Northern Irish giving up British Citizenship

[chaoclive]

I'm sure you've been through this with the solicitor as well but: does your wife have any European ancestry? E.g. Irish/UK/Italian/Polish? There may be ways to get citizenship through parents/grandparents etc. Just something to consider.

[sp84]

Ah OK! Thank you again! I don't think I have posted enough comments to qualify for PM privileges. Am I right in saying that I need 10 posts? Otherwise, yeah I would really appreciate the solicitor information!

You mentioned - "Bottom line: Irish people are a little different, but you can't be special and also claim exactly the same rights as the other EEA citizens at the same time. The source of these two different categories of rights is different: one is the UK laws (Irish people are viewed as settled etc) and the other is from EEA laws (treaty rights etc)." - Does this mean that as Irish citizen I can choose to enter with my wife as "Irish", as opposed to an European citizen? - I suppose that's where my confusion comes in. The idea of having a choice or not in how I enter Northern Ireland. I have a few friends from the South and I have always just imagined that if one of them were married to an American, they could move to Northern Ireland no problem, without any restraints. Suppose it is not that simple.

With me being so far away from home, I keep seeing news stories everyday in relation to David Cameron and the EU referendum - today I saw they may propose that EU citizens must have a job in place before coming to the UK. So I'm getting twitchy! I suppose my nightmare scenario is this ... I renounce my British citizenship - the UK leaves the EU in the time it takes my paperwork to come through - the UK then loosens the financial requirement of 18,600k for British Citizens. Making it easier for British citizens to bring their non EU spouse to the UK ... While at the same time, making it harder for EU citizens to get in.

In relation to the subbing - I suppose I should mention that one of the main reasons I am looking to move back home, is that over here, my degree does not carry the same value as back home. Hence why I have been so focused on it. If I were to just get another job back home - that would probably result in me having to give up teaching ... It's crazy to think that I can't just move back home, in order to use the degree that I got in the UK, in order to better my own life.

I know i keep saying this after every post, but thank you thank you thank you!!

[sp84]

Aaahh sorry I went off with my own train of thought and forgot to reply to your other post - in regards to my wife and EU citizenship. We have looked into it. Her grandmother (now deceased) was a German. She moved to the US during WWII. As far as we are aware, she gave up her German citizenship and became a US citizen years ago.

I have also looked into her still being able to get a German passport, but it's apparently a very difficult one to get that. If I remember correctly, the US would require her to give up her US Citizenship (must have something to do with the relationship between Germany and the US).

I can keep asking questions about that though and see if it is possible.

[chaoclive]

CAPS AGAIN

Ah OK! Thank you again! I don't think I have posted enough comments to qualify for PM privileges. Am I right in saying that I need 10 posts? Otherwise, yeah I would really appreciate the solicitor information! YES: 10 POSTS, I THINK...

You mentioned - "Bottom line: Irish people are a little different, but you can't be special and also claim exactly the same rights as the other EEA citizens at the same time. The source of these two different categories of rights is different: one is the UK laws (Irish people are viewed as settled etc) and the other is from EEA laws (treaty rights etc)." - Does this mean that as Irish citizen I can choose to enter with my wife as "Irish", as opposed to an European citizen? - I suppose that's where my confusion comes in. The idea of having a choice or not in how I enter Northern Ireland. HOW COULD YOU HAVE A CHOICE? YOU ARE AN IRISH CITIZEN, WHO IS, AT THE SAME TIME, A EUROPEAN. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THAT YOU HAVE IS THAT YOU COULD, IF YOU WISH, APPLY UNDER THE UK RULES (18600 ETC). BUT WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THAT? YOU CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW IF YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS. I WAS TRYING TO EMPHASIS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T THINK IN THAT WAY. YOU SHOULD BE THINKING 'I'M A EUROPEAN'; UNDER THE EEA RULES IRISH CITIZENSHIP DOESN'T REALLY GIVE YOU ANY SPECIAL RIGHTS BEYOND THOSE OF A LATVIAN OR A SPANIARD.

I have a few friends from the South and I have always just imagined that if one of them were married to an American, they could move to Northern Ireland no problem, without any restraints. Suppose it is not that simple. IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY SIMPLE FOR THEM, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE IRISH, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE EUROPEAN (AND NOT BRITISH). THEY WOULDN'T FACE ANY BARRIERS AT ALL AS THEY DON'T HAVE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP. I AM EXACTLY THE SAME NOW (AFTER RENUNCIATION) AS I AM IRISH ONLY.

