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Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:18 pm
by deerox
Hi All,
I have just applied for British citizenship (naturalisation) via online/UKVCAS process (11/02/19) and am awaiting a decision. I need to travel abroad on a work trip for 2 weeks in March. According to previous posts on here, it appears applicants are allowed to travel abroad with their current passport and ILR BRP DURING the application process and it is only at the point which I’m issued a certificate of naturalisation when I attend the citizenship ceremony then only will my ILR BRP be cancelled and I will not be able to travel abroad without having a British passport. Is this correct?
Thanks for your help!
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:51 pm
by alsanober
deerox wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:18 pm
Hi All,
I have just applied for British citizenship (naturalisation) via online/UKVCAS process (11/02/19) and am awaiting a decision. I need to travel abroad on a work trip for 2 weeks in March. According to previous posts on here, it appears applicants are allowed to travel abroad with their current passport and ILR BRP DURING the application process and it is only at the point which I’m issued a certificate of naturalisation when I attend the citizenship ceremony then only will my ILR BRP be cancelled and I will not be able to travel abroad without having a British passport. Is this correct?
Thanks for your help!
yes thats correct. you need to return the return you BRP card within 5 days of approval.
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:53 pm
by CR001
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:51 pm
deerox wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:18 pm
Hi All,
I have just applied for British citizenship (naturalisation) via online/UKVCAS process (11/02/19) and am awaiting a decision. I need to travel abroad on a work trip for 2 weeks in March. According to previous posts on here, it appears applicants are allowed to travel abroad with their current passport and ILR BRP DURING the application process and it is only at the point which I’m issued a certificate of naturalisation when I attend the citizenship ceremony then only will my ILR BRP be cancelled and I will not be able to travel abroad without having a British passport. Is this correct?
Thanks for your help!
yes thats correct. you need to return the return you BRP card within 5 days of approval.
It is within 5 days of attending the ceremony and not approval!!
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:56 pm
by alsanober
CR001 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:53 pm
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:51 pm
deerox wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:18 pm
Hi All,
I have just applied for British citizenship (naturalisation) via online/UKVCAS process (11/02/19) and am awaiting a decision. I need to travel abroad on a work trip for 2 weeks in March. According to previous posts on here, it appears applicants are allowed to travel abroad with their current passport and ILR BRP DURING the application process and it is only at the point which I’m issued a certificate of naturalisation when I attend the citizenship ceremony then only will my ILR BRP be cancelled and I will not be able to travel abroad without having a British passport. Is this correct?
Thanks for your help!
yes thats correct. you need to return the return you BRP card within 5 days of approval.
It is within 5 days of attending the ceremony and not approval!!
of course, you only become BC once you have attended the ceremony.
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 9:46 pm
by deerox
Thanks all for the quick response! Really appreciate it:) I guess the Home Office could make it a little clearer in their online guidance notes regarding traveling abroad whilst applications are in progress! But thank God for forums like this!
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2019 11:02 pm
by iamrezaul
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:56 pm
CR001 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:53 pm
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:51 pm
deerox wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:18 pm
Hi All,
I have just applied for British citizenship (naturalisation) via online/UKVCAS process (11/02/19) and am awaiting a decision. I need to travel abroad on a work trip for 2 weeks in March. According to previous posts on here, it appears applicants are allowed to travel abroad with their current passport and ILR BRP DURING the application process and it is only at the point which I’m issued a certificate of naturalisation when I attend the citizenship ceremony then only will my ILR BRP be cancelled and I will not be able to travel abroad without having a British passport. Is this correct?
Thanks for your help!
yes thats correct. you need to return the return you BRP card within 5 days of approval.
It is within 5 days of attending the ceremony and not approval!!
of course, you only become BC once you have attended the ceremony.
A follow on question. If the letter of approval and citizenship ceremony date falls within the period while I was away, what will be the consequence? To simplify, after I return to the UK from a long holiday and find that I have missed the date for the citizenship ceremony. What will be the consequence?
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:57 am
by cryvate
iamrezaul wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 11:02 pm
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:56 pm
CR001 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:53 pm
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:51 pm
yes thats correct. you need to return the return you BRP card within 5 days of approval.
It is within 5 days of attending the ceremony and not approval!!
of course, you only become BC once you have attended the ceremony.
A follow on question. If the letter of approval and citizenship ceremony date falls within the period while I was away, what will be the consequence? To simplify, after I return to the UK from a long holiday and find that I have missed the date for the citizenship ceremony. What will be the consequence?
Depends on how long. You set the date for the ceremony yourself after getting the approval/invitation letter but there is a time limit of 3 months.
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:05 am
by CR001
iamrezaul wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 11:02 pm
A follow on question. If the letter of approval and citizenship ceremony date falls within the period while I was away, what will be the consequence? To simplify, after I return to the UK from a long holiday and find that I have missed the date for the citizenship ceremony. What will be the consequence?
If you miss or do not attend the ceremony, the certificate gets sent back to HO and you have to start and pay again from scratch.
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 10:26 am
by Nerazzuri
iamrezaul wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 11:02 pm
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:56 pm
CR001 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:53 pm
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:51 pm
yes thats correct. you need to return the return you BRP card within 5 days of approval.
It is within 5 days of attending the ceremony and not approval!!
of course, you only become BC once you have attended the ceremony.
A follow on question. If the letter of approval and citizenship ceremony date falls within the period while I was away, what will be the consequence? To simplify, after I return to the UK from a long holiday and find that I have missed the date for the citizenship ceremony. What will be the consequence?
Assuming you get to contact the local authority where you will have your ceremony within a couple of weeks, and not months, you’re fine. You must book your ceremony within 3 months of the date of approval, otherwise you may have to reapply.
Re: Traveling abroad whilst Naturalisation application is in progress
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:22 am
by iamrezaul
Nerazzuri wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 10:26 am
iamrezaul wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 11:02 pm
alsanober wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:56 pm
CR001 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:53 pm
It is within 5 days of attending the ceremony and not approval!!
of course, you only become BC once you have attended the ceremony.
A follow on question. If the letter of approval and citizenship ceremony date falls within the period while I was away, what will be the consequence? To simplify, after I return to the UK from a long holiday and find that I have missed the date for the citizenship ceremony. What will be the consequence?
Assuming you get to contact the local authority where you will have your ceremony within a couple of weeks, and not months, you’re fine. You must book your ceremony within 3 months of the date of approval, otherwise you may have to reapply.
Thanks, Nerazzuri and others who responded to my question. Appreciate it!