Page 1 of 1

British citizen living aborad for over a year, any problems in coming back

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 3:24 pm
by rk_niu1981
Hi all
Need your help please.
I came to UK on Tier 1 Gen visa in 2011 and got my british citizenship in 2017. Since last June (2019) I am in India due to personal work, I have been trying to come back from the last few months but because of covid lockdown I am still stuck here.
I know that if you have PR and if you live outside UK for over 2 years then you will lose the ILR. But for citizens like me who came on visas and then got citizenship, are there any rules to stay abroad, is there a time limit? Would I have any problem if I come back in like 3 months and if the job market is not good for rest of the year then probably I will plan to come in Jan 2020, which is like over 1.5 years away.
Just to let you know even though I was outside UK from last one year, I was renting an apartment till Feb 2020 and came to UK twice during this period, but just for a week or so.
Could you please let me know as I am not a british born citizen, would I have any problem in coming back to UK if I am outside UK for over 1.5 or 2years?
I was thinking it should be ok, one of my friend asked me this, just got into panic as I dont want to lose my citizenship.
Please please could anyone let me know.
Thanks a lot for the help in advance.

Re: British citizen living aborad for over a year, any problems in coming back

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 3:59 pm
by CR001
I have been trying to come back from the last few months but because of covid lockdown I am still stuck here.
Many were repatriated out of India back to the UK. You could have been one of those too if you have wanted to and contacted the embassy etc.
I know that if you have PR and if you live outside UK for over 2 years then you will lose the ILR. But for citizens like me who came on visas and then got citizenship, are there any rules to stay abroad, is there a time limit?
No there is not. It makes absolutely no difference how you became or are British. You are simply British.
Would I have any problem if I come back in like 3 months and if the job market is not good for rest of the year then probably I will plan to come in Jan 2020, which is like over 1.5 years away.
No.
Could you please let me know as I am not a british born citizen, would I have any problem in coming back to UK if I am outside UK for over 1.5 or 2years?
You are overthinking. The UK doesn't hold any British citizen hostage with restrictions.
I was thinking it should be ok, one of my friend asked me this, just got into panic as I dont want to lose my citizenship.
Stop listening to 'friends'.

Re: British citizen living aborad for over a year, any problems in coming back

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 4:02 pm
by rk_niu1981
Thanks CR001 for the prompt response....appreciate the help, your post relieved me
Thanks again...cheers mate! :)