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Hello all,

This is my first topic as I just came back from an appointment with the Nationality Checking Service. I am an EU citizen living in the UK since 2007 and I had a few jobs in the IT sector in the Thames Valley and London. The longest time I stayed without work was three months when I was made redundant by a business that didn't go too well and unfortunately I agreed on termination of my most recent job due to change in company strategy with a considerable payout as compensation for my signature - when I say recently, I mean last week, which is obviously unplanned and long after I did my life in the UK test (as evidence that I was working when I planned to become a British citizen).

Today the lady at the NCS said that because I am not in paid employment at this time when I would send the form to the Home Office, this might create issues for me. I mentioned that a) it may not be a legal requirement to be employed to naturalize, that b) I am still living here legally as I acquired the indefinite leave to remain automatically and c) I will still receive payment and compensation, hence I am technically still being paid even if my employment terminated a few days ago.

To make it short, she rescheduled my appointment to another one in two weeks when I should have an offer letter from another job (I told her that would be the case). However as empty promises are no contracts, I am still trying to understand what will happen if the next job opportunity does not turn into an employment contract, would I be unable to apply for British citizenship?

Thanks in advance for your help!

As long as you have attained PR for at least a year and satisfy the other requirements, non-employment shouldn't be an issue.

djcat wrote:Hello all,

This is my first topic as I just came back from an appointment with the Nationality Checking Service. I am an EU citizen living in the UK since 2007 and I had a few jobs in the IT sector in the Thames Valley and London. The longest time I stayed without work was three months when I was made redundant by a business that didn't go too well and unfortunately I agreed on termination of my most recent job due to change in company strategy with a considerable payout as compensation for my signature - when I say recently, I mean last week, which is obviously unplanned and long after I did my life in the UK test (as evidence that I was working when I planned to become a British citizen).

Today the lady at the NCS said that because I am not in paid employment at this time when I would send the form to the Home Office, this might create issues for me. I mentioned that a) it may not be a legal requirement to be employed to naturalize, that b) I am still living here legally as I acquired the indefinite leave to remain automatically and c) I will still receive payment and compensation, hence I am technically still being paid even if my employment terminated a few days ago.

To make it short, she rescheduled my appointment to another one in two weeks when I should have an offer letter from another job (I told her that would be the case). However as empty promises are no contracts, I am still trying to understand what will happen if the next job opportunity does not turn into an employment contract, would I be unable to apply for British citizenship?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Naturalisation is not for workers only.

With ILR you have a right to remain in the country and there is no requirement to be 'working' in order to be to be naturalised.
(My wife was naturalised as a "homemaker" & not economically active).

Employment status is not a factor in citizenship & you still have 7 or 8 years of employment history for the appropriate section of the form.

Good luck.

I personally think that this new form with new section about employment history is actually even not clear to ukba and ncs staff as what it is it meant except the policy maker. I think in few days there might be new guideline published about it. The employment shouldn't be a requirement for naturalizations.

Unfortunately, this yet again appears to demonstrate how NCS staff are not always aware of the rules and regulations when it comes to naturalisation applications. As has already been stated, being employed is certainly not a requirement for naturalisation.

Thanks for your replies, just what I thought...

djcat wrote:Hello all,

...

Thanks in advance for your help!

Booklet AN spells it out (in section 1A / 1B) if you encounter any more NCS officials who are unclear:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... n_2015.pdf

Good luck.

any guidelines on new Employment requirement in AN form ?