Settle In The UK After 10 Years
Why Are AY&J Your Ideal 10 Year ILR Long Residence Solicitors?
- First, we will build out your full 10 year timeline from your own travel and visa records.
- Then we will evaluate your absences to determine your continued residence for ILR.
Why A Y & J Are Your Ideal Sponsor Licence Solicitors
- First need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer holding a valid sponsor licence
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
Our story in numbers
How does AY&J Solicitors clear each risk?
Common refusal risk
- Absences above 180 days in any rolling 12 months since 11 April 2024
- Earlier absences assessed under the older 548-day total limit
- A short gap in lawful leave part way through the 10 years
- Current permission held for less than twelve months
- Evidence that does not cover every year of the 10 years
How we handle it
- We rebuild the travel history and test each absence against the rule then in force
- We split the 10 years at the changeover and apply both regimes correctly
- We check whether section 3C leave or a protected gap preserves continuity
- We work out the earliest date on which the application becomes valid
- We build the document set year by year before anything is submitted
5 steps to your sponsor licence.
A free 15-minute call with our client team to check your business is eligible for a sponsor licence and spot anything that could rule an application out. This is a screening call, not legal advice, so there is no fee.
You receive: a clear view of whether we can help, and your fixed fee.
Once the client care agreement is signed, a solicitor reviews your business, the roles you want to fill and your key personnel, then confirms the right licence type and the documents you need.
You receive: a written eligibility position and a document checklist.
We audit your HR systems against sponsor duties, fix any gaps, draft the policies you need and build your Appendix A document bundle.
You receive: a compliance-ready application bundle.
A senior associate reviews the file independently before we complete the online application, pay the Home Office fee and send your supporting documents within 5 working days.
You receive: submission confirmation and updates on a set schedule.
We prepare your team for any Home Office compliance visit and handle queries until the decision, then help you assign Certificates of Sponsorship and stay compliant.
You receive: a licence ready to use and a compliance plan.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
British citizenship eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
We read the refusal and confirm you have a right of appeal.
You receive
A quick standing check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
We confirm your ground, appeal or JR, and protect your 3C leave.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We draft the grounds and build the bundle and skeleton argument.
You receive
A complete appeal bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
We serve the bundle and represent you at the hearing.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the outcome and advise on any onward appeal.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Individual eligibility assessment
A phone or video call, wherever you are in Edinburgh, to check for issues.
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
A solicitor maps your options on a video call, at a time that suits you.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We gather your documents and build the evidence bundle for you.
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
A senior associate reviews, then we submit and deal with the Home Office.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the decision and your next steps by video.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Family dependant eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
We check both tests, the relationship and the finances.
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
We map the right financial category and the risk.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We build the relationship evidence and draft the application.
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
We submit online, book biometrics, and monitor the decision.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the outcome and plan extension and settlement.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
What does a 10 Year ILR Application cost?
In our clients' own words.
“After our ILR rejection, AY&J pursued our case through Administrative Review and Judicial Review. The team was open, honest, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. They kept us informed at every stage, supported us throughout an extremely difficult journey and helped us regain confidence in our case.”
Tell us your story
Frequently Asked Questions
Application, fees and timing
You will want to have your 10 year timeline checked before anything else happens. We will review all the dates, the absences and any gaps in a single sitting. That is usually one conversation.
Family and citizenship
Usually yes, after twelve months holding your ILR. Some applicants who are married to British citizens can apply almost straight away instead. The residence and absence rules will differ again at that later stage.
Application, fees and timing
B1 English is the level required right now. From 26 March 2027, settlement applications will instead need B2 level English. Our ILR solicitors will tell you which level applies to your own timing.
Application, fees and timing
A standard decision usually takes up to six months to arrive. Priority targets five working days, and super priority will target the next working day. Availability varies by route and is never guaranteed.
Application, fees and timing
The fee is £3,226 per applicant, from 8 April 2026. No health surcharge is payable on any settlement application. Priority and super priority services add £500 or £1,000 on top.
Application, fees and timing
It is better not to. Leaving the UK before a decision is made can cause the whole application to be withdrawn. You will need to stay in the UK until the outcome arrives.
Qualifying residence
Yes, where your leave was extended by section 3C while an in-time application was still pending. That time counts as lawful residence. Applications made out of time are treated quite differently.
Absences and gaps
It depends on the length and the reason. Some gaps are protected and will preserve continuity without ever counting towards those 10 years. Others break the period and restart the clock.
Absences and gaps
Not necessarily. A single absence will break continuity only if it exceeds the limit for the period that it falls in. We would suggest having the dates checked properly before you assume the worst.
Absences and gaps
Since 11 April 2024, the limit has been 180 days in any rolling twelve-month period. Residence before that date is instead measured against an older 548-day total limit. Most applicants are assessed under both.
Family and citizenship
No, not automatically. Each family member has to qualify on their own 10 years, or apply through a different route. Each dependant is assessed entirely independently on this particular route.
Qualifying residence
Yes, in most cases. You will need to have held your current permission for at least twelve months before applying.
Qualifying residence
Yes, you can apply up to 28 days early. Applying any earlier than that will usually lead straight to a refusal. You will want the exact date checked carefully before anything is submitted.
Qualifying residence
The qualifying period is counted back from either the date of your application or the date of decision. The Home Office will use whichever of the two is more beneficial to you. That detail decides many borderline cases.
Qualifying residence
Yes, time spent on almost any long-term visa counts towards the 10 years. Switching between categories does not reset the clock. Visitor and short-term student leave will not count towards it at all.