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Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:20 pm
by HiddenTurtle
Hello, I have two questions which I'd like to get clarified. I'm currently filling in the naturalisation application as the spouse of a British citizen. My questions are:
- It asks for Proof of Living in the UK for the past 3 years but states household bills and bank statements are not suitable. Is there a specific number of documents that need to be provided for this? I have some NHS and some council tax bills but not as many as I'd like given the restrictions.
- I have my two referees, one a British citizen and the other a Structural Engineer. For the signed Referee form, does it matter if they have signed it before I submit the application? I don't want to submit until I've got everything prepared.
Thank you
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:38 pm
by alterhase58
HiddenTurtle wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:20 pm
Hello, I have two questions which I'd like to get clarified. I'm currently filling in the naturalisation application as the spouse of a British citizen. My questions are:
- It asks for Proof of Living in the UK for the past 3 years but states household bills and bank statements are not suitable. Is there a specific number of documents that need to be provided for this? I have some NHS and some council tax bills but not as many as I'd like given the restrictions.
Council tax bills are fine, one per year.
- I have my two referees, one a British citizen and the other a Structural Engineer. For the signed Referee form, does it matter if they have signed it
before I submit the application? I don't want to submit until I've got everything prepared.
No issue if they signed before or even after submit day, as long as they are recent dated declarations.
Thank you
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:52 pm
by CR001
I'm currently filling in the naturalisation application as the spouse of a British citizen. My questions are:
- It asks for Proof of Living in the UK for the past 3 years but states household bills and bank statements are not suitable. Is there a specific number of documents that need to be provided for this? I have some NHS and some council tax bills but not as many as I'd like given the restrictions.
What was your route to ILR? Was it spouse visa for 5 years and then ILR or did you come through the EU Settled Status route?
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:04 pm
by HiddenTurtle
CR001 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:52 pm
I'm currently filling in the naturalisation application as the spouse of a British citizen. My questions are:
- It asks for Proof of Living in the UK for the past 3 years but states household bills and bank statements are not suitable. Is there a specific number of documents that need to be provided for this? I have some NHS and some council tax bills but not as many as I'd like given the restrictions.
What was your route to ILR? Was it spouse visa for 5 years and then ILR or did you come through the EU Settled Status route?
My route was spouse visa for 5 years so the requirement for proof of living in the UK is only the past 3 years.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:09 pm
by CR001
Then all you need is your passport. Nothing else.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:03 pm
by HiddenTurtle
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:05 pm
by HiddenTurtle
CR001 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:09 pm
Then all you need is your passport. Nothing else.
I see, thank you. I must have initially misread the document requirement where it states "If you do not have your passport or it was not stamped when you entered the UK, you need to include letters (for example, from your employer or government department) as proof"
That makes things easier then, thanks.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:32 am
by contorted_svy
If the passport was staped on entry that is all you need. If not, you need P60/employer's letter/council tax bills.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:01 pm
by HiddenTurtle
contorted_svy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:32 am
If the passport was staped on entry that is all you need. If not, you need P60/employer's letter/council tax bills.
Which entry would this apply to? I have the passport which I first came to the UK on as a student, I'm able to provide all three of my passports.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:31 am
by contorted_svy
Passports with stamps covering your qualifying period (last 5 years or 3 years if you apply as spouse of a British citizen)
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:19 am
by AmazonianX
HiddenTurtle wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:01 pm
contorted_svy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:32 am
If the passport was staped on entry that is all you need. If not, you need P60/employer's letter/council tax bills.
Which entry would this apply to? I have the passport which I first came to the UK on as a student, I'm able to provide all three of my passports.
The entry on which the qualifying period for this BC application is based on.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:26 am
by HiddenTurtle
contorted_svy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:31 am
Passports with stamps covering your qualifying period (last 5 years or 3 years if you apply as spouse of a British citizen)
Yes, I have three passports. The oldest shows my entry into the UK originally and a few trips, the second one shows recent trips outside and back to UK up to 2022 and my current passport shows one trip outside of the UK and returning back to the UK.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:55 am
by contorted_svy
I imagine the last two passports you have will be enough, to cover the 5 years qualifying period.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:35 pm
by HiddenTurtle
contorted_svy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:55 am
I imagine the last two passports you have will be enough, to cover the 5 years qualifying period.
Thank you. I've submitted my application today and plan on scheduling the appointment within the next 2 weeks. One of my referee forms is signed on 12/03/2024 and the other 26/03/2024.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 7:47 pm
by contorted_svy
That will be fine.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 12:26 am
by AmazonianX
HiddenTurtle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:35 pm
contorted_svy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:55 am
I imagine the last two passports you have will be enough, to cover the 5 years qualifying period.
Thank you. I've submitted my application today and plan on scheduling the appointment within the next 2 weeks. One of my referee forms is signed on 12/03/2024 and the other 26/03/2024.
The dates on them are alright for the application.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2024 6:22 pm
by HiddenTurtle
Thank you for your help.
Do you happen to know if scans of passports should be every passport page or just ones with stamps and the information page?
I'm also wondering if it makes it easier to submit council tax bills for proof of address as I have one per year or the full copy of all my passports.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2024 6:55 pm
by contorted_svy
Full copy of your passport will be enough.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:24 pm
by HiddenTurtle
Ok I'll provide a full copy of both my previous passport and current passport
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 7:08 am
by AmazonianX
HiddenTurtle wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:24 pm
Ok I'll provide a full copy of both my previous passport and current passport
If they both contain UK travel history.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 10:43 am
by HiddenTurtle
AmazonianX wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2024 7:08 am
If they both contain UK travel history.
My current one is only one year old so doesn't cover the necessary period. My previous one has some UK travel history. My one before that has the information of when I first entered the UK.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 2:22 pm
by AmazonianX
HiddenTurtle wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2024 10:43 am
AmazonianX wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2024 7:08 am
If they both contain UK travel history.
My current one is only one year old so doesn't cover the necessary period. My previous one has some UK travel history. My one before that has the information of when I first entered the UK.
Means you provide scans of the 3 passports covering.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:44 pm
by HiddenTurtle
Thank you, I will submit a full copy of all three passports then. I thought council tax would be easier / less documents.
The ukvcas process isn't helpful as it just asks for "Proof of living in the UK for ** NAME ** for 5 years if applying in your own right or 3 years if applying as the spouse of a British Citizen"
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:56 pm
by CR001
HiddenTurtle wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:44 pm
Thank you, I will submit a full copy of all three passports then. I thought council tax would be easier / less documents.
The ukvcas process isn't helpful as it just asks for "Proof of living in the UK for ** NAME ** for 5 years if applying in your own right or 3 years if applying as the spouse of a British Citizen"
You should always read the UKVI official guidance notes, it explains it all in there. Note, UKCVAS is ONLY the centre for biometric enrollment and has nothing to do with the application process which is UKVI.
Re: Proof of Living in the UK + Referee form
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 9:03 pm
by HiddenTurtle
CR001 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:56 pm
HiddenTurtle wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:44 pm
Thank you, I will submit a full copy of all three passports then. I thought council tax would be easier / less documents.
The ukvcas process isn't helpful as it just asks for "Proof of living in the UK for ** NAME ** for 5 years if applying in your own right or 3 years if applying as the spouse of a British Citizen"
You should always read the UKVI official guidance notes, it explains it all in there. Note, UKCVAS is ONLY the centre for biometric enrollment and has nothing to do with the application process which is UKVI.
I see. I've uploaded both of my older passports as part of the "Proof of living in the UK for ** NAME ** for 5 years if applying in your own right or 3 years if applying as the spouse of a British Citizen" document upload.