Many applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain under either the 5 year route, but more commonly the 10 year route don’t have their old passports. This is usually due to their home governments keeping the old passports when they renew but other times due to losing a passport and getting it replaced. You should ensure you have all your records to prove days out of the country for ILR or you may be refused and have to leave the UK. If you don’t have email records or other information that can help you keep track of days out of the UK then you can follow the below procedures to help with your ILR application.
Ways of Calculating days out of the country when you have lost your old passports
You need to make a Subject access Request (SAR) to the Home Office, formerly the UKBA. If you download the form and instructions on this link you will be able to get the information you require for ILR. This process may take some time so may not be suitable for those running out of time. Without a record or your days out of the country you risk being refused ILR so it’s best to obtain this to fix the problem of missing passports.
A final tip is to remember that days out mean full days and not travel days.
For example:
You travel to Paris on 03/05/14 and return on 03/05/14 This is equivalent of no days out of the UK
You travel to Paris on 03/05/14 and return on 04/05/14 This is equivalent of no days out of the UK
If you travel to Paris on 03/05/14 and return on 05/05/14 then you have been out of the UK for 1 day
If you are making an ILR or British Citizenship application it is important to ensure you get the days correct to avoid any problems with you application
Get your free eligibility assessment and find out how we can help you get your visa approved – Response within 24 hrs
