When shud i apply for naturalisation -Indian passport holder

Hi,

I got ilr on 10 dec 2013. I didnt apply for naturalisation in dec as i had absences from 14dec 2009 to 6 jan 2010 and then from 19 feb 2010 to 30 May 2010. I was thinking of applying on 30 May this year.
Problem is that i have a wedding to attend in Dec this year in India.
My questions:

1. If i apply on 30 May, is it possible that i can get naturalisation,ceremony and british passport done before my travel in dec? Or i am being too optimistic?

2. Scenario- get Naturalisation done, travel on indian passport.
As per indian laws i am allowed to travel on indian passport only within 3 months of british naturalisation. SO if i get the ceremony done in oct, i can easily travel in dec. In this case:
- i believe i will have to complete oath ceremony within 3 months of getting approval letter. I think even getting a date for the ceremony takes few weeks? So when should i apply so that i can get naturalisation and ceremony done in oct- nov and not earlier or later?
- if i travel on indian passport what proof will i have to show to enter UK? (I assume my brp card wud be taken if naturalisation gets accepted.)

Citizenship approvals are taking roughly 2 to 3 month and also include biometric enrolment now.

If you travel on Indian passport, you will need your ILR BRP card to re-enter the UK. Naturalisation certificate is not a travel document.

In answer to your first question, yes it is possible. Remember that passport can also take a few weeks and that you are British from date of ceremony, not when you receive your passport.

You could have applied on 7th January this year....To your questions

1. Yes its very possible you can get it before December, but the UKVI can be unpredictable in their processing. I would go through NCS , so you can keep your passport in case of any unforeseen delays. Some people from May last year are still waiting for a decision for example

2. Well after you do your ceremony you can apply for a British passport and that will be proof you can enter the country. If you're British you don't even need a passport to come back in, although it would take a bit longer to process you at immigration.

Since India does not allow dual nationality, and you want to hold both nationalities for a brief window so you can travel to India, i probably would recommend you just apply for the British Nationality asap and then get an Indian Visa, since trying to time for a specific window is not sensible.

If you're really adamant on doing it that way i would apply mid july

[quote="egoneo"2. Well after you do your ceremony you can apply for a British passport and that will be proof you can enter the country. If you're British you don't even need a passport to come back in, although it would take a bit longer to process you at immigration.[/quote]
Of course you need a passport, but not necessarily a British one. If OP is traveling on his Indian passport, he should travel with his BRP showing ILR and naturalisation certificate or copy of it.

I m still not clear about how to enter uk when I get naturalised but don't have British passport and travelled out on Indian passport. Is there any way I can be allowed without the brp card if I have the ceremony certificate or something?

applyforILR wrote:I m still not clear about how to enter uk when I get naturalised but don't have British passport and travelled out on Indian passport. Is there any way I can be allowed without the brp card if I have the ceremony certificate or something?

After ceremony is attended and you have your Citizenship Certificate, you can apply for CoE by clicking here.

applyforILR wrote:I m still not clear about how to enter uk when I get naturalised but don't have British passport and travelled out on Indian passport. Is there any way I can be allowed without the brp card if I have the ceremony certificate or something?

You can travel with your ILR BRP and Indian passport. Many people on the forum have done and my daughter has done it many times without any issues.

That's good to know that I will still be able to use brp card.
So when is the brp card taken away? Is it at the time of passport application?

It is not taken away, just technically becomes invalid as superseded by citizenship. There is no legal requirement that you must have a British passport.

I need help with few sections:
1.8 known names?
After my marriage I had started using my married name briefly in 2010. I realised that since my passport visa bank cards etc all documents are in my maiden name so I shifted back to using my maiden name. Still the council tax bills I had in 2010, 2011 were issued in my married name. Also I don't remember but I think my married name was used on electoral list as well in the same year. I missed out mentioning this on my ilr and visa extension applications. Do I need to mention the married name here or can I leave it as done in ilr application

1.22  to 1.26 the knowledge of life and language requirements were satisfied already as I applied for ilr in Dec 2013. do i still need to provide liuk certificate?
Also for language requirement do i need to fill in all the details even if selected the option 'satisfied in application after Oct 2013' ? If yes, for ESOl There is no date of award mentioned on the certificate .. What shud I fill in for ESOL date of award and award reference number?

3.5 what is Address of tax office tax office reference??

