Master prompt
Lawful residence + absence-history narrative (UK)
Compute the 5-year (or 3-year spouse) lawful residence + ILR window + 450/90-day absence caps, then draft an officer-facing narrative.
UKCitizenshipSchedule 1ResidenceAbsences450 days90 days
You are computing the residence eligibility for [CLIENT_NAME]'s UK naturalisation application under Schedule 1 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (s.6(1) general).
GROUND RULES
• s.6(1) general route: 5-year qualifying window, max 450 days absent total, max 90 days absent in last 12 months
• s.6(2) spouse route: 3-year window, max 270 days absent total, max 90 days absent in last 12 months
• Day of departure from UK = day OUT; day of return = day IN
• Caseworker may exercise discretion for absences slightly over limits with strong reasons (Schedule 1 para 2(d) — "special circumstances")
§1 — DEFINE THE WINDOWS
If s.6(1) general is s.6(1):
Qualifying window: [APPLICATION_DATE] minus 5 years → [APPLICATION_DATE]
ILR 12-month window: [ILR_GRANT_DATE] + 12 months
First UK arrival: [FIRST_UK_ARRIVAL] (must be on/before window start)
If s.6(1) general is s.6(2):
Qualifying window: [APPLICATION_DATE] minus 3 years → [APPLICATION_DATE]
No ILR-hold minimum (must hold at lodgement)
First UK arrival: [FIRST_UK_ARRIVAL]
State whether [FIRST_UK_ARRIVAL] is on/before window start, and whether [ILR_GRANT_DATE] satisfies the route's requirement.
§2 — TALLY ABSENCES IN QUALIFYING WINDOW
For each trip in [TRAVEL_HISTORY]:
(a) Clip to the qualifying window
(b) Absence days = (return_date − departure_date − 1) — both boundary days count as UK days
(c) Sum absences
Show arithmetic line-by-line, e.g.:
"Trip 1: 2022-12-20 → 2023-01-15 — 25 days absent."
Total absences (window) = state number.
Limit = 450 days (general) / 270 days (spouse).
Margin = limit − total.
State: WITHIN LIMIT (margin n days) / EXCEEDS BY n DAYS.
§3 — TALLY ABSENCES IN LAST 12 MONTHS
Same calculation but clipped to ([APPLICATION_DATE] − 12 months) → [APPLICATION_DATE].
Limit = 90 days.
State: WITHIN LIMIT / EXCEEDS BY n DAYS.
§4 — DISCRETIONARY OVERAGE
If either limit is exceeded:
(a) Schedule 1 para 2(d) permits caseworker discretion for "special circumstances"
(b) UKVI guidance flags acceptable reasons:
• Serious illness of applicant or close family abroad
• Crown Service / British company employment requiring overseas posting
• Compelling family reasons (death, marriage, major life event)
• COVID-19 era exceptional treatment (now sunsetted as of late 2024 — verify)
(c) NOT acceptable as exceptional:
• Routine leisure travel
• Extended visits "by choice"
• Working remotely overseas for non-British company
Cross-reference None. State: STRONG DISCRETION CASE / WEAK DISCRETION CASE / NO BASIS FOR DISCRETION.
§5 — IF NON-COMPLIANT WITHOUT DISCRETION: PROJECT EARLIEST ELIGIBLE DATE
If over-absent and discretion unlikely:
• Wait until trips drop out of window (i.e. older than 5y / 3y)
• Earliest application = the date the oldest absence drops out, RE-RUN the calculation forward in 30-day steps
State the earliest defensible date.
§6 — OFFICER-FACING NARRATIVE (150-200 words)
Draft a paragraph in the applicant's voice explaining absences, suitable for the "Reasons for absence" section of Form AN. For each trip:
• Date range
• Destination
• Stated purpose (use [TRAVEL_HISTORY] verbatim)
• Confirm return to UK
• Tie retention during absence (employment continued, UK home maintained, family in UK)
Avoid: "extended", "long stay", "stuck abroad", "stayed back" — these phrases flag residence-abandonment review.
If None is non-trivial, weave it in factually with reference to supporting evidence (medical letter, employer letter, death certificate).
§7 — DOCUMENT THE EVIDENCE
For each absence claimed in the narrative:
• Passport stamp page references (passport number + page)
• Air ticket / boarding pass copies (if available)
• Employer letter (if work-related)
• Medical evidence (if illness)
• Death certificate / hospital letter (if family emergency)
§8 — OFFICER-RISK FLAGS
Flag any of:
(a) Any single absence > 90 consecutive days — review-risk
(b) Pattern of "monthly trips home" — investigate centre-of-life test
(c) Missing entry/exit stamps — likely UK e-gates with no stamp; passenger info from carriers via Home Office may differ
(d) BRP gaps or expired during travel
(e) ILR granted by post — Home Office may scrutinise if claimed before grant date
End with: "DRAFT residence calculation — for OISC adviser / solicitor verification against passport stamps and Home Office records. The applicant remains responsible for accuracy of declared dates under BNA 1981 s.40A (deprivation for fraud)."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt