Change of address on ilr

[liveforever]

Morning, we have recently move house and was wondering if we needed to report this to ukba; my wife is residing in the UK under ilr.

Kind regards

[7by7]

No.

[liveforever]

Thx 7

[Richard W]

Yes, if she holds a BRP! See Report a change of circumstances if you have a visa or BRP for the Home Office line.

The Immigration (Biometric Registration) Regulations 2008 Article 18(a) reads:

18. The holder of a biometric immigration document must notify the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable if he

(a) knows or suspects that information provided in connection with the document was or has become false, misleading or incomplete;

Without her address, the Home Office might not be able to send her threatening letters if she fails to renew her BRP.

[liveforever]

Thx Richard; yes she holds a brp so looks like we do have to notify them. Regards

[liveforever]

On the mentioned form on ukba website it states the change of address form is for visas on a point based system tier 1,2.3 & 4. Really not sure about this small print.

[bobrussell]

No you don't need to report a change of address. There is no requirement to do so (7by7 is correct). The UKVI just say you can report a change of address without applying for a new biometric residence permit.

The points based system ends with successful ILR.

The only reason I can see for keeping the UKVI informed is to allow them to send reminders when the permit is due for replacement (similar to the system for photo drivers licences).

Changes that need to be reported are name, gender, nationality, change in facial appearance (presumably major changes not just growing a beard!) and corrections of errors such as date of birth.

If concerned you can use:

https://eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk/outreach/AddressUpdate.ofml

Some law websites say that you should notify changes of address if you are likely to stay there for over six months.

Edited January 23, 2015 by bobrussell

[Richard W]

No you don't need to report a change of address. There is no requirement to do so (7by7 is correct). The UKVI just say you can report a change of address without applying for a new biometric residence permit.

Which bit of "You must report changes to your address, personal details or circumstances if you have a visa or biometric residence permit (BRP), or if you've applied for one" don't you understand? I'm quoting from the first full paragraph in the UKVI link I gave.

The only reason I can see for keeping the UKVI informed is to allow them to send reminders when the permit is due for replacement (similar to the system for photo drivers licences).

Perhaps the only good reason. Total control of people is easier if you have their addresses.

For driving licenses, though more precisely for registered keepers, it enables the delivery of demands and summonses for traffic offences the person liable is unaware of.

Changes that need to be reported are name, gender, nationality, change in facial appearance (presumably major changes not just growing a beard!) and corrections of errors such as date of birth.

Those are changes that require a new BRP. Changing address doesn't.

[7by7]

Yes, if she holds a BRP! See Report a change of circumstances if you have a visa or BRP for the Home Office line.

I stand corrected; my reply is out of date.

Since the introduction of BRPs changes of address do need to be notified.

Biometric residence permits

Report changes to your personal details

You must report changes to your address, personal details or circumstances.

Many apologies to all; especially liveforever.

Of course, if one naturalises as British when qualified then this is no longer necessary.

[bobrussell]

The .gov website does state that you need to report address changes but it is far from clear where this comes from in law.

The .gov site is the only one that I can find that states the holder of a BRP must report changes of address. Everywhere else it states the situations where UKVI must be informed. Address change is not one of them. It is stated elsewhere that UKVI should be informed if an address change is likely to be for six months or more.

I know a number of people with ILR and not one has been informed that they must report changes of address. If this is a recent change in law then I would be very grateful if someone could suggest when the law was changed.

I am not convinced that this isn't the UKVI chancing its luck!

I don't actually have a problem with a requirement to keep addresses up to date, in fact seems a pretty good idea to me. Is it really a legal requirement??

[7by7]

I think, Bob, that it's a requirement for BRP holders, not ILR holders.

So someone who obtained ILR before the introduction of BRPs and so does not have one does not, as far as I can ascertain, need to tell UKVI if they change address.

[liveforever]

Thanks for all your help guys, at least we are clarifying the situation for other BRP holders who may be in our situation in the future. It seems the sensible thing to do is report the change of address to UKBA to cover ourselves. No probs for any mistake 7 at least its created a healthy debate. Kind regards

Edited January 24, 2015 by liveforever

[liveforever]

Evening, just a little bit of information lads that's got me more confused as whether or not to report a change of address in our circumstances. I downloaded the form from the link Richard kindly provided; it states the form is for applications made on or after April 2014, which we were well before ,also its for tier 1,2,3,4 applications and from my research that's not us too, we were settlement visa transferred to ilr. Sorry to still bring it up but its seems a grey area. Kind regards

[wooloomooloo]

If in doubt then report the change of address, liveforever.

[liveforever]

Totally agree with you wool, but the form I downloaded just is not relevant to us, I think! Might just try to call ukba tomorrow and get some facts from them. Hope this thread is helpful to other people in our position in the future too. Kind regards mate

[Richard W]

Searching on the Internet, I've found a report that one should go to the page https://www.gov.uk/change-circumstances-visa-brp/overview and click the option for 'in the UK and don't have a BRP'. Quite a few ILR holders have been flummoxed by the Migrant Change of Circumstances form.

[liveforever]

Richard, you are spot on pal, I found this yesterday morning and did the address change online on a trial service they are providing. I was hoping to get an email from them confirming the fact we changed it but as yet no confirmation. I've read if you don't notify within 3 months you could get £1000 fine and/or IRL revoked. Reckon I've tried harder than most to complete it and its a confusing issue. Thx for your help pal

Edited January 27, 2015 by liveforever

[7by7]

All this kerfuffle seems to me to be yet another reason to naturalise as British as soon as possible.

Even though it costs £906, once done one can forget about all this pettifogging bureaucracy.