry visa, and you haven't spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months of the last 5 years (known as 'continuous residence') - if you have, you'll need to apply for an extension until you qualify.

Prior to Beginning Your Application

Before you begin using the application, you should complete the following two steps:

Pass the 'Life in the UK Test,' generally known as the citizenship exam. The exam has no expiration date, so take it as soon as feasible. Also, don’t lose the number, you will need it for your citizenship application!

Prove your English language ability (countries like Australia and New Zealand are exempt from this)

When Are You Allowed to Begin Applying?

The earliest you can apply for a Set O or UK Ancestry route to ILR application is in the final 28 days before your visa expires.

 For example, if my visa expired on September 10th, 2018, the first day of the 28-day period would be August 13th. As a result, the 13th of August was the first day I was permitted to apply.

This is stated at the beginning of the Set O application: Do not apply more than 28 days before the end of your qualifying period.

When I say apply, I don't mean you can't start your application ahead of time. You have 70 days to begin your application, which allows you to prepare the application and acquire any material needed to support it.

Visa Financial Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain

There are no stated financial criteria for the UK Ancestry method, such as having savings in your account or providing proof of income (just to clarify proof of income means that you need to prove you earn over a certain amount).

There is a statement that requires you to demonstrate your ability to sustain yourself, which I achieved by displaying my savings accounts and numerous other paperwork (more in the documents section below).

Visa Fees

In 2018, the cost of ILR is £2,389 if you apply online and £3,189 if you apply with Super Priority (i.e. a 24-hour decision), and this is per person.

 Check the GOV.UK settle in the UK page for the most up-to-date fees. Each year in April, the fees are generally revised (the end of the tax year).

In addition, the biometrics will cost £19.20. There are free appointments available at the care centers, but if you don't receive one, there may be additional charges.