Immigrationboards.com

Hello!!

I have some specific questions I can't find from here. I was granted ILR on the basis of 10-year route on 27 July, 2015. It only took 10 weeks. No issues. My questions are:

1. When is the earliest date I can apply for British Citizenship? Is 01 Aug 2016 alright? I was absent from the UK for 81 days (<90 days) since I received my ILR on 27 July 2015.

2. Do I need the help of a solicitor?

3. On the application form AN, section 1.6 OTHER NAMES, is that where I put in my First Name/s?

4. In the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK part, section 1.22, do I need to submit again the documents and/or just tick the option that says "I met the knowledge of language and life requirement to qualify for settlement on or after 28th October 2013"?

5. About the referees, Referee #1 is non-British and professional, Referee #2 is British and professional or above 25 y/o. Can this Referee #2 be an immigrant before then became British or he/she must be really British-born?

6. In section 6 Biometric Enrolment, I am confused with 6.7 asking if BRP enclosed, then 6.11 asking "Do you want the Home Office to retain your BRP?" What should be the answer to 6.11 then, Yes or No?

7. Please correct me, basically the docs I need to submit/complete are: passports for the last 5 years, BRP, AN form, photos for referee section, referees, Knowledge of Language/LITUK.

8. How long does British passport (not citizenship) being processed?


Thank you very much for your patience.

1. Yes. You need to be free from immigration time restrictions for 12 months, so that should be fine.

2. No, unless your application involves exceptionally unusual circumstances. For a straight forward application you can absolutely do it yourself. It's a good ideal to use your local authority Nationality Checking Service (costs about £80) to submit your application though. They check through everything to make sure it's all correct, and will take certified copies of all your documents so you can keep the originals.

3. Yes all first and middle names go here.

4. tick the option that says "I met the knowledge of language and life requirement to qualify for settlement on or after 28th October 2013"?

5. They do not distinguish between British born and naturalised citizens.

6. Depends if you need it in the mean time. If your application is successful, you are required to return the BRP to the Home Office within 5 days (of your ceremony) to be destroyed. If you tick yes, it saves you this hassle.

7. Don't forget the payment slip!

8. Unsure, for the first passport I think it's a couple of weeks, and you have to attend an interview.

Good luck

Thank you very much Ohara for very quick reply! Very much appreciated!

So what if I make use of NCS, since they will make certified copies of docs, does that mean I can still travel outside of the UK (unless I retain my BRP)? If yes, will that absence count to what I already have?

Last question, how do I pay by the way? Sorry, a bit silly question.

Thank you!!!

If you use NCS you can keep your BRP and still travel with it. Your immigration and nationality status does not change until you have attended the citizenship ceremony, that is the official and only time at which you become a British citizen. You will be notified that you must return your BRP within 5 days of the ceremony or risk a £1000 fine. It is technically invalid after you have naturalised anyway.

The payment slip is on the last page of the fees leaflet, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _07_21.pdf

You need to print it, fill it in and include it in your bundle of documents that NCS will send to the Home Office. You can't pay the naturalisation application fee at the NCS, and the fee for the NCS appointment itself is paid separately.

Be aware that the AN fee is increasing to £1236 in April so get your application in asap