Citizenship queries

[anasjamil2]

Hello Helpful People! I am trying to understand the citizenship process and need your help in making a plan of applying for our citizenship. At the moment I know nothing about it, so please don't dislike me if I ask something which is irrelevant.


Myself: Indian
Initially came on Tier-1 General, completed 5yrs. Granted ILR in March 2015.

Wife: Indian
Arrived in UK in June2011 as dependent. Granted ILR June 2015.

Twin children: UK Born July2012
First they were my T1 dependent. After I got ILR they became BC and received British Passport.

Queries:
1. May I know requirements to fulfill? may I have a URL.
2. Can it all be done by post? or we have to go through some kind of interviews or face to face ceremony?
3. Wife is very shy and nervous, if they will ask her anything she may get too nervous. Which is why I would prefer doing it by post (no face to face).
4. I have recently seen somewhere that rules changing for benefits, that is if somebody is not BC he won't get benefits? my Mrs get carer allowance and I get child benefit.
5. My wife did ESOL and LIUK test in 2013 to get ILR. Does she again have to prove english language? This is where i don't know what to do . She knows english but is very shy and nervous.
6. Somebody told me today that rules are changing from 12th November15, will the rules affect me?

Planning for the worst case scenario:
If I get my citizenship in March 2016, children already have BC.. Then will my wife will still have to pass interviews? Won't she get a BC as her minor children and husband are BC?



Thanks
Anas

[secret.simon]

1. May I know requirements to fulfill? may I have a URL

https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-c ... -can-apply
Also Citizenship FAQs - Common Questions - Read before posting.

2. Can it all be done by post? or we have to go through some kind of interviews or face to face ceremony?

The citizenship application is by post. If successful, the successful applicant will need to attend a citizenship ceremony at your local council and swear allegiance to the Queen. It is only when you do this that you become a British citizen. This is also non-negotiable.
After you become a British citizen, if you wish to apply for a British passport, the application is again by post, but the applicant must attend an interview to verify their identity. I am not certain, but I believe that they must be alone with the interviewer at this point.

3. Wife is very shy and nervous, if they will ask her anything she may get too nervous. Which is why I would prefer doing it by post (no face to face).

The citizenship ceremony is compulsory, if you wish to become a British citizen and is typically a public ceremony, though you can pay extra for a private ceremony. The passport interview is for the purpose of verifying her identity and so she will be asked questions based on her application form.

Won't she get a BC as her minor children and husband are BC?

Nope. Citizenship is a privilege and not a right. It is granted individually and is not based on family circumstance. If you naturalise before your wife, some of the residential conditions are relaxed, but all the other requirements still need to be met. The rest of the family having British citizenship counts for exactly nothing.

[anasjamil2]

hi Simon,

Thank you for separately answering my queries.

Looking at your responses and some googling I can see there are Three places where interaction is needed.
1. NCS- where my wife have to submit docs.
2. Ceremony.
3. Passport

1. Can I accompany her for NCS?
2. I have seen a youtube video where in ceremony you only have to stand with people and repeat what they say. SO basically no one-to-one interaction and questioning.
3. Am i right to believe that it won't matter too much even if she struggles or stammers during passport questions because she will have nationality anyway. and it won't impact her BC certificate, in the worst case she will have to reapply for passport.

Please can you advice if NCS is the best way to apply for her BC (as per my situation).

Well, I am sounding too much negative because I want to cover every aspect and won't want anything bad to happen to my family. I have seen my friends life turning upside down after home office denied their Citizenship for a stupid reason.

Thanks,
Anas

[noajthan]

1. Can I accompany her for NCS?
2. I have seen a youtube video where in ceremony you only have to stand with people and repeat what they say. SO basically no one-to-one interaction and questioning.
3. Am i right to believe that it won't matter too much even if she struggles or stammers during passport questions because she will have nationality anyway. and it won't impact her BC certificate, in the worst case she will have to reapply for passport.

Please can you advice if NCS is the best way to apply for her BC (as per my situation).
...

Thanks,
Anas

1) Yes, but wife will be expected to speak for herself.

2) The naturalisee will be questioned before the ceremony to verify certain key details.
Some small talk with local dignitaries may be involved during/after the ceremony.

3) Staff are reasonably sympathetic but a sustained conversation of approx 30-45 minutes will be involved;
answers as a whole are expected to align with whatever the official has on record & is checking against.

Note applicants for the privilege of citizenship have to submit biometrics;
this involves interaction with an official in a Post Office in order to enrol biometrics.

[secret.simon]

Note applicants for the privilege of citizenship have to submit biometrics;
this involves interaction with an official in a Post Office in order to enrol biometrics.

I forgot this one. Thanks noajthan.

I do not wish to be rude, but if she is so shy and nervous as to be unable to carry out normal daily interactions, that may indicate an underlying medical condition. I would suggest flagging it up when she next visits the GP.

[noajthan]

Note applicants for the privilege of citizenship have to submit biometrics;
this involves interaction with an official in a Post Office in order to enrol biometrics.

I forgot this one. Thanks noajthan.

I do not wish to be rude, but if she is so shy and nervous as to be unable to carry out normal daily interactions, that may indicate an underlying medical condition. I would suggest flagging it up when she next visits the GP.

+1

Working in a charity shop (&/or other voluntary/community work) can also do wonders for self-esteem & confidence, also English proficiency & integration with the denizens.