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Soon, our family will be eligible for BC; however, my wife was outside of UK for 7-8 months exactly 5 years ago (she was pregnant and couldn't travel because of high risk pregnancy)

Question is,

Should all of us apply at the same time, under the same application? Or,

Should only myself and the kids apply in one application, and wife applies in separate application at the same time? (so that ours still gets processed if hers is delayed); Or,

Should myself and the kids apply first and wife applies later once I receive the BC (through the 3-year BC spouse route - as she was in the UK exactly 3 years ago)?

Thank you!

If she was not present in the uk 5 years ago on the date she applies, she doesn't meet the mandatorybrequirement. There is no discretion to waive the physically present at the start of the qualifying period.

She should apply when she meets ALL the requirements.

Regardless of how you apply, together or separately, each applicant is decided individually and each applicant must meet all the requirements individually.

waiting4ilr2022 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 05, 2023 10:17 am

Should myself and the kids apply first and wife applies later once I receive the BC (through the 3-year BC spouse route - as she was in the UK exactly 3 years ago)?

This is doable, after you have attended the citizenship ceremony and got your own naturalisation certificate.

Given that that will likely take 6-8 months anyway, between getting the approval and getting the appointment at the council for the ceremony, there may not be much benefit from it timewise, as your wife would likely be eligible to apply in her own right before then.

Does your wife meet the other absence requirements (450 days in 5 years, 90 days in one year, etc) for a five year application?

Thank you very much. She meets the 270days in 3 years requirement.

On a separate note, in my first qualifying year I was away for 105 days, however my 5 year absence total is expected to be around 210 days.

Would my absences in the first year be a problem?

Thank you.

No it won't.