Application for naturalisation for wife after ILR

[papy07]

Hi everyone,

Apologies if the questions were posted before, I searched in the forums but couldn't find a definitive answer for my questions

So I'm a british citizen (naturalized), and we're in the process of applying for citizenship for my wife.

Wife came to the UK in 2018 more specifically to jersey on a skilled worker visa, moved to the UK in 2019 (again on a skilled worker visa) and transitioned to an ILR in november 2023 using the 5 year route.

We got married in decemeber 2021 whilst she was on her Skilled worker visa.

Now going through the application and there's 3 mains questions we can't find any answer too:

1) Been in the UK 3 year on the date of the application: she was in jersey in from december 2018 to december 2020. Not to be pedantic but Jersey is not in the UK. So will that be an issue that she's "not in the uk the exactly 3 years before on the date of the application" (i.e she doesn't meet the requirements) or will it be fine?

2) English requirements: Wife is a chartered accountant (ICAEW) and done her chartership in english but in Mauritius. My understanding is that this doens't qualify as an english proof? Even though all her classes were in english and the papers/exams came and were corrected in the UK?
She has 2 IELTS test, one (october 2018) she used for her first visa to jersey and one she used for her second visa to the UK (february 2021).
Both tests were used sucessfully for her skilled worker visa, but were not requested for her ILR. And as can be seen both of them expired when her settled status was granted (november 2023). The guidance is not clear enough but my understanding is that she needs to pass the test again? Is that correct?

3)Referees. Most of her friends live in jersey and have jersey passports. Sorry to be pedantic again but this doesn't count as a "british" citizen passport referee no? Or does it?

Thanks in advance

[CR001]

1) Been in the UK 3 year on the date of the application: she was in jersey in from december 2018 to december 2020. Not to be pedantic but Jersey is not in the UK. So will that be an issue that she's "not in the uk the exactly 3 years before on the date of the application" (i.e she doesn't meet the requirements) or will it be fine?

Page 9 of the Guide AN, first bullet is clear.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... t_2023.pdf

• Must have been physically present in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland,
the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands on the day 3 years before the application is
received by the Home Office.

2) English requirements: Wife is a chartered accountant (ICAEW) and done her chartership in english but in Mauritius. My understanding is that this doens't qualify as an english proof? Even though all her classes were in english and the papers/exams came and were corrected in the UK?
She has 2 IELTS test, one (october 2018) she used for her first visa to jersey and one she used for her second visa to the UK (february 2021).
Both tests were used sucessfully for her skilled worker visa, but were not requested for her ILR. And as can be seen both of them expired when her settled status was granted (november 2023). The guidance is not clear enough but my understanding is that she needs to pass the test again? Is that correct?

If it is B1 level and was used for ILR, she can use it again. The form asks if she has met the English language requirement previously.

3)Referees. Most of her friends live in jersey and have jersey passports. Sorry to be pedantic again but this doesn't count as a "british" citizen passport referee no? Or does it?

She has no one she can ask that she has known since moving to the UK in 2019?? A work colleague, neighbour etc. Not only one referee needs to be a British Citizen. The professional referee can be of any nationality.

[papy07]

Thanks for the reply.

So for 1) I missed it in the AN. Thanks for pointing me to it

For 3) the issue is knowing a british citizen. She moved to the uk in may 2019 (so just above 3 years) and been working remote since. We don't know a british citizen for 3 years or more hence why we're asking if Jersey counts. Professional reference is fine as she's a chartered accountant and have work colleagues (not british) whom she knows for more than 3 years.
Does that mean from your answer that Jersey doesn't count?

2) English requirements: Wife is a chartered accountant (ICAEW) and done her chartership in english but in Mauritius. My understanding is that this doens't qualify as an english proof? Even though all her classes were in english and the papers/exams came and were corrected in the UK?
She has 2 IELTS test, one (october 2018) she used for her first visa to jersey and one she used for her second visa to the UK (february 2021).
Both tests were used sucessfully for her skilled worker visa, but were not requested for her ILR. And as can be seen both of them expired when her settled status was granted (november 2023). The guidance is not clear enough but my understanding is that she needs to pass the test again? Is that correct?

If it is B1 level and was used for ILR, she can use it again. The form asks if she has met the English language requirement previously.

That's the think though they didn't ask for a language proof for ILR (we didn't submit any) but she did use the tests for her previous skilled worker visa request (so they should have those results on file). Is that still fine then? Sorry to be explicit but just to make sure. Also the test certificate she used for the Skilled worker visa was a soft-copy, which I expect is still fine?

[contorted_svy]

The language exam must have been used for ILR, if it wasn't requested for ILR I think she has to do a SELT test.

[gerge0p]

No such thing as a jersey citizen they are all British Citizens issued with jersey variant passports.