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British Citizenship questions

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 3:38 pm
by tier1extension
I would like to ask the following:

1. Once I get the British Citizenship after getting an ILR, would my British Citizenship remain with me even if I am away from the UK for more than 5 years? I am asking because the ILR visa gets cancelled if the holder is away for more than 2 years and I want to make sure if there are any similar rules for British Citizenship.

2. How long is the overall process of getting the British Citizenship?
a. How long does it take to get my application checked by the citizenship checking service?
b. Do I have to book an appointment early for the checking service? I know there is no PEO for British Citizenship applications.
c. Once my application is checked and I submitted it, how long do I have to wait on average before my naturalisation application is approved and I am notified?
d. Once I get the naturalisation approval notification, how long does it take to get my British Passport and Citizenship application approved?

Re: British Citizenship questions

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:07 pm
by Jambo
tier1extension wrote: 1. Once I get the British Citizenship after getting an ILR, would my British Citizenship remain with me even if I am away from the UK for more than 5 years? I am asking because the ILR visa gets cancelled if the holder is away for more than 2 years and I want to make sure if there are any similar rules for British Citizenship.
BC is "forever" (and even passed to your children...).
2. How long is the overall process of getting the British Citizenship?
Check the sticky Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)
a. How long does it take to get my application checked by the citizenship checking service?
b. Do I have to book an appointment early for the checking service? I know there is no PEO for British Citizenship applications.

The appointment takes about 45 minutes per applicant. You will need to book an appointment with the council you use. Some are busier than others.
c. Once my application is checked and I submitted it, how long do I have to wait on average before my naturalisation application is approved and I am notified?

d. Once I get the naturalisation approval notification, how long does it take to get my British Passport and Citizenship application approved?
For naturalisation timelines, see my answer above.
For passport timelines see the sticky British Passport application processing timelines (only).

thanks

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:43 pm
by tier1extension
thanks very much for the detailed reply

may i also ask whether my foreign passport must be submitted together with my naturalisation application? i gather the naturalisation application processing can take up to 4-5 months? in that case, i won't be able to travel outside the uk at all if my passport is not with me? is that the same case when i apply for the british passport? basically, if my understanding is correct that the whole naturalisation and british citizenship application process can take up to 6 months, i am worried i won't be able to travel outside the uk if i don't have a passport with me since it has been submitted? or maybe i am missing something in my understanding and it isn't that long or i can get back my passport sooner?

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:51 pm
by Jambo
If you use NCS they will copy your documents in the appointment and return them to you.
For passport application, you will need to send your foreign passport but you will get it back after 2-3 weeks.

ILR - Away from country for more than 3 months consecutively

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:00 pm
by manasa
Sir,

I cam to UK on WP in 2007, then i moved from WP to HSMP in 2008 and gone for the extension in 2009. so i am going to complete 5 yerars by May 2012. But i am away from UK for 3 months 9 days and my total stay away in 5 years is 195 days. I was there in india for my personal reasons so i can't show them the any compassionate reason. My tier1 general migrant is due in Feb 2013. so what do you suggest. do you want me to go for the Tier1 extension or do you want me to go for the ILR

Re: ILR - Away from country for more than 3 months consecuti

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:56 pm
by osteophytes
manasa wrote:Sir,

I cam to UK on WP in 2007, then i moved from WP to HSMP in 2008 and gone for the extension in 2009. so i am going to complete 5 yerars by May 2012. But i am away from UK for 3 months 9 days and my total stay away in 5 years is 195 days. I was there in india for my personal reasons so i can't show them the any compassionate reason. My tier1 general migrant is due in Feb 2013. so what do you suggest. do you want me to go for the Tier1 extension or do you want me to go for the ILR
You can be outside UK for 450 days in total during the 5 year period. And not more than 90 days during the last 12 months.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... uirements/

So I am not sure what you are worried about!! Read the link above