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Hi,

I have applied for naturalisation and already have PR due to my German father (I have an Indian passport myself). I have also recently got married and my wife has received a 30 day visa till 12th Feb. She has seen the entire stretch of the sub-continent but as she has never travelled to Europe, I want to do the right thing and go back and bring her here with me.

The thing is its only 10 days left before the 6 months estimate deadline for my own naturalisation application is up and I really think its a critical time as now the chances of me hearing from the home office are higher than usual. And I have already been to India twice already in the past year. Once on holiday for 2 weeks. Then to get married in November (another two weeks). I called home office before I went to India in November asking for my passport and asked them if it's ok to go abroad. He said it shouldnt be a problem but it's not recommended (but insisted that travelling should still be fine as lots of people do travel during the application process).

So I am afraid to go a third time, especially since my application is likely very close to completion.

An option is to go there after 5th Feb (after I hear from home office) but then again HO letter could take a few more days to arrive and we are still stuck.

Can anyone please advise how best to proceed in this situation? Am I being paranoid and travelling is not an issue if kept to under 90 days over the last year (In total I have only been abroad for 4 weeks over the last year, maybe 7 weeks in the last five years including last year, and don't intend on staying longer than a handful of days this time). Really just want to help her get her things here and do the right thing.

wisemen wrote:...

Can anyone please advise how best to proceed in this situation? Am I being paranoid and travelling is not an issue if kept to under 90 days over the last year (In total I have only been abroad for 4 weeks over the last year, maybe 7 weeks in the last five years including last year, and don't intend on staying longer than a handful of days this time). Really just want to help her get her things here and do the right thing.

Yes, you may be paranoid & over-thinking this.

The rules on absences apply up to the date of submitting the naturalisation application.
A few days away won't hurt.

But ofcourse you need to be available in case there are any follow up questions and, if approved, you need to arrange the oath-taking ceremony.

So if you do travel make sure a trusted friend or family member is checking your mail for any official letters from HO &/or local council.

Bon voyage!

"Citizenship is a priviledge and not a right, and every decision is extremely discretionary".

Read this somewhere and this is the reason why I didnt want the caseworker thinking I am spending more and more time abroad on these many trips (4 weeks abroad in India last year alone when before that I only went once for 2-3 weeks over the course of 8 years or so). A family member can look after the post. Just thought going abroad again and again especially during the application process might not look good to the caseworker after the HO rep said its fine but not recommended.

First and last bump.

If I am to go, I might as well book the tickets now before the price doubles last minute and also since the time to bring her here is so short before the 30-day visa runs out in less than 3 weeks. So I know bumping like this is bad manners, but please would really like another opinion on this hopefully by tomorrow morning. Thanks for understanding.

noajthan wrote:So if you do travel make sure a trusted friend or family member is checking your mail for any official letters from HO &/or local council.

+1. I concur with noajthan. There are many who have to travel abroad frequently for varying reasons while maintaining a home & life in the UK - including work, holiday, family etc... So I wouldn't overthink this. Have someone do what's been suggested above & enjoy your time away.