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Travel on ILR while applying for citizenship
Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 7:50 pm
by overrider
My daughter received ILR and now has MN1 application in process (submitted biometrics, waiting for decision, was not asked to return the BRP card). Can she use her ILR to re-enter the country?
This seems like a no-brainer but in a similar situation, when applying for ILR, a Tier 2 visa is apparently invalid, hence the concern. Thanks.
Re: Travel on ILR while applying for citizenship
Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 7:52 pm
by CR001
Free to travel. She is only British once the certificate is approved and received.
Citizenship is not an immigration application where the rules are different.
Re: Travel on ILR while applying for citizenship
Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:06 pm
by overrider
Thanks for your reply! That makes sense, however...
Now that I think of it: what if they send the certificate while we are abroad? So on return, she will be a citizen without a passport but with an invalid ILR.
Another question: what if we receive the certificate before the planned travel but no time to get a passport? Is the certificate a valid proof of citizenship (combined with a foreign passport) for the purpose of crossing the border?
Re: Travel on ILR while applying for citizenship
Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:54 pm
by DreamerInDarkness
overrider wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:06 pm
Thanks for your reply! That makes sense, however...
Now that I think of it: what if they send the certificate while we are abroad? So on return, she will be a citizen without a passport but with an invalid ILR.
Another question: what if we receive the certificate before the planned travel but no time to get a passport? Is the certificate a valid proof of citizenship (combined with a foreign passport) for the purpose of crossing the border?
You're not a British citizen until you attend the ceremony. She can use the ILR up to that point. The only period which she can't travel is after her ceremony, but before receiving her passport.
Re: Travel on ILR while applying for citizenship
Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 10:22 pm
by CR001
DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:54 pm
overrider wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:06 pm
Thanks for your reply! That makes sense, however...
Now that I think of it: what if they send the certificate while we are abroad? So on return, she will be a citizen without a passport but with an invalid ILR.
Another question: what if we receive the certificate before the planned travel but no time to get a passport? Is the certificate a valid proof of citizenship (combined with a foreign passport) for the purpose of crossing the border?
You're not a British citizen until you attend the ceremony. She can use the ILR up to that point. The only period which she can't travel is after her ceremony, but before receiving her passport.
There is no ceremony for a child registering on MN1!!
Re: Travel on ILR while applying for citizenship
Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2021 12:12 am
by DreamerInDarkness
CR001 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 10:22 pm
DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:54 pm
overrider wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:06 pm
Thanks for your reply! That makes sense, however...
Now that I think of it: what if they send the certificate while we are abroad? So on return, she will be a citizen without a passport but with an invalid ILR.
Another question: what if we receive the certificate before the planned travel but no time to get a passport? Is the certificate a valid proof of citizenship (combined with a foreign passport) for the purpose of crossing the border?
You're not a British citizen until you attend the ceremony. She can use the ILR up to that point. The only period which she can't travel is after her ceremony, but before receiving her passport.
There is no ceremony for a child registering on MN1!!
Looks like I don't know how to read... Thanks for correcting me!
Re: Travel on ILR while applying for citizenship
Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2021 2:06 pm
by overrider
CR001 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 10:22 pm
DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:54 pm
You're not a British citizen until you attend the ceremony. She can use the ILR up to that point. The only period which she can't travel is after her ceremony, but before receiving her passport.
There is no ceremony for a child registering on MN1!!
Yes indeed. Kids probably are citizens once they receive the certificate by mail (or slightly before).
We polled some people about the precedents. Apparently the IT system at the border is synchronised not very frequently, so ILR keeps displaying as valid for some time after becoming a citizen.
Couple of people (adults) got detained with an invalid ILR after becoming citizens but then were admitted after internal checks. The officers did not ask for proof of citizenship, however they collected the BRP in one case. (Not advising to try it at home! Make your own call.)