Once you have submitted your application, you will need to wait for the Home Office to review your case and make a decision on whether to grant you Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or not.
Here we will detail the standard ILR processing time and ways you may be able to get a faster decision.
What may impact your ILR processing time
The general guidance from the Home Office states that processing times may be anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months, depending on the type of application.
The latest statistics for individuals applying for settlement from outside the UK show that processing times are:
- Within 12 weeks of application in 98.5% of cases.
- Within 24 weeks of application in all cases.
When applying from within the UK, this will depend on individual circumstances, but you should receive a decision within 6 months. This may take longer if:
- Your case is complex, and the Home Office needs to make additional checks.
- Your application is unclear, or there is an issue, and the Home Office needs to request additional information.
What happens if it takes longer?
If the Home Office is unable to make a decision on your ILR application within the standard processing times, they will write to you to inform you why a decision has not been reached yet and explain what should happen next.
If your application is considered incomplete, it will not be considered to be part of the service standard.
Ways to get a decision faster
If you need to hear from the Home Office sooner, you may choose to apply to the priority or super priority services, which would allow you to get a decision respectively within 5 working days or by the end of the next working day.
Please note that the number of priority applications is limited and incurs an additional fee.
Get help from professional lawyers
Our team of immigration lawyers can help with all aspects of Indefinite Leave to Remain, from the application to priority services and more. We can ensure that your case is well-presented to make the Home Office’s decision easier, so the processing time would not be extended unnecessarily.
Please get in touch today if you would like further guidance or to book a consultation.
