Those looking to remain in the UK longer can consider applying for leave of stay on Human Rights grounds. This can be accomplished through two types of rights outlined by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), namely, Family Life and Private Life.

In July 2012, the Immigration Rules were updated to include aspects of Human Rights claims. This ensures that all citizens have basic protection under the law.

 When seeking a Ten-year route to settlement, applications must meet certain conditions for both the Private and Family life stages. If all these criteria are met, the application will generally be successful. See the list below for more information pertaining to Human Rights Applications under Family and Private Life.

According to the UK’s immigration rules, it is permissible to remain in the country if it is necessary to protect your right to a private life as per Article 8. This could include if:

• You have resided in the UK for 20 years without any interruption; or
• If you’ve been living in the UK for less than 20 years, Moving to another country can be tricky as lifestyle adjustments and different cultural norms must be considered. This can be incredibly daunting when leaving the UK, as one has grown accustomed to a particular way of life. This may pose several challenges when trying to integrate into a new country; or
• If you are under 18 years of age and have been living in the UK for at least 7 years, then it’s not reasonable to expect you to leave the country; or
• If you are between the ages of 18 and 25 years old and have spent at least half of your life living in the UK continuously, you may qualify for Human Rights Application.