EEA citizen maybe redundant before applying for UK Citizen.

Dear All,

I am an EEA citizen (Hungarian) and work and live in the UK since end of 2008. I got employed in the first week of my arrival and continuously employed since (6 1/2 years). I have registered with the WRS in 2008, and I have all my P60, P45 and payslips for the qualifying period. I had received working tax credit for a short period of time from 2009 until 2010 based on my income for the 2009 tax year. Apart form that I have not applied for any public funds. I decided recently to apply for the UK Naturalization based on my 6 1/2 years residence (however I have not applied for PR card, but I can demonstrate that I have exercised my Treaty Rights).

I am planning to submit my application for British Naturalization in within 2-3 weeks time, but I have an issue. Last week, my employer announced that will make few people redundant from the Company due to the falling in prices on the oil market. If I will be part of the first group of people being made redundant (which I hope is not the case) how does that will affect my naturalization? To have the larger picture, my wife is similarly EEA (Hungarian) citizen, self employed, but with no income (studies at the Uni abroad), therefore dependent on my earnings.

I have the following options:

1. Apply for the Naturalization and go home to Hungary for 2-3 months (less than 90 days), or longer (I am not sure whether the 90 days count at that stage as my application will already be with UKVI), to search for work from there (cost of living far cheaper, no rent=no requirement for applying for benefits until I find a new job in the UK). This is the option which I consider very seriously if it will be the case to fall in the first batch of redundancies.

2. Apply for the Naturalization, stay in the UK and apply for Job seeker allowance, housing benefit and council tax relief for a short period, I am expecting to find a new job by autumn latest as I am highly skilled engineer with over 10 years of experience. I guess, this option can affect my application, however I am entitled to receive benefits (especially after I have contributed for so many years), but your application might be presented with a bad impression.

3. Delay the Naturalization application, go home to Hungary for 2-3 months (strictly less than 90 days) to search for work from there (cost of living far cheaper, no rent=no requirement for applying for benefits until I find a new job). This is the option which I am most reluctant to take because of the delay in my application.

I would appreciate your opinions in this matter as to which of the options above would be less harmful for my application.

Many Thanks for your responses in advance.

Regards,
Istvan

1. This would be difficult as you need to be in the UK to submit your biometric enrollment at the Post Office, roughly a month or so after applying for citizenship. Employment is not a requirement for citizenship.

2. Better option. Employment is not a requirement for citizenship applications.

3. Your choice but you will need to keep an eye on your absences. Job hunting while in the UK would be easier as you are here for interviews etc.

Dear CR001,

Thanks for your prompt reply.

Option 1: As I am not longer renting a property in the UK, will I loose my residency for the questioned period (2-3 months)? Will UKVI accept that I leave the country for a short period and I stop having an UK address? Do they accept to correspond to a Hungarian address? I am planning to rent a PO Box for my correspondence which will be checked regularly by some friends. Traveling is not a problem, I can be here in the same day if it is really necessary, 8 low cost flights a day 50-100 GBP price range for return tickets.

Option 2. As I have never really applied for benefits in my whole life (apart form the short period in 2010 in the UK) I am feeling a bit uncomfortable of doing that. Not to mention my application where might be parts which require fairly subjective judgement from the case worker.

Option 3. Yes you are right. However,traveling is not a problem, I can be here in the same day if it is really necessary, 8 low cost flights a day 50-100 GBP price range for return tickets.

Many thanks for your time.

Regards,

Istvan