Immigrationboards.com

Hi all,

Apologies in advance if this question was asked before, but I just wanted to make sure I have the right answer. So I am asking this knowledge group to confirm one thing for me .

I would like to apply for British Citizenship as soon as I am eligible and I would like to know when exactly could it be.

I'm a Non-EEA National and my immigration history is as per following:

2008 mid July - arrived to UK as a student and then got 2 more student visas
2014 Dec - Switched to Tier 2 visa
2017 Dec - Tier 2 General extension till Dec 2020
2019 Mar - Got ILR (LR) via 10 years Route

I was eligible for ILR in July 2018, however, I couldn't get any one day decision appointments when I tried in between July to Oct 2018. In Dec 2018 I found out that the new online system was introduced and I applied in Feb 2019 and got my appointment and ILR in Mar 2019.

My question is:
I know that the person is eligible to apply for BC only after a year of having ILR. However, as I was eligible for ILR (though a 10 year route) in July 2018 (just got it in Mar 2019) can I already apply as I am already 10 + 1 years in UK?

Or will I only be able to apply in Mar 2020 (or 28 days before I got my ILR, so somewhere mid Feb 2020)?

Thanks,
Veronica

You need EXACTLY 1 year minimum of ILR (NOT even 28 days before, that's only applicable to immigration Visas not Citizenship) before you can apply for British Citizenship regardless of when you were eligible. So in your case March 2020. Unless you're married to a British Citizen then you can apply anytime after your ILR is granted.

Thank you. Then I will just have to wait and prepare all the documents for March 2020.

Thanks again for such quick response.
Veronica