Hello everyone! as i've mentioned before in my last post, once my passport arrives I will have to start sorting out my ILR. sorry to post here but i just thought it would be much easier to recall on what had gone thru. for starter, the embassy took a long time to sort my passport out. filed my application for renewal last 26 may and after sending loads of email, which they never bother to respond to at all, and spending £20 plus phoning them, i got it eventually. mind you, the date on the passport says date of issuance is 04 Oct 2016 (btw, its printed in the old form & not the new one which they're bragging about! but i couldn't care less as long as i have my passport now ) anyways, here are some of my concerns and hopefully you can help me out please:

1) i plan to apply using premium service, can i pay my visa fee using VISA debit card? it says on the application that they only accept MAESTRO debit card which i dont have, nor a credit card or a checking account. tried calling them but can't get through for some reasons.

2) for confirmation only, i don't have to pay NHS surcharge as i am applying to remain in UK permanently?

3) Under Sec. 7.13 (Personal History) it says: how long have you lived in the UK? i arrived here august 2013 so is it safe to say i've been here for 4 years and 2 mos. now? next, provide details of absence of more than six months during that time:

date left the UK: 31/12/2014 returned on 03/02/2015 (holiday)
23/01/2016 returned on 20/03/2016 (vacation)
30/06/2016 returned on 11/09/2016 (vacation)

will this total more than six months? to be honest, i am really at a loss on where to start counting regarding dates

so that's all for now and would really appreciate your help please

Thanks everyone!

Sally