5. RESIDENCY – SETTLING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
At Courtyard Solicitors LLP we can assist you in relation to obtaining residency in the United Kingdom. Residency is the term used to describe the right to live in the United Kingdom, be it either on a temporary or a permanent basis. If you have permission to stay in the United Kingdom permanently (i.e. to settle) it is said that you have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). You may apply for ILR after you have been in the United Kingdom for set periods of time depending on what basis you are here. In most cases you will need to have been here for five years but in some circumstances this period of time will be less, which we can discuss with you.
There are also other applications that can be made for ILR which are outside the rules. Once we have had an opportunity to speak to you, we will be able to advise you whether you fall within any of them. For many of these applications you may also be required to demonstrate that you have a sufficient knowledge of the English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic languages and of life in the United Kingdom. This can be demonstrated in two ways:
English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
This is the route to take if English is not your first language. You will need to do the ESOL course with citizenship materials so that you not only gain sufficient knowledge of the English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic languages but also knowledge of the United Kingdom. There are 3 levels that you will need to work through (ESOL 1, ESOL 2, ESOL 3).
Life in the UK Test
If your language skills are higher than ESOL 3 you will just need to pass the Life in the UK test, which consists of 24 multiple-choice questions.
There are some exemptions from having to do these tests which we can discuss with you.