Proof of English- UK degree but studied abroad

Nicky_ · Post by **Nicky_** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 9:54 am

Hi All,

I’m in the process of applying for British Citizenship as an EU national (Greece) and I have a question about proving that I’ve been in the UK for 5 years.

I’m going to prove this by providing my employment history by requesting it from HMRC.

I’ve been working in the UK since January 2016 and I’ve had lots of jobs since then until today. However, I’ve had some months that I was not working. Something like 3 months in total maybe but not continuous.

Does anyone know if this is going to affect the outcome of proving that I was in the UK for the last 5 years?

Has anyone else had a similar case on his own application?

I there an authority I can contact for guidance and clarifications on this query?

Post by **alterhase58** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 11:56 am

Nicky_ wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 27, 2021 9:54 am
Hi All,

I’m in the process of applying for British Citizenship as an EU national (Greece) and I have a question about proving that I’ve been in the UK for 5 years.

I’m going to prove this by providing my employment history by requesting it from HMRC. HMRC may take their time to send this. For simplicity you could use P60s and/or Council Tax bills.

I’ve been working in the UK since January 2016 and I’ve had lots of jobs since then until today. However, I’ve had some months that I was not working. Something like 3 months in total maybe but not continuous.

Does anyone know if this is going to affect the outcome of proving that I was in the UK for the last 5 years? Employment is not a pre-requisite for naturalisation - even homemakers, pensioners or unemployed get approved. And as someone who exercised Treaty Rights three months job seeking is not an issue.

Has anyone else had a similar case on his own application?

I there an authority I can contact for guidance and clarifications on this query? You could try ringing the UKVI helpline - however they are not caseworjers and will only tell you what is in the guidance, and sometimes incorrectly .... Your scenario is quite common and it doesn't seem to present issue to other applicants.

Nicky_ · Post by **Nicky_** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 5:11 pm

Thanks for the information.

If any of the documents are not accepted, will they reject my application or will they give me some time to send them the correct documents?

Post by **alterhase58** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 6:19 pm

They would normally ask for further documents/clarification if they deem that necessary - generally they give a few days time for you to respond.
Applications are not automatically rejected unless you cannot satisfy one or more of the statutory requirements.

Nicky_ · Post by **Nicky_** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 6:45 pm

OK that's good then.

From your experience then, what do you think should be the major points I need to pay attention before submitting the application in order to avoid having the application rejected?

I think the number one should be that I on the day I submit the application, I should have been physically in the UK 5 years ago.

I will also submit it after I have completed one year since I was granted the settled status.

But, I'm trying to think what else I should look out for.

Nicky_ · Post by **Nicky_** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 7:58 pm

I've been working in the UK since January 2016, got settled Status in January 2021 and I have Greek citizenship.

I have started filling out the the online application for the British citizenship and the documents sections asks the following below:

//
Miss XXXX YYYY proof of Nationality

You must include your:
* Passport or EEA national identity card
* UK permanent residence card
* Evidence of freedom from immigration time restrictions

You must have a permanent residence card before you can apply for citizenship Apply for a permanent residence card.
//

However:
1. I don't have a UK permanent residence card, because I applied for my settled status in January 2021. After December 2020, EU nationals cannot apply for a UK permanent residence card.

2. How do I prove the " Evidence of freedom from immigration time restrictions"?

Post by **alterhase58** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 9:33 pm

1. I don't have a UK permanent residence card, because I applied for my settled status in January 2021. After December 2020, EU nationals cannot apply for a UK permanent residence card.

No PR card required - your application is based on your Settled Status - just attach the settled status email (they will check their systems).

2. How do I prove the " Evidence of freedom from immigration time restrictions"?

It's your settled Status - attach the email.

Nicky_ · Post by **Nicky_** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 10:27 pm

Thanks!

It's very weird that they ask for the UK permanent residence card, because even on the application there was a question if I have a PR card and I said no.

I think these people need to update their system a little bit.

