British citizenship for Polish person

[Gregabz]

Hi there. I'm was looking at the posts but some things are still not clear.

I'm originally from Poland. I arrived in the UK in January 2009. I started working in May the same year and I received my WRS doc about a month later.
Since the law changed last November and I need PR card in order to apply for citizenship I'm a bit confused regarding what I can do and when. I know it have to wait 6 years to apply for BC and since I'm here for almost 7 years now in presume that is can apply for PR now when I receive it, I can start the naturalisation process without waiting additional 12 months. Is that right?

Also, when it have to list all my trips abroad for the application, which time in should take into consideration? Only 5 years counting from the date I arrived here?

Many thanks for your help.

[ohara]

I know it have to wait 6 years to apply for BC and since I'm here for almost 7 years now in presume that is can apply for PR now when I receive it, I can start the naturalisation process without waiting additional 12 months. Is that right?

Also, when it have to list all my trips abroad for the application, which time in should take into consideration? Only 5 years counting from the date I arrived here?

Many thanks for your help.

Correct assuming you have been exercising treaty rights for a period of 5 years ending at least 12 months ago, then yes you can apply for PR document now and then apply for naturalisation immediately when you receive it. The waiting time for PR doc for EEA citizens seems to be 6-7 weeks at the moment.

List all absences from start of PR qualifying period to present.

[Gregabz]

Many thanks for your reply. I have couple of questions...

Correct assuming you have been exercising treaty rights for a period of 5 years ending at least 12 months ago, then yes you can apply for PR document now and then apply for naturalisation immediately when you receive it.

What do you mean by treaty rights? I assume for the first 5 years since my arrival? Or would that be 6 years?

And

List all absences from start of PR qualifying period to present.

Starting a year after my arrival until now?

Sorry, but I'm getting confused now.

[ohara]

Treaty rights refer to any of the following:-

*Employment (including job seeking)
*Self-Employment
*Study
*Economic Self-Sufficiency

You acquire PR automatically after a continuous 5 year period of doing any of the above. You don't apply for PR, merely for a document which confirms it, which is now required for naturalisation applications. You must have held PR for 12 months before applying for naturalisation, unless you are married to a British citizen.

I'm not up to speed on the whole WRS thing but I assume your qualifying period starts when you are registered with WRS. If this is June 2009 for you, and you worked with no gaps since then, you should have acquired PR in June 2014. You will need to show evidence of your residency and employment for this period, and any absences for this period and also up to present day (you lose PR if you leave the UK for 2 years or more). Since you have held PR for more than 12 months you will be able to apply for naturalisation as soon as you have your PR document.