Documentation requirements for naturalisation application

[Bokislav82]

Hi everyone,

It feels good to be able to reach out to this forum which has provided so much great help over the past 6 years on my journey to nationality. I am now eligible to apply for naturalisation and have a couple of questions regarding the documents.

Bit of background: I have followed the Tier 2 general route and received my ILR just over one year ago. I meet all of the requirements needed to apply for nationality.

My questions regarding the documentation are:

1) How does one submit documentation to UKVI these days? Is it safe to presume that I can submit everything needed electronically? Under what circumstances might I need to post something?

2) There is a requirement to show proof that I have been in the UK a certain amount of time over the past 5 years and within the last 12 months. How does one provide this proof? Do I need to submit passports or can I perhaps submit a letter from my employer noting that I have been working with them the past 5 years? (I have had the same employer since originally emigrating to the UK).

3) Most importantly, given that the Home Office will want to see passports, do I need to submit copies of these by post? Will I be able to travel outside of the UK during the up to 6 month processing period?

Big thanks for the help!

[CR001]

1. Nothing is posted. It is the same ukcvas process as for ILR. If UKVI requires an original, which is rare, they will write to you.

2. Passports only.

3. Everything is uploaded digitally, same as for ilr. You are free to travel.

[CULLINAN]

1) Scanned copies via UKVCAS. Very rarely HO may ask for originals if needed but not likely.

2) Passport(s) stamps only.

3) No originals are sent. Yes you can travel after making an AN application. You only become British when you attend the ceremony not approval. Before that, you are free to travel on your ILR BRP. Your ILR BRP becomes invalid once you attend the ceremony and have to return within 5 days.

[Bokislav82]

My enormous thanks to you, both, for the quick response! Really great that there are no travel restrictions.

<<< man bowing emoji

[Bokislav82]

Dear Immigrationboards sages,

Many thanks for this help around my naturalization application! I submitted and paid for the application this past week, and now I am in the process of trying to submit documents and biometrics to complete my application before a deadline of 15th December.

Now, I’m afraid I’m a bit confused about some things and would kindly appreciate your assistance once again. I have looked over some of the posts on immigrationboards as well as the FAQs on the UKCVAS site but still have some questions.

My questions relating to the appointment are:

1) I note that UKCVAS is asking for me to book an in-person appointment to submit documents and I presume biometrics, but I just want to confirm that I actually need to go in person? The reason I ask is because my wife applied for an extension to her Tier 2 dependent visa on the 6th of September and was able to do all document upload electronically without any kind of in-person appointment. Would it be possible for me to do something like this for my naturalisation application?

2) It would be great to get a free appointment at a core service centre. Is it safe to assume that these just go first and that I would need to be online right at midnight to snap up one of these as soon as they’re released for 4 weeks later?

3) If I book and pay for an appointment but need to reschedule, is it safe to assume that I would need not need to pay another booking fee and effectively that which I paid would transfer to the new appointment? I ask because there is a chance I might need to travel in the coming period (TBC), so would hate to pay fees twice in case I need to move a booked appointment.

I also then have some questions relating to the documents I would need to upload:

1) I am asked to provide “Evidence that you have been in the UK lawfully for your 3 or 5 year qualifying residence period. This should be evidence that you were here as a worker, student, self-employed, self-sufficient, retired or incapacitated person. How would I prove this?

Do I need to submit a letter from my employer confirming this and/or would passports do the trick?

If I need to submit passports (I have 3), do I submit just the first page of each passport or all pages showing all stamps?

I also have a now-expired passport (renewed it a couple of weeks ago) that I used to travel in the past five years. Do I submit this as well?

(sorry if this is repetitive from the above question and answer, but just want to double-check, plus as you can see I have some detailed follow-up questions and plus two very similar requirements creates confusion!)

2) I am also asked to provide “Proof of living in the UK for 5 years if applying in your own right.” Same questions here as for the first document question. How would I prove this?

Do I need to submit a letter from my employer confirming this and/or would passports do the trick?

If I need to submit passports (I have 3), do I submit just the first page of each passport or all pages showing all stamps?

I also have a now-expired passport (renewed it a couple of weeks ago) that I used to travel in the past five years. Do I submit this as well?

(sorry if this is repetitive from the above question and answer, but just want to double-check, plus as you can see I have some detailed follow-up questions and plus two very similar requirements creates confusion!)

3) I am also asked to provide proof of nationality. Would this presumably be the same document – a copy of my passport that I am using for my application - as I need to submit anyway?

4) As part of my application, I actually ran out of spaces to note all of the travel I have done in the past 5 years (I used all 30 entries provided) so was asked to submit additional documentation on this separately. I have prepared a separate letter to address this. How would I submit this when I upload documents?

Many thanks for your help and wishing you a nice Sunday!

[CR001]

1) I note that UKCVAS is asking for me to book an in-person appointment to submit documents and I presume biometrics, but I just want to confirm that I actually need to go in person? The reason I ask is because my wife applied for an extension to her Tier 2 dependent visa on the 6th of September and was able to do all document upload electronically without any kind of in-person appointment. Would it be possible for me to do something like this for my naturalisation application?

You need to book an appointment and attend in person. Your spouse would or should have also done the same, unless she was invited to reuse biomterics and prove identity using the IDV app (which is no longer available). All ukvi applications require biomterics enrollment. You must upload your documents before your appointment

2) It would be great to get a free appointment at a core service centre. Is it safe to assume that these just go first and that I would need to be online right at midnight to snap up one of these as soon as they’re released for 4 weeks later?

Free appointments are scarce and booked up very quickly.

3) If I book and pay for an appointment but need to reschedule, is it safe to assume that I would need not need to pay another booking fee and effectively that which I paid would transfer to the new appointment? I ask because there is a chance I might need to travel in the coming period (TBC), so would hate to pay fees twice in case I need to move a booked appointment.

Possibly.

1) I am asked to provide “Evidence that you have been in the UK lawfully for your 3 or 5 year qualifying residence period. This should be evidence that you were here as a worker, student, self-employed, self-sufficient, retired or incapacitated person. How would I prove this?

Passports only.

Do I need to submit a letter from my employer confirming this and/or would passports do the trick?

Employer letter NOT required.

If I need to submit passports (I have 3), do I submit just the first page of each passport or all pages showing all stamps?

Biometric and ALL stamped pages.

I also have a now-expired passport (renewed it a couple of weeks ago) that I used to travel in the past five years. Do I submit this as well?

All passports for the last 5 years.

2) I am also asked to provide “Proof of living in the UK for 5 years if applying in your own right.” Same questions here as for the first document question. How would I prove this?

Passports only!!

Do I need to submit a letter from my employer confirming this and/or would passports do the trick?

Passports ONLY.

If I need to submit passports (I have 3), do I submit just the first page of each passport or all pages showing all stamps?

Answered already!!

I also have a now-expired passport (renewed it a couple of weeks ago) that I used to travel in the past five years. Do I submit this as well?

Answered already!!

3) I am also asked to provide proof of nationality. Would this presumably be the same document – a copy of my passport that I am using for my application - as I need to submit anyway?

Passport only.

4) As part of my application, I actually ran out of spaces to note all of the travel I have done in the past 5 years (I used all 30 entries provided) so was asked to submit additional documentation on this separately. I have prepared a separate letter to address this. How would I submit this when I upload documents?

Upload with a your documents!

[Bokislav82]

Thanks ever so much @CR001 - that's all clear!