Advice for Covid exemption for being over 548 day limit
Hello! I’m applying for ILR in August, 10 year long residence route. Like many people I’m slightly over the 548 day limit, but if I apply with an exemption for the time I was out due to the pandemic, I’d be within the limit. Full count is: I’ve been out 605 days since August 2016; I was at home for 76 days from December 2020- Feb 2021 as it was lockdown and my university cancelled all classes. Without these days my total is 529 days.
I recently spoke with an immigration advisor (about my partner’s visa, but she also answered some of my ILR questions). She said the Home Office is getting stricter and rejecting some ILR applications where people have applied for pandemic exemptions to be in the 548 day limit, often only accepting applications if people evidence that they couldn’t physically get back to the UK because of cancelled flights. My flights weren’t cancelled; it was simply the depths of December 2020-Feb 2021 and only essential travel was allowed, and returning to the UK asap in January was not essential. I’m working on evidencing my case, showing that my university cancelled all in person teaching and advised against travelling.
Has anyone had success with applying for an exemption for time spent outside of the UK due to COVID? Esp to people who were university students at the time - what did you provide as evidence? I’m planning to email my university to ask for emails / any materials confirming students were told not to travel, and maybe a letter from a former advisor or lecturer saying I was following university guidance by not rushing back to the UK mid pandemic…
I’m considering making a mental health case as well, and was wondering if anyone had successfully done this, or if the Home Office would simply scoff at it? For context I was extremely depressed in 2020 (I know we all were); specifically I was going through my first ever breakup in December 2020 and having the worst mental health time of my life. Of course couldn’t see friends because of lockdown restrictions, so going home for the winter was the only way I would have any kind of support. I would have been very isolated and gotten way worse if I stayed in London the December 2020-Feb 2021 period. I could get a letter from the NHS showing my history of depression, but I didn’t start taking SSRIs until 2022, so the home office may even count it?
Love it here! I would be super grateful for anyone’s advice on this, thank you so much :)