Immigrationboards.com

Hi all,

I am a EU citizen and wish to apply for British citizenship.

One month after I understand I acquired permanent residency status (i.e. after working in the U.K. for 5 years thus exercising EEA treaty rights) my position was made redundant and it took me about 6 months to find a new job.
During those 6 months, I was not registered at the JobCentre, requested no benefits whatsoever but supported myself with my savings and redundancy + notice payments. I can easily prove I was living in the UK (bank statements showing activity in the country) and I can get the director of a recruitment firm to write a letter confirming I was actively seeking employment.

Am I right in hoping this 6-month gap won't be a problem in my application for British citizenship?

Previous gaps in the 5 years exercising treaty rights were shorter (the first 1 month, the second 3 weeks) and intentional, i.e. I specifically delayed the starting date of the new jobs so as to have some time off.

Thanks a lot!

Not sure what the question is.

Once you have obtained PR status, you are not required to exercise treaty rights any more. Assuming you are asking with regards to applying for BC, then what you do in the 6th year (in terms of treaty rights) is irrelevant.

See Q5 in Citizenship FAQs - Common Questions - Read before posting.

Jambo wrote:Not sure what the question is.

Once you have obtained PR status, you are not required to exercise treaty rights any more. Assuming you are asking with regards to applying for BC, then what you do in the 6th year (in term of treaty rights) is irrelevant.

That was the question - apologies if I wasn't clear.

Basically I asked if having a 6-month employment gap (due to redundancy) after I acquired permanent residency hinders my chances of being naturalised as a British citizen, and you confirmed it shouldn't.

Thanks!

I think my post never got registered.I asked on what basis were you paying tax, and how it was assessed.

Obie wrote:I think my post never got registered.I asked on what basis were you paying tax, and how it was assessed.

I have been in the UK for about 6 years. I have always worked as a permanent employee, never as self-employed, contractor etc.

In the first 6 months, I worked as an expatriate on an Italian contract. I paid taxes to both Italy and the UK, and I have my British tax returns to prove this, and banking statements to prove I was living in the UK. However, I posted a separate question on this:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=122140
as I felt it was a different issue.

After those initial 6 months, I have had 3 different jobs, all 3 as a permanent employee of British firms and with a British contract. I have my P60s, P45 and letters from employers to confirm it.

You really need a copy of your tax history. You may be fine for the time you worked overseas.

Obie wrote:You really need a copy of your tax history. You may be fine for the time you worked overseas.

But I only worked overseas before setting foot in the UK, and the little time spent working overseas is not included in my application for naturalisation.

I have a very detailed copy of my tax history, because I have letters from employers, every single pay slip, P45, P60s, and tax return for every year.

When I worked in the UK as an (Italian) expatriate, I had an Italian contracted but lived in London, worked in London and paid taxes (also) to the UK - all of which I can easily prove.