With me being so far away from home, I keep seeing news stories everyday in relation to David Cameron and the EU referendum - today I saw they may propose that EU citizens must have a job in place before coming to the UK. So I'm getting twitchy! I suppose my nightmare scenario is this ... I renounce my British citizenship - the UK leaves the EU in the time it takes my paperwork to come through - the UK then loosens the financial requirement of 18,600k for British Citizens. Making it easier for British citizens to bring their non EU spouse to the UK ... While at the same time, making it harder for EU citizens to get in. AS AN IRISH CITIZEN, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SETTLED IN THE UK. THEREFORE, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY UNDER THE UK RULES (I.E. 18600 EARNINGS ETC ETC). YOU COULD ALSO GO TO ANOTHER EU COUNTRY OR INDEED APPLY UNDER THE ROI DOMESTIC IMMIGRATION RULES (DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THESE). WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO RENOUNCE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP IF YOU WERE GOING THROUGH ANY OF THE DOMESTIC ROUTES.

In relation to the subbing - I suppose I should mention that one of the main reasons I am looking to move back home, is that over here, my degree does not carry the same value as back home. Hence why I have been so focused on it. If I were to just get another job back home - that would probably result in me having to give up teaching ... It's crazy to think that I can't just move back home, in order to use the degree that I got in the UK, in order to better my own life. YOU CAN; IT'S YOUR WIFE WHO CAN'T!

I know i keep saying this after every post, but thank you thank you thank you!!

STILL THINK YOU'RE OVERTHINKING THINGS. IT IS NOT COMPLEX AT ALL (APART FROM THE FUTURE OF THE UK IN THE EU, BUT NO-ONE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT ONE YET)

HERE'S MY ROUTE:
-RENOUNCE
-APPLY FOR EEA FP FOR CIVIL PARTNER
-I COME TO UK
-I SECURE A JOB IN BELFAST, WHILST HE TIDIES UP ODDS AND ENDS IN CHINA
-HE JOINS ME ON EEA FAMILY PERMIT (I MET HIM IN AMSTERDAM JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE WEREN'T ANY ISSUES)
-I APPLIED FOR A REGISTRATION CARD (OPTIONAL); GOT IT IN JUST OVER A MONTH
-HE APPLIED FOR NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER; GOT A JOB
-WE APPLIED FOR HIS RESIDENCE CARD (ALSO OPTIONAL ACTUALLY); GOT IT IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
-END OF FOR NOW

I'M NOT A LAWYER, SO MY EXPLANATIONS MAY BE A LITTLE 'FLUFFY' BUT I REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AS WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT (SUCCESSFULLY).

[sp84]

Thanks a lot! I probably am over thinking things as you said and making it more complicated than it should be! And thank you for letting me know what order you did everything in.

Just a quick point - that I haven't seen posted anywhere yet ... When you were in China and you renounced, then applied for the EEA FP for your partner ... Did you file all of the paperwork with the UK Embassy/Consulate in China? OR does it have to be sent to the Home Office in London? I am assuming it is the embassy/consulate in your current country of residence.

Cheers!

[chaoclive]

Thanks a lot! I probably am over thinking things as you said and making it more complicated than it should be! And thank you for letting me know what order you did everything in.

Just a quick point - that I haven't seen posted anywhere yet ... When you were in China and you renounced, then applied for the EEA FP for your partner ... Did you file all of the paperwork with the UK Embassy/Consulate in China? OR does it have to be sent to the Home Office in London? I am assuming it is the embassy/consulate in your current country of residence.

Cheers!

We were on holiday in the UK when I posted the form. There are a few exceptions to sending it to the Home Office directly, e.g. in Hong Kong/British overseas territory/Channel Islands etc. You, being in the US, will have to send it to the UKVI in Liverpool.

Guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _rn_v5.pdf

[sp84]

Brilliant thank you! That's been a ton of help! Greatly appreciated

[sp84]

Aaahh I did it again. Just forgot to ask how do I send PM's here? Do you have to add as a friend first or anything like that?

[chaoclive]

Aaahh I did it again. Just forgot to ask how do I send PM's here? Do you have to add as a friend first or anything like that?

i just sent your one.

normally you just click on the username and then u'll see 'send private message'

[sp84]

Got it thank you! I also replied, but it says it is in my outbox, rather than sent messages. Hopefully you got it OK!