I did actually try to get a CAA license. But as you said, when not a UK resident...
I am an EU citizen though but I have less than a month to solve this now. My IR skill test was at the beginning of August. Nearly three months was plenty of time I thought and although I would love to be back in the UK I am running out of time.
Where are all the people who have done an IR abroad and faced the same problem that I have now. I thought there must be at least a few with experience on this.
Cheers