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Hello members,

I had a query on when my wife can apply for her British citizenship.

Some details first:
- I'll be attending my citizenship ceremony in Jan 2010.
- My wife first entered the UK in April 2006 on a dependant work permit
- We both got our ILR in Sept. 2008

My wife is planning to apply for her citizenship as spouse of British citizen.

I noticed in the citizenship AN form that the applicant had to be physically present in the UK, i.e 3 years before the date of citizenship application.

My wife was out of the UK from Oct 2006 to March 20th, 2007

Does this mean that my wife can now only apply after March 20th, 2010 ? or can she make the application earlier ?

Please advise,

Thanks
sam

samW wrote:Does this mean that my wife can now only apply after March 20th, 2010 ?

Yes.

Vinny, thanks for your reply

Puts us in a sticky situation. We were plannnig to travel to India in Feb 2010.

Do you know if the citizenship rules will change next year ? I don't know if this affects the rules for spouse.

Thanks

samW wrote:Vinny, thanks for your reply

Puts us in a sticky situation. We were plannnig to travel to India in Feb 2010.

Do you know if the citizenship rules will change next year ? I don't know if this affects the rules for spouse.
Thanks

The main rules changes aren't until July 2011, and as your wife already has ILR she will actually have until July 2013 to apply for British citizenship under the existing rules.