5 mistakes that can cost you your ILR (and how to avoid them)

Most ILR problems come from timing, travel and paperwork, not from the big rules. These are five to avoid. 💚 1. Miscounting your days abroad The limit is 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. That's a rolling window, not a calendar year. One long trip home plus a few short ones can tip you over. Keep your tickets and passport stamps in one place, and check the Home Office guidance on calculating continuous residence. 2. Applying at the wrong time Apply more than 28 days before your 5-year point and your application may be refused. Wait until your visa expires and you'll have to renew first. Put your earliest date in your diary now. 3. Travelling after you apply Once you've applied, don't leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision, or your application is withdrawn. Decisions usually take up to 6 months, so plan family trips (including December kumusha travel) around that. 4. Job, salary or sponsor not matching Your pay must meet the salary rule for your route, and your sponsor must confirm you're still needed after ILR. If you've changed job or employer, you need to have updated your visa. Compare your payslips against your occupation code's going rate before you apply, and ask your employer for the confirmation document early. 5. Life in the UK Test slip-ups The name on your booking must be an exact match with your ID. If you use a BRP card as ID, there's a cut-off (no later than 24 months after the card expires, or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first). If you have an eVisa, use a share code instead. Study only the official Guide for New Residents, and book at least 3 days ahead. Bonus: time you spent in the UK as a partner or child (dependant) doesn't count towards your 5 years, and nobody can sell you a Certificate of Sponsorship. For personal advice, use a regulated adviser or solicitor. Sources: gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-tier-2-t2-skilled-worker-visa gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser General information only, not legal advice. Rules change, so always check the official source. Which of these catches people out most, in your experience? (Please don't share personal case details.)