Hello, my name is Robin, and today I want to share my personal journey of getting ready for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK.
If you’re like me — living and working here on a Skilled Worker visa, building a life for your family — you’ll know that reaching ILR is a major milestone.
It’s not just about paperwork — it’s about security, stability, and calling the UK truly “home.”
I arrived in the UK on 03 March 2020, along with my wife and two children. I came here as a Sous Chef under the Skilled Worker route, working in the hospitality sector. From the moment we landed, we knew that ILR would eventually be the big goal — but what I didn’t realise at first was how much careful preparation it would take to get everything right.
Understanding the ILR Requirements
Around my third year in the UK, I started reading more about ILR and realized:
It’s not automatic — you have to prove a lot of things.
Here’s what I learned early on:
- You must have completed 5 continuous years on a valid visa (without long absences — no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period).
- You must meet salary requirements for your job.
- You must pass the Life in the UK Test and meet English language standards.
- You must not have broken any immigration laws during your stay.
Thankfully, I had always stayed mindful of my visa conditions.
I made sure:
- I never spent too long outside the UK (no more than short family holidays).
- I kept my job stable and my salary above the required thresholds.
- I respected all visa rules carefully.
Preparing the Documents
One of the best decisions I made early was keeping my records organized.
Here are a few things I prepared ahead of time:
- Payslips and Bank Statements: I kept all my payslips and matching bank statements neatly filed.
- Employment Letters: I regularly asked my employer for updated letters confirming my job title, salary, and working hours.
- Absence Records: Even though I didn’t have long absences, I still kept a note of every trip abroad (dates, reason, etc.).
- Life in the UK and English Test Certificates:
I booked and passed both tests about a year before applying — just to be safe!
Looking back, being proactive about these things saved me a lot of stress when the time to apply got closer.
Lessons I Learned Along the Way
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be:
Start preparing for ILR at least a year before your 5-year visa anniversary.
Some things, like gathering letters from employers, getting appointments for tests, or checking eligibility, can take longer than you expect.
You don’t want to rush at the last minute — especially because if your visa expires while you’re still sorting things out, it can cause huge problems.
Another lesson:
Stay in communication with your HR or manager.
Your employer plays a big role because you’ll need updated sponsorship information when applying for ILR (or at least proof that you are still in a qualifying job).
The Emotional Side of the Journey
For me, Robin, preparing for ILR wasn’t just about ticking boxes.
It was emotional too.
ILR means stability for my wife, my kids, and myself.
It means not worrying about renewing visas all the time.
It means feeling like we truly belong here after years of hard work, adjusting to a new culture, and making a home from scratch.
There were moments of doubt and stress — but staying focused kept me motivated.
Every document I organized, every small step I completed felt like a brick in the foundation of our future.
Final Thoughts
Getting ready for ILR is a big project, but you can do it if you stay organized and start early.
It’s about small, steady steps — and trusting that all your hard work will pay off.
In my next post, I’ll share how I actually applied for ILR — step-by-step — and what the experience was really like!
Thank you for reading my story.
If you’re preparing for ILR yourself — I’m cheering for you!
Disclaimer:
This blog is based on my personal experience as a Skilled Worker migrant preparing for ILR in the UK. Immigration rules can change, and every case is different. Please always check the latest official UK government guidance or seek professional immigration advice if you are unsure about your individual situation.
Questions in My Mind
During my preparation for ILR, many questions crossed my mind. Here are some of the biggest ones I kept thinking about:
Q1: What if I had changed jobs during my 5 years?
A: I learned that changing employers under a Skilled Worker visa is possible — but you must apply for a new visa each time. If done properly, your ILR clock keeps ticking. Luckily, I stayed with the same employer.
Q2: What if I spent too many days outside the UK?
A: This worried me a lot at first. But after carefully checking, I realized I had never been out of the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period — so I was safe.
Q3: Do my dependants’ visas affect my ILR application?
A: I found out that my wife and children could continue as my dependants even after I get ILR, but they have to meet their own residence requirements when they apply later for ILR themselves.
Q4: What happens if my salary drops before I apply?
A: I stayed alert to salary rules. For Skilled Worker ILR, you must still meet minimum salary thresholds based on your job type. Keeping good communication with my employer helped avoid surprises.
Q5: How early can I apply for ILR?
A: I learned that you can apply up to 28 days before completing your full 5 years in the UK. I planned carefully to avoid applying too early or too late.