How to prove continuous residence for settled status?

Posted by Magical_Griffin@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 7 comments

To be eligible for continuous residence, you need to have stayed in the UK for 6 months out of any 12 month period.

Let's say I've spent 3 months staying at a friend's place. Would this count for continuous residence?

The way I imagine it should work is: UK gov can tell my continuous residence just from the dates of me entering/exiting the country. But I'm worried I will need to have my own address to be eligible. Hopefully someone who's gone through this can answer, thanks :)

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AccomplishedQuail770@reddit

You need to have been registered as living somewhere.

You could try to use bank statements for the months you have spent at your friend's as evidence you have been in the UK. Your bank statements should show you have spent money and had an income in the UK in that period.

With your idea of only looking at the passport, they could assume that part of that time was as a tourist and not as a resident.
However, they do look at your NI number to see if you have paid tax. When I applied I used my NI number as evidence along with my tenancy agreement and a couple of bank statements from when I was unemployed for 3 months.

Did that answer your question?

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Magical_Griffin@reddit (OP)

Thanks!

If I stay at a friend's place, should I change my address on my bank account accordingly?

I have been a student for the past 4 years and currently am looking for a job. So I do not have income and do not pay income tax in UK atm, to your knowledge, could this be a problem?

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AccomplishedQuail770@reddit

Oh, you've been a student, that is super easy to prove.
Contact your university and ask for an enrollment letter that proves you have been here while you studied.

It wouldn't hurt to change your bank account accordingly. You should always keep that updated so other people don't get your very sensitive and personal mail.

To my knowledge, there is no problem with not having worked while you were here. It just makes the process a bit harder as evidence is harder to come by.

So you need to have 5 contentious stay covered.
You have 4 years of University enrollment. (A BA and MA? MA and PhD? PhD? Keep in mind that enrollment letters do not cover the months between degrees.)
So you need to find evidence for the remaining 12(ish) months.
You can use mobile telephone, TV or internet bills showing a UK address.
Water, gas or electricity bill would also be suitable. But it needs your name and address on it.
Bank statements that show you spend money in the UK. (Use these as last resort, the automated system do not like these for longer periods (3-4 months period))

Feel free to send me a DM, I have just been through the process and it's doable!

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Magical_Griffin@reddit (OP)

DM sent 🫡

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Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit

If you're not a student or employed in the UK what visa are you staying under?

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Magical_Griffin@reddit (OP)

I have pre-settled status.