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Hi,

I am planning to apply for naturalisation soon as spouse of BC. I have obtained ILR with my husband in two years ago and has been resident in the UK for just over five years. I have got IELTS at the required level and LIUK test which I used for my application to ILR. My absence is way below the threshold (whether over the last three years or five years and was away for 4 weeks over the last 12 months)

my query is:
Can I apply now on the basis of spouse of BC using 3 years of residence? .. and what are the documents I would need. Also can I use certified copies of my passport (e.g. certified by a solicitor) and apply by post (instead of going through a NCS centre)? or would they request the original passport anyway once they receive the application?

Many thanks for your advice on this.

You can apply for citizenship on either the 3 year or 5 year route.

It is recommended that you use NCS rather than a solicitor as the Home Office have an arrangement with them about certifying passport copies and verifying forms.

Thanks for your reply and advice.

In my previous question, I meant to use copies of passport "certified by a solicitor" then apply by post so I can keep the originals, and not to apply through a solicitor. Please advise if this is Ok?

I would like to use NCS but there is none available in Northern Ireland, so I have to travel to one of these centres in UK mainland.

If I apply using the 3 years route (spouse of BC) - can you please advise if the following documents are enough?
- completed application form
- my passport
- copy of my husband's British passport
- translated marriage certificate (used previously by my husband in his application for our ILR over two years ago )
- my ILR biometric card
- ...and of course payment !

Your advice is much appreciated.

merben wrote: If I apply using the 3 years route (spouse of BC) - can you please advise if the following documents are enough?
- completed application form
- my passport
- copy of my husband's British passport
- translated marriage certificate (used previously by my husband in his application for our ILR over two years ago )
- my ILR biometric card
- ...and of course payment !

Your advice is much appreciated.

All looks fine to me. Good luck.

Hi,
I`m in a similar situation being married to BC for 7 years
Can anybody tell me the cost of obtaining the citizenship on the grounds of being married to BC, please?

There isn't any reduction in the application fee for a spouse of a British Citizen. The fee will be £1005

Thank you, Casa x

fwd079 wrote:

merben wrote: If I apply using the 3 years route (spouse of BC) - can you please advise if the following documents are enough?
- completed application form
- my passport
- copy of my husband's British passport
- translated marriage certificate (used previously by my husband in his application for our ILR over two years ago )
- my ILR biometric card
- ...and of course payment !

Your advice is much appreciated.

All looks fine to me. Good luck.

Thank you fwd079 - I just noticed that I did not include the LIUK test and the English IELTS certificate !

- By the way, is there any NCS in Scotland or England you would advise (I am based in Northern Ireland)? or they all similar in terms of the checking and advice services they provide?

Thanks again.

merben wrote:- By the way, is there any NCS in Scotland or England you would advise (I am based in Northern Ireland)? or they all similar in terms of the checking and advice services they provide?

The service (NCS) they provide should be the same - however what they charge for the service differs.

For example, in my area there is almost £20 difference between 2 neighbouring council areas. Insignificant compared to the Home Office charge for naturalisation, however I know which council I would choose!

merben wrote: Thank you fwd079 - I just noticed that I did not include the LIUK test and the English IELTS certificate !

Sure, see page 29 in Form AN to know what documents they need.

merben wrote: - By the way, is there any NCS in Scotland or England you would advise (I am based in Northern Ireland)? or they all similar in terms of the checking and advice services they provide?

Thanks again.

This Nationality Checking Service list has all NCS currently in operation, I'd suggest phoning a few and using the nearest to yours if they allow. Good luck.

Many thanks fwd079 - much appreciated.

Hello,

Could you please clarify in case I apply by post (instead of NCS), would the HO accept "certified" copies of both my passport and ILR card in addition to "non-certified" pages of my husband's passport (ALL pages)?

The application guidance states clearly that should I apply by post I can include photocopies of my husband's passport pages (ALL pages including blank ones) and it doesn't even require these to be certified. So I was wondering whether I can send "certified" photocopies of all pages of my (non-EU) passport with "certified" copy of my ILR card (the two sides of the card) instead of sending the originals - so one can travel if needed.

I am based in Northern Ireland and it is not convenient for me at this time to travel with kids to an NCS (in GB) and there is no NCS in Northern Ireland !

As I mentioned in earlier posts, I will be applying based on the 3 years route (spouse of British citizen) and I currently hold a non-EU passport. I obtained ILR in summer 2012 and my husband obtained British passport just over a year now.

Many thanks.

If you apply by post, the HO requires the original passport and BRP Card. Only if going through the NCS would the HO accept copies certified by the NCS.

Thank you secret.simon for your clarification. Could you please confirm that in case I apply by post I would only need to include photocopies of all pages of my husband's British passport without the need to certify them as in the application guidance they only state that photocopies of all pages of husband's British passport are required (including blank pages) but the do not specify that these photocopies should/must be certified.

your advice is much appreciated.