Immigrationboards.com

Hi, I'd be most grateful for someone's knowledge on this.

My partner has been in the UK legally for 20 years but has never got round to applying for citizenship.

He was born in South Africa in 1959 to British parents.

I thought that he would qualify for citizenship by descent but am now confused by the qualifying dates on the UK Border Agency website.

Can anyone tell me if he does qualify by descent or if he will have to go through the Life in the UK test etc?

Many thanks indeed

JillF wrote:Hi, I'd be most grateful for someone's knowledge on this.

My partner has been in the UK legally for 20 years but has never got round to applying for citizenship.

He was born in South Africa in 1959 to British parents.

I thought that he would qualify for citizenship by decent but am now confused by the qualifying dates on the UK Border Agency website.

Can anyone tell me if he does qualify by descent or if he will have to go through the Life in the UK test etc?

Many thanks indeed

What visa is he here on now and for the last 20 years?

He has indefinite leave to remain and has had that for some time.

Unfortunately at the moment he can't find his expired South African passport (just to complicate matters!)

JillF wrote:He has indefinite leave to remain and has had that for some time.

Unfortunately at the moment he can't find his expired South African passport (just to complicate matters!)

If he has ILR and has been here for 20 years he can just apply for naturalisation and then a passport, easy-peasy!

Aprt from the cost, about 700 quid plus 75 quid for the passport.

Oh, and he'll need to pass the Life in the UK test, another £35 quid and £35 for the study book.

He'll need his passport tho, contact the SA embassy for a replacement and UKBA for a replacement ILR vignette.

I had hoped that the naturalisation by descent would have been possible as it seems a slightly more straightforward option but now we know otherwise and we can crack on.

Thanks very much indeed, I really appreciate your help and advice

JillF wrote:I had hoped that the naturalisation by descent would have been possible as it seems a slightly more straightforward option but now we know otherwise and we can crack on.

Thanks very much indeed, I really appreciate your help and advice

I think even by descent it would be the same process plus he'd need to find all his and his parents birth, marriage and death (if appropriate!) certificates...

As a matter of interest how did he get ILR in the first place?

JillF wrote:Hi, I'd be most grateful for someone's knowledge on this.

My partner has been in the UK legally for 20 years but has never got round to applying for citizenship.

He was born in South Africa in 1959 to British parents.

Was his father born in the United Kingdom, and if so, were his parents married?

Wanderer wrote: I think even by descent it would be the same process plus he'd need to find all his and his parents birth, marriage and death (if appropriate!) certificates...

ah yes of course, that is quite a hassle

Wanderer wrote: As a matter of interest how did he get ILR in the first place?

I'm not sure but he got that fairly early on. His siblings got their citizenship but he just never got round to it.

JAJ wrote:

JillF wrote:Hi, I'd be most grateful for someone's knowledge on this.

My partner has been in the UK legally for 20 years but has never got round to applying for citizenship.

He was born in South Africa in 1959 to British parents.

Was his father born in the United Kingdom, and if so, were his parents married?

yes, both parents British and married

JillF wrote:yes, both parents British and married

If his father was born in the United Kingdom then he is already a British citizen by descent.

JAJ wrote:

JillF wrote:yes, both parents British and married

If his father was born in the United Kingdom then he is already a British citizen by descent.

If that's the case what is the next move? Just apply for a passport? Am I being totally thick or just not seeing the wood for the trees?

JillF wrote: If his father was born in the United Kingdom then he is already a British citizen by descent.

If that's the case what is the next move? Just apply for a passport?

Apply for the passport.

He will of course need relevant documentation.

JAJ wrote:

JillF wrote: If his father was born in the United Kingdom then he is already a British citizen by descent.

If that's the case what is the next move? Just apply for a passport?

Apply for the passport.

He will of course need relevant documentation.

I have since been told that his adoptive father had his birth certificate changed. Sounds strange to me but it certainly seems legal to change your first name on your birth certificate in SA so maybe the surname can be changed too when you know people who can pull strings.
Life is never straightforward.

Thanks again for all your help.