I m providing following list of documents. Do I need to add anything else?:

Passport
Iiuk certificate
ESOL certificate
Brp card

Also the form states that brp card is to be provided with the application form. I am going through ncs . will they return the brp card once they check it? I might need to travel soon so will need my passport and brp back.

applyforILR wrote:I need help with few sections:
1.8 known names?
After my marriage I had started using my married name briefly in 2010. I realised that since my passport visa bank cards etc all documents are in my maiden name so I shifted back to using my maiden name. Still the council tax bills I had in 2010, 2011 were issued in my married name. Also I don't remember but I think my married name was used on electoral list as well in the same year. I missed out mentioning this on my ilr and visa extension applications. Do I need to mention the married name here or can I leave it as done in ilr application

You need to find that out, and mention the name if it was included in Electoral register/ any other UK Official documents which could be used as proof of address/identity. Guide AN clearly mentions it:

1.8 If you are or have been known by any other names apart from the names you have given in sections 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7, say what the other names are/were, when you were known by or started to be known by these other names, and why.

Provide a cover letter as well.
But take one copy with unfilled 1.8 and see what NCS says, personally I think that most likely they'd want that filled.

applyforILR wrote: 1.22  to 1.26 the knowledge of life and language requirements were satisfied already as I applied for ilr in Dec 2013. do i still need to provide liuk certificate?

Yes.

applyforILR wrote: Also for language requirement do i need to fill in all the details even if selected the option 'satisfied in application after Oct 2013' ? If yes, for ESOl There is no date of award mentioned on the certificate .. What shud I fill in for ESOL date of award and award reference number?

Just tick the relevant part.

applyforILR wrote: 3.5 what is Address of tax office tax office reference??

If you are working, then your accountant can tell you this.

applyforILR wrote: I m providing following list of documents. Do I need to add anything else?:

Passport
Iiuk certificate
ESOL certificate
Brp card

Also the form states that brp card is to be provided with the application form. I am going through ncs . will they return the brp card once they check it? I might need to travel soon so will need my passport and brp back.

Yes they will. That is part of the reason NCS is recommended. You get your originals back, except LIUK test original, as you'd never need it again once Citizenship is granted. NCS will also check the form to see if anything is needed/left blank etc. Good luck.

What are the envelopes everyone talks about... I read it in the timelines about brown envelope..

applyforILR wrote:What are the envelopes everyone talks about... I read it in the timelines about brown envelope..

It refers to approval letter

But why brown envelope
Why not other envelope colours?

cool mind wrote:But why brown envelope
Why not other envelope colours?

You can raise this question on whatdotheyknow

The Home Office usually only use brown a5 size envelopes and second class post....unless they are sending by courier/ next day post!

OK... I read in a post that the guy was waiting for 2 envelopes... 1 is for approval letter what other communication is sent?

applyforILR wrote:OK... I read in a post that the guy was waiting for 2 envelopes... 1 is for approval letter what other communication is sent?

One is for Approval, Other is from council inviting you to book the ceremony. Sometimes they come on same day ( in 2 separate envelopes) and sometimes separately/on different days.

I had applied for naturalization alongwith my husband using NCS wandsworth. We applied on 4th july 2015 and home office received it on 7th july. Money was gone off account on 16th july and we received acknowledgement letter via post on 20th july. it was dated 15th july. We havent received any biometrics request letter yet. I am not sure if it is lost or i should wait for it.
is there any phone number or email id where i can contact for biometrics?

You are not alone and infact I Applied using NCS Bexley on 25 June 15,Money was taken 28 June 15. Till now have not received Bio metric request letter or Acknowledgement letter.

I am not sure what to be done now , for my similiar question , no one replied in the forum here , so seems other than waiting till 6 months no other option ????

But there is a deadline for biometrics to be done... It should b fine within 15 days of the letter.. So I m not site what happens with it on case the letter doesn't arrive?

You need to be patient, you only applied a month ago. Some people have waiting a lot longer for biometric letters. If the first one doesn't arrive, they will likely send a second one. As long as all your address details are correct, don't stress too much.

Many thanks CR001. I would wait then. ...had got worried that it might have got lost.

Finally received the bio-metrics letter today. But seems they did send one earlier and this is the second letter. I am not sure if it was lost in Post office . But relieved at least got the second one . Will go to post office tomorrow. Other than letter do we need to take anything else like Passport or Utility bills ?

No, just the bar-coded letter.