Settlement in the UK

Our Immigration Law team has specialist lawyers can help you apply for settlement in the UK based on your individual circumstances.
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Settlement in the UK

There are various situations where you can no longer apply for visas, have previously resided in the UK or are from a qualifying country which gives you resident rights in the UK. The context and details of your situation will dictate your settlement and citizen options.

Since each situation can be so different, we offer 10-minute free consultations with an expert immigration lawyer. This allows you the opportunity to chat through your situation and assess with an expert what is required from you to successfully settle. We can assist you with the whole process to ensure it is done correctly, timeously and with every chance of a successful application.

Applicants who have lived in the UK legally for a certain length of time, may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (“ILR”) in the UK (i.e. settle in the UK). Once you have indefinite leave to remain you have the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like.

Once you have been settled in the UK for a certain amount of time, which varies according to your circumstances, you can apply for British citizenship. There are different ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain according to your circumstances.

Once you have continued to live in the UK for 12 months after receiving indefinite leave to remain, you may qualify for British citizenship.

Indefinite Leave to Remain FAQs

This visa is for individuals who have previously been permanent residents in the UK and wish to return as a permanent resident after residing outside of the UK for a period of time losing their right to live and work in the UK. Your ability to apply as a Returning Resident depends on how long you have been living outside of the UK.

You do not need a Returning Resident visa if you are a member of the British Armed Forces and have been posted overseas, this includes your partner.

Returning Resident FAQs

If you have been residing permanently in the UK legally for 10 consecutive years – known as long residence, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

There is specific criteria that needs to be met in order to qualify for long residence ILR. It can lead to British citizenship.

Long Residence ILR FAQs

You can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) if you either: have a visa on the basis of your private life, or you were born in the UK and have lived in the UK continuously until the age of 7 (at a minimum).

You can confirm your eligibility for this. It does lead to British citizenship.

Private Life ILR FAQs

Key contact

Usof Shah PNG
Usof Shah
Legal Director

What our clients say about us

We have also greatly benefited from the excellent work of Usof Shah, Immigration Director, whose expertise has been instrumental in helping our members address critical skills shortages in the construction industry. Usof has provided clear, actionable guidance on immigration laws, empowering our members to legally employ skilled foreign workers and sustain their businesses. His commitment extends beyond traditional legal services - he has delivered live webinars and offered free advice to some of our SME members, which was highly valued and, in several cases, helped save their companies. This combination of deep legal expertise, accessibility, and genuine care for clients' success sets him apart from others in the field.

Throughout my UK career, I came across many solicitors and solicitor firms. But Herrington Carmichael is the best so far. Their quick response, wider knowledge, and straightforward decisions come with a very competitive advisory fee. I can easily recommend them, and I did. Their success rate for me is 100%. In a nutshell, they are brilliant.

The individual deals with my requirements and makes sure I fully understand what he is advising and what the best way to proceed is.

Responsive, commercial, and able to explain immigration requirements in clear, simple terms.

The individuals we work with stand out for being approachable, knowledgeable, and responsive. Usof Shah, in particular, has been extremely professional, helpful, and practical in his advice.

Usof Shah stands out for his strong combination of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and responsiveness. He is able to explain complex immigration matters in a clear and practical way while remaining highly approachable and solutions-oriented throughout the process. What differentiates him from competitors is the level of personal attention and ownership he brings to matters. He is proactive, detail-oriented, and demonstrates a strong understanding of the operational and business needs of his clients rather than approaching matters from a purely technical perspective. I have particularly valued his responsiveness, clear communication, and ability to manage matters efficiently under tight timelines. He consistently provides pragmatic advice and maintains a high level of professionalism, which creates a strong sense of confidence and reliability throughout the engagement.

Usof Shah and his team stood out for their professionalism, responsiveness, and clear communication.

Herrington Carmichael’s team stands out for its strong expertise in immigration matters, combined with a highly personalized and responsive service. Over the past few years, they supported me and three members of my family, managing each of our individual cases efficiently and professionally. Compared to other firms, they are notably more organized and responsive.

Thank you for helping me to apply the exceptional assurance and I got the application succeed very quickly.

Usof was a pleasure to work with and his wealth of knowledge on the topic of immigration law was evident. We collaboratively delivered a successful webinar to hundreds of construction professionals on the post-Brexit immigration system and Usof was able to answer complex questions on the spot, demonstrating his attention to detail and professionalism. We would not hesitate to recommend Usof and Herrington Carmichael.

Usof Shah has been a great source of information and guidance both in setting up to become a sponsor and also in getting candidates sponsored.

The team provides useful guidance and support on the pitfalls and processes of being a sponsor. The team helps set everything up to become a sponsor as well as assisting with processing CoS applications.

Meet our experts

Dedicated professionals ready to assist you.

Usof Shah PNG
Legal Director
Neelu-Gurung-PNG
Paralegal

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.

Most of the visa , settlement routes and citizenship applications can be done by yourself. However, most of these applications can be complex, based on your situation, and more often than not, the fees involved in the application will not be refunded if your application is not successful.

We recommend using an Immigration Lawyer as it significantly reduces the risk of your application being rejected due to our experience and knowledge in Immigration Law. We have had numerous clients who had first attempted it themselves, failed, lost all of the fees and now have to pay it again as well as paying for lawyers to ensure it is done correctly.

Our fees depend on the the visa or route you want to pursue and how complex your situation is. Get in touch with us to discuss your situation further and we will give you an obligation-free quote.

Yes! We know each person is at different parts of their immigration journey and you want to speak to someone before committing to paying fees. We offer a complimentary 10 minute telephone consultation to help you explore your options. If your matter requires tailored advice, we will advise that you proceed with a fixed fee meeting with one of our solicitors.

We offer a complimentary 10 minute telephone consultation to help you explore your options. If your matter requires tailored advice, we will advise that you proceed with a fixed fee meeting with one of our solicitors.

We are able to help you regardless of where you are on your application journey. If you have already applied, we will need as much information as we can get from you in order to best assist going forward.

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is the formal term for settlement. They are the same thing and the two terms are often used interchangeably.

Using an Immigration Lawyer does not stand you in better stead in the eyes of Home Office, however, using an Immigration Lawyer does result in a better quality application that is correctly filled out and has the correct documents attached. This gives less space for error and increases the chances of the application being successful. This is particularly true in complex cases.