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Hi Guys.

Thanks in advance for any adivce offered on this one.

Anyway, my wife is a non-EEA national. I'm a British citizen. We entered the UK on an EEA family permit (a Surinder Singh case). We subsequently received a RC for my wife (Form EEA2).

Soon, it will be wife’s 5 year anniversary from when we entered and resided in the UK together.

In terms of the naturalisation process for my wife, I have the following questions:

1. As my wife will soon have been residing in the UK for 5 years, having read the forums, my understanding is that we have to apply for confirmation of her PR status (form EEA4). Then, when PR status is obtained, we can immediately apply for naturalisation (i.e. we don’t have to wait a year after obtaining PR status). Could someone kindly point me to the rule which confirms we wouldn’t have to wait this extra year before applying for naturalisation?
2. Why can’t my wife apply directly for naturalisation on the 5 year anniversary? Why must she first apply for PR status (bearing in mind that I am a British Citizen myself). Sorry if this is a silly question.
3. Is the naturalisation process going to be completely free of charge?
4. Does my wife have to do the Life in the UK test?


Many thanks

1.

Requirements for naturalisation if you are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen wrote:Immigration time restrictions

You must be free from immigration time restrictions on the day you make your application.

2. She can apply directly. PR Confirmation is optional.

3. Nope. Current rate is £851. Everyone need to pay including EEA nationals.

4. Yes.

Jambo wrote:1.

Requirements for naturalisation if you are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen wrote:Immigration time restrictions

You must be free from immigration time restrictions on the day you make your application.

2. She can apply directly. PR Confirmation is optional.

3. Nope. Current rate is £851. Everyone need to pay including EEA nationals.

4. Yes.

Jambo - thanks for your response here.

Can you please provide the source on the UKBA website which shows that applying for PR is optional? i.e. that after 5 years, one can apply immediately for naturalisation.

Many thanks.

Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... ofcitizen/

Scroll down to European Economic Area nationals and Swiss nationals

So does that mean you can apply for naturalisation straight after 5 years?

So does that mean you can apply for naturalisation straight after 5 years?[/quote]

http://www.immigrationboards.com/britis ... 95747.html

Jellybean105 wrote:Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... ofcitizen/

Scroll down to European Economic Area nationals and Swiss nationals

So does that mean you can apply for naturalisation straight after 5 years?

thanks for this.

Seems to me that it is not entirely clear what the UKBA is saying here.

I quote:

"If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) national or a Swiss national or the family member of such a person, you will automatically have permanent residence status if you have exercised EEA free-movement rights in the United Kingdom for a continuous five-year period ending on or after 30 April 2006"

this seems to suggest that my wife (non-EU) must be the one exericising EEA treaty rights for 5 years, not me (the British citizen). Please let me know if I am reading this incorrectly....

Once a PR status (and not a Card) is obtained (5 years of residence) a spouse of BC can apply on the same date.