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Hello everyone,

I'm a Romanian national, living in the UK since August 2009 (although I have been visiting the country twice at the beginning of 2009 for job interviews) and working for the same employer since Nov 2009. I am also married to a British citizen.

I would like to apply for BC asap but thinking to apply first for my permanent residence. (If it gets declined I would only lose £55 rather than the full fee for naturalisation).

Do you think it would definitely be a waste of money applying a few months in advance of the 5 years required?
Should I try to get first my PR or just go straight for naturalisation?

many thanks

its up to you which one you want to go ahead for as you are married to british citizen you can choose either option naturalization fee is more and PR IS ONLY 55 POUNDS.
For both 5 years residence is required in uk. how long you lived in uk?

Hi, thank you for your reply.

I lived in the UK since August 2009, so 4yrs and 9months so far.
I did travel to the UK for a few days more than 5yrs ago and have been registered professionally since then and had job interviews, but I wasn't actually living here yet. So I wouldn't think that counts?

I would like to apply before summer though and get it all sorted asap. I'm thinking if they approve my PR, then it would be likely for them to approve my naturalisation too?

I'm only concerned that by applying a couple of months early I will lose the money...

I would love to know your opinion on this please. .. Do I have a chance getting the PR after 4yrs and 9months living in the UK or will it definitely be a waste of money and time applying? Thank you

Wait another 3 months. I've rarely known of the Home Office being lenient.

They won't give you PR after 4 yrs and 9 months. You need 5 years...this is clear.

Up to you whether you apply for PR or BC directly. BC is expensive, you might want to consider whether or not it's necessary.

Thank you both.
And you think would it be a refusal also if I apply for BC instead?
Reason why I'm in such a "hurry" is because my husband has been offered a job abroad for 2 years. We would have to move in August, so exactly at the time when I would be eligible for BC. This means when we'll come back, I will have to wait another 5 years before being able to apply again...

Yes, you would be more likely to be refused for British citizenship before the 5 year deadline. I've read where people had their application arrive a few days before they were qualified and the application was returned to them!

Could you try to think of a way to stay in the UK for a while longer?

Remember that if you were to get PR now and stay away from the UK for 2 years it would also expire.

Yes I know PR would also expire...
But I'm thinking if they would give me PR, then I would apply straight away for BC and hopefully get it...
I travelled to the UK twice before actually moving here more than 5 years ago for job interviews and I'm also registered with my professional body since March 2009. I have proof for all this. Would it count at all?

Thank you again for your support, as you can tell I'm gutted not being able to apply...

Can't you just stay behind until the 5 years is up? It's your husband starting a job and not you, no? You could always fly later to join him.

I think Rosebead's idea is the best one. Otherwise you will risk losing both opportunities! You should talk about it with your husband to see what he thinks! You might be able to continue to rent your house (if you don't own it) for another few months?

That would make sense of course.
My problem is that we have a small baby and daddy looks after him in the afternoons because I'm working long days and we don't have any family nearby to help me with that.
We wouldn't afford to pay the rent etc for me to be a stay at home mum.
Also I probably wouldn't afford to pay for a nanny 6.30am to 9pm for the days I'm working..
So yeah...bit gutted about it. I guess I'll just have to wait another 7 years before being a British citizen like my husband and son...
But thank you for your support guys!

Sorry to hear that!

Couldn't your husband ask the new company overseas to delay for a few months? I know it's not ideal, but if it worked that would be great.

It's a pity indeed, however, you will have another chance in the future~~~

You can send EEA3 application before you leave and then request your passport back as soon you receive COA
after that you can travel with your passport and your EEA3 will be issued in a A4 size paper and posted back to you in the UK address
But make sure it's 5 years after you started working continuously you can not apply after 4 years 9 /11 months

@Askmeplz
The issue is that she can't wait for the full 5 years...they will leave before she can reach the full 5 year mark

My husband needs to be there in august because he's a teacher so will start the new school year in September, that's not possible to change.
I guess I'll just have to accept it...
Can I just ask, will the Lituk test and language certification last forever? As I passed them both.

Thank you

Apparently, LITUK doesn't have an expiry date. See here: https://www.realrussia.co.uk/forum/foru ... p?tid=2461
Some of the English test expire after about 2 years (not many though). See here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _tests.pdf. Depends on which one you took - check it out here.

Thank you for that. Both seem to last forever, at least that's good news!