And it's weird because at the end of that text I posted they say: "You must have a permanent residence card before you can apply for citizenship"

Nicky_ · Post by **Nicky_** » Tue Dec 28, 2021 2:18 pm

Nicky_ wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 27, 2021 7:58 pm
I've been working in the UK since January 2016, got settled Status in January 2021 and I have Greek citizenship.

I have started filling out the the online application for the British citizenship and the documents sections asks the following below:

//
Miss XXXX YYYY proof of Nationality

You must include your:
* Passport or EEA national identity card
* UK permanent residence card
* Evidence of freedom from immigration time restrictions

You must have a permanent residence card before you can apply for citizenship Apply for a permanent residence card.
//

However:
1. I don't have a UK permanent residence card, because I applied for my settled status in January 2021. After December 2020, EU nationals cannot apply for a UK permanent residence card.

2. How do I prove the " Evidence of freedom from immigration time restrictions"?

I was being very curious again today why would they ask me to include the "UK permanent residence card" even though I don't need one since the only thing I have to supply is the letter that I was granted the settled status.

So as I was reading today the "Guide AN Naturalisation Booklet The Requirements", it occurred to me that I still haven't completed 12 months since my settled status was granted and that's why probably they ask me for the UK Permanent Residence Card.

Anyway I was planning to submit my online application next month after I had completed my 12 months of having settled status, but I think the system was probably calculating today's date as the submission date. That's why it was asking to provide the UK Permanent Residence Card.

I have to wait until next month and see if it still asks for the card or not.

Post by **vinny** » Tue Dec 28, 2021 2:30 pm

Required in the past.

Post by **alterhase58** » Tue Dec 28, 2021 3:09 pm

Until 30 June 2021 it was possible to use an EU PR card for naturalisation purposes (plus another purpose...). Clearly the system hasn't been updated - unfortunately ever since applicants started using Settled Status for naturalisation this question comes up more or less every week. UKVI should really provide clearer guidance,or update the system, and both ideally.

Nicky_ · Post by **Nicky_** » Tue Dec 28, 2021 10:44 pm

I have a weird case on my application for proving the knowledge of English.

So, my Bachelor’s degree was awarded by a UK University and it was taught fully in English, but I studied at the university’s international campus in Greece.

In the application I put that I have a degree that was taught in English, but then they ask “Country your degree was taught in” and obviously I have to put Greece because even on my transcript the venue is Greece. The transcript does say the language of the lessons was in English.

Now, because of all this info, on the documents section I’m being asked to provide the following: “Ecctis letter that confirms the qualification meets or exceeds the recognised standard of a Bachelor's or Masters degree or PhD in the UK AND confirm the level of English to which the degree was taught or researched.”

Fair enough, I contacted Ecctis and explained the situation. However, they are telling me that since my degree was awarded by a UK university then they don’t deal with such cases in order to provide the required statement UKVI requires. They only deal with qualifications obtained overseas.

Now, the only way to prove the knowledge of English is to get that B1 certificate they require from one of the approved centres.

Has anyone heard of a similar case and if they found a solution?

Post by **vinny** » Tue Jan 04, 2022 9:27 am

If your degree was awarded by a UK university, then I think it should satisfy the English language requirement:

Evidence from NARIC

An applicant must provide an AQUALS or a statement of comparability from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) confirming the qualification is equivalent to a UK qualification.

If the applicant has a degree that was taught or researched in a non-majority English-speaking country they must provide:

Where the qualification was obtained in a non-majority English-speaking country, an ELPS or an English language assessment (ELA) is also required. However, you do not need to see additional confirmation from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) where the:

Home Office have previously accepted a degree qualification as meeting the requirements for an earlier application, and leave was granted

degree was awarded by a UK university
If the qualification has not previously been used for an immigration application, or the previous application was refused, the applicant must obtain confirmation from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) that it meets the relevant criteria.

An official statement from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) must be obtained before applying. See Ecctis Visas and Nationality for further information.

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