Applications under the long residence rules submitted on or after 2 April 2007 will have to meet the knowledge of the English language, and life in the UK requirement before qualifying for ILR.

If the applicant has submitted an ILR application on or before 30 March 2009 and meets all the criteria of long residence except knowledge of life, they should be considered for a grant of further leave to remain (LTR). ILR applications made on or after 31 March 2009 without knowledge of life should be refused on this basis. Applicants who meet all the long residence criteria other than KOL can still be granted LTR after the 31 March 2009 but will need to ensure that they apply specifically for LTR rather than ILR.

Please note that pre 31 March 2009 ILR applicants should only be refused on this basis if they have made false representations, or failed to disclose a material fact, in making the application (e.g. presented a false certificate purporting to prove knowledge of life) or in conjunction with other grounds for refusal.