Avoiding a naturalisation refusal: absences (and COVID)!

📧 I am happy to help with your visa and citizenship options. I have a consultation service: tom-bradford.com/contact-me
People often consult me for the first time after they have received a refusal on an application to naturalise as a British citizen.
The most common reason for being refused when applying to naturalise as a British citizen is absences.
- The residence requirements include that:
* You must not have had more than 450 days outside the UK in the 5-year period before making the application
AND
* You must not have had more than 90 days outside the UK in the 12-month period before making the application
BUT there is discretion to disregard absences in excess of the limits.
These are divided into the absences over the whole 5 years, and absences over the last year.
- The Home Office says:
* "Only very rarely would we disregard absences in excess of 900 days [...]. If your absences are more than this limit your application is likely to fail and your fee will not be fully refunded."
- For absences exceeding 730 days the Home Office would expect you to have been resident in the UK for the last 8 years. Alternatively, you can show that the absence was:
* An unavoidable consequence of the nature of your work. For example, if you are someone working for a UK based business which requires frequent travel abroad;
* Exceptional or compelling reasons of an occupational or compassionate nature. With my clients I have relied on things like family bereavements, and illnesses while abroad which prevented travel. But COVID can potentially be relied on as a ground here.
What about days outside the UK in the 12-month period before making the application?
- The Home Office says:
* "Only in the most exceptional circumstances would total absences exceeding 180 days in the final 12 months of the qualifying period be disregarded if all other requirements were not met."
If you are asking the Home Office to exercise discretion, particularly on the basis of absences due to COVID lockdowns, then feel free to speak to me using my consultation service on the link in the description below.

[@SaraSara-zt5vk]

If I haven't been a broad since I qualified for the IRL. Can I apply before one year is finished?

[@kellydewet629]

Hi I am applying for naturalisation, I just want to know what is the best supporting evidence for showing that you have been in the UK for 5years

[@impulsivegamer1737]

I applied for British citizen since October 2020 and still waiting for the decision. I emailed them several times but still telling me that they haven’t completed the checks… can you help?

[@Appap936]

If someone couldn’t come to UK (for the first time) for 8 months after grant of work visa due to COVID-19. Will this be treated as absence (>180days) for ILR or it is under exceptional circumstances (in that case what proof is required)

[@amad132]

hey i need help by mistake i selected 2013 instead of 2018 And home office thought i was not in the contry for that long

[@adamkhan8941]

Hi sir I have got my indefinite in 2020 but I want holiday In 2021 2nd of June and I came back in 22nd January. Can I apply for british citizenship In October. And also I couldn't come back to UK because covid

[@TomBradford]

📧 I am happy to help with your visa and citizenship options. You can book a consultation with me: tom-bradford.com/contact-me Download my free Global Talent planner: mailchi.mp/tom-bradford.com/global-talent-planner Download my free innovator visa checklist: mailchi.mp/tom-bradford/innovator-visa-document-checklist Download my free guide for the UK Expansion Worker visa: mailchi.mp/tom-bradford.com/lvvaqm5rtl

[@bharatirai527]

Hi,I submitted my form online 3 weeks ago but haven't heard anything back yet, should I contact them??