Over 18, Under 25 and Lived Half of Your Life in the UK 

If you are over the age of 18 or under 25 and you have spent nearly half of your life in the UK, you have many precious memories here and consider it your home. In such a situation, it will be unfair to send you back to the country where you came from. Therefore, the UK government provides individuals who are over 18, under 25 and have spent at least half of their life living continuously in the UK a chance to submit their applications to stay in the country. 

Since the application process typically involves a lot of legal complexities, it is best to work with our experienced indefinite leave to remain lawyers in the UK. At Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors, our team is skilled in handling the applications for leave to remain on the basis of living half of life in the UK continuously. We can provide you with fast, reliable, friendly, honest and professional service.

Here is some basic yet crucial information that every applicant should know regarding such an application:

 What to Prove

You can submit an application for leave to remain in the UK based on your private life in the following categories: 

• Between the age group of 18 and 24, and have lived half of your life in the United Kingdom.
• Aged 18 or above and have spent less than 20 years here. It would be difficult for you to live in another country with no friends or relatives there.
• Those who are aged 25 or above can apply if they have been living in the UK continuously for 20 years at least.

How to Apply

In order to apply, an applicant must use the application form FLR (FP). FLR is the abbreviation for Further Leave to Remain. The F and P categories are based on the Family Life under Appendix FM and Private Life under Part 7.

Also read: What Is The Private Life Visa?

Once you apply and if your request is accepted, then you will be granted leave to remain for 30 months in the UK under the 10-year route to settlement plan.

However, once you spend 10 years in the United Kingdom continuously (imprisonment is discounted) with leave to remain under the category of living of at least half of the life in the UK, then you can apply for indefinite leave to remain on this basis. Simply stated, you can only file an application for indefinite leave to remain if you have spent ten years continuously in the UK with leave to remain.

Suitability Requirements

The suitability requirements are considered and addressed during the application approval process. Therefore, as an applicant, you must make sure that you meet all the requirements so that you have a high chance of qualifying and getting your application approved. 

As in Appendix FM Section S-LTR, the suitability leave to remain requirements encompass the following areas: 

• Criminal convictions 
• Litigation costs 
• NHS debt 

It is important to discuss these requirements with an experienced indefinite leave to remain lawyer in the UK so that they can guide you better. Lawyers have a complete know-how of the suitability requirements and can provide you with detailed information that you need to proceed with your application submission process. 

At Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors, we have successfully handled numerous applications on the basis of private life in the UK for years. Therefore, you can rely on us. We are fully aware of the changes in application requirements and the evidence needed as proof that you must provide in order to increase your application success rate. 

Furthermore, keep in mind that it is possible to make your private life application in both conditions:

• If you have overstayed in the UK. 
• If you have currently leave to remain. 

Under a private life application, there is no minimum income requirement or English language requirement that the applicant needs to satisfy in order to qualify. Each application that is submitted under this category is considered on an individual basis. Also, integration is a relevant consideration.

Obstacles to Integration

Under the Immigration Rules on page 58, the guidance states significant obstacles to integration. It refers to the obstacles that can either inhibit or prevent the applicant from integrating into the country that they will return to. The decision-maker looks for more than the usual obstacles when it comes to relocation like employment or the need to learn the language spoken in that country. Some of the relevant factors on which the decision is made include cultural background, family and social network, the time period spent in the country of return, political, faith and sexual orientation. 

Application Outcome—Increase Your Success Rate

The success rate of your application depends on how it is pursued. If your casework is complete, strong and meets all the requirements, then the chances of getting your application approved will be high. Therefore, get in touch with us so that our lawyers can provide you with quality guidance and assistance to increase your chances of approval.