Immigrationboards.com

I am applying for ILR in two weeks. As I understand it, the decision will be made on the same day as I have a premium service appointment at Croydon. My application is very straightforward (5 years working full time on Tier 2 visa in the same firm, salary is much higher than the required threshold and I was outside the UK well below the required absence limit – i.e. a week or two every year). So let’s presume that I will get my ILR in two weeks.

My wife (we have been married for 10 years) became a British citizen last year. So this is good news for me because it means I do not need to wait for extra year after my ILR to apply for British citizenship and can apply straight after my ILR has been granted (as I have lived the UK much longer than 3 years). So I will use this option and will apply for naturalisation using NCS service.

My question is: can I apply for British citizenship on the next day after my visit in Croydon (obviously presuming the decision on ILR is positive) or I must wait until I get my biometric ILR card and only after that make an appointment with NCS. I know that it would probably be safer to wait for the biometric ILR card but this is a waste of a week (or even 10 days) time which is critical for me. I want to apply for citizenship and leave the country for a couple of months so I need to apply asap.

Many thanks!

Id suggest you wait for your BRP as it will be required ro be copied by NCS in your Naturalisation applicantion. Also you will need to be in the UK for biometrics...only after that you may wish to fly.

thanks, do you know how many days it will take from the date of application for ILR to getting the original of the ILR BRP? I would think not longer than 7 days?

I used the PEO in Sheffield when I applied. I was granted on a friday so they didnt issue it until the monday....and it arrived on the wednesday. It says allow up to 10 working days but its usually 3/4 at most as its sent by DX courier