In this viedo, I examine what happens if you have been outside of the UK for more than 180 days in a 12-month period when applying for ILR under the Innovator Founder route.
The Rules
“The applicant must have spent at least 3 years in the UK with permission on the Innovator route” (INN 19.1)
“The applicant must prove that they have met the continuous residence requirement as set out in Appendix Continuous Residence for the qualifying period in INN 19.1.” INN 20.1
“The continuous residence requirement is met if the applicant has spent the qualifying unbroken continuous residence period required by their route lawfully in the UK”. CR 1.1
“To meet the continuous residence requirement the applicant must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period (unless CR 2.2. or CR 2.3 applies).” CR 2.1
When calculating the 180 days in CR 2.1. or CR 2.2. any period spent outside the UK for reasons (a) to (h) below will not count towards the 180-day limit, if the absence was for any of the following reasons: […](b) travel disruption due to natural disaster, military conflict or pandemic; or(c) compelling and compassionate personal circumstances, such as the life-threatening illness of the applicant, or life-threatening illness or death of a close family member”