I currently have a 2-year Global Talent visa that expires on 28 June 2025. To qualify for ILR, I need a 1-year extension.
However, an advisor mentioned that if I apply for just 1 year, my new visa might start a few days before 28 June 2025 (e.g. 25 June 2025). As a result, by the time I reach June 2026, I could be a few days short of the full 3-year requirement for ILR.
I’d prefer to avoid paying an extra year of health surcharge, but I also don’t want to risk my ILR eligibility. Has anyone faced this situation before? Is it safer to apply for a 2-year extension instead?
This means you can simply apply for the 1 year extension and you should be fine to put in your ILR application some days before it expires.
Once you make an home office application, you are considered to be in status.
Also, consider using the ILR channel on the Visa Alumni Slack workspace for this question - ( The channel has a new name now). The people on there may be more knowledgeable on this.
@badesemowo I thought the same thing with you, but the lawyer said I should be holding a visa for 3 years, weird. Could you tell me how to join that ILR Slack channel btw? I couldn’t find it, thanks.
I don’t think there is a problem. You can apply for the visa few days before it expires then submit your bio metric few days or weeks later so you new visa should take you up to 3 years. In any case few days short is not a problem as you can apply for ILR 28 days before you visa expires