Queries in Form AN

[Rahulmanju]

Hi Friends,

I'm Indian, applying for Naturalization application for me and my son(less than 2 yrs. old born in India) in Feb 2009 under 5 yrs + 1 year ILR category. Got appointment at my council office for NCS.
I'm planning to apply for My wife as spouse of british citizen, once I get the British passport.

I have few queries regarding filling Form AN.
May I request the board to pls. clarify the same as I could not get enough info from the Form ANguide.

1. Section 1: Personal Information:(this is on Page 04 of Form AN)

1.1 Please give previous Immigration and Nationality Directorate or Border and Immigration Agency or UK Border Agency reference numbers

Do I need to give the ILR reference no for the above??

2. Section 3: Good Character Requirement:(this is on Page 10 of Form AN)
I need to furnish my details like:
Occupation:
Name of Employer/Business:
Address of Employer:
Address of tax office or tax reference:

As I was out of work and claiming Jobseekers allowance(since May 09 till date), can I write DWP as my employer??
Also, pls. suggest what to mention in each of the above.

3. Section 1.23 to section 1.30 (this is on Page 6 of Form AN).
I need to furnish my parents details. this is to check whether you have an automatic claim to British citizenship

As my parents(both Indian nationals) are in India, I will not be eligible/qualify for an automatic claim to British citizenship. But should I still furnish the details??

4. There is no provision to mention of any bank details to pay fee for application in Form AN. Do NCS people charge at their office so that we can pay using Debit card??

5.Do claiming benefits has any adverse impacts on HO decision in my Naturalization application??
FYI., I'm claiming bebefit only after I got ILR and never claimed any before that.

Finally I'm submitting the following original Documents along with respective filled application

forms:
Myself:
1. My passport
2. My Life in the UK test pass certificate

Do I need to submit my Bank ststements,NI card or Utility bills for address proof??
As of now, I'm staying since 3+ years at the same address in London and previously at two places for 2 years.Do I need to submit any notorized certificate for the above addresses??
Pls. suggest any other docs that I need to furnish in support of my Naturalization application

For my Son's(has ILR along with me since Feb 2008) application:

1. Passport
2. Marriage certificate
3. Birth certificate

Appreciate your time and help for clarifications.

Regards,
Rm

[John]

Your post raises a few queries in my mind, even before I turn to your questions :-

I'm Indian, applying for Naturalization application for me and my son(less than 2 yrs. old born in India)

You are applying for Naturalisation for yourself, but not for your son! You will be applying to register your son as British, and will be using form MN1 for him to get that Registration.

As I was made redundant and claiming Jobseekers allowance(since May 09 till date)

Are you psychic, or have you been unemployed since May 2008?

Then using your numbering :-

1. Yes, use that.
2. Write the name of your last employer, adding "until May 2008", or whatever. UKBA will be able to see what is happening given that when you sign the declaration on the form you are authorising them access the HMRC records.
3. Yes!
4. You will pay the NCS office separately. Complete the details on the form so that UKBA can get the fee for the Citizenship application.
5. No problem, given you only started to claim after getting your ILR. Evidence to submit? In accordance with what the form is asking for. Many people are surprised about how little evidence is required.

[Rahulmanju]

Thanks John.

Yes I'm applying Naturalisation for myself, and will be applying to register my son as British, and will be using form MN1.

As I was made redundant and claiming Jobseekers allowance(since May 09 till date)
Sorry, my mistake, its typo, I was jobless since May 2008.

5.No problem, given you only started to claim after getting your ILR. Evidence to submit? In accordance with what the form is asking for. Many people are surprised about how little evidence is required.

I hope, I need to submit the letter from DWP as proof of receiving job-seekrs allowance along with my passport and life in UK test pass cert..Am I right??
Also, do I need to submit my Bank statements??

My point is I have only 3 evidences 1. Passport, 2. Life in UK test Cert and may be letter from DWP about my jobseekers allowance.

For ILR, I submitted hell lot of evidences but for Naturalization, only 3!!

Thanks anyway for your clarification.

Regards,
RM

[John]

I need to submit the letter from DWP as proof of receiving job-seekrs allowance along with my passport and life in UK test pass cert..Am I right??

Can you point out where on the form, or the guidance, it is asking you to submit such a letter?

Also, do I need to submit my Bank statements??

Can you point out where on the form, or the guidance, it is asking you to submit such statements?

2. Life in UK test Cert

Didn't you submit that in order to get your ILR? Then surely you just tick the last box under Q1.22.

Please do read page 16 of the form AN .... and stop inventing requirements that do not exist.

[Rahulmanju]

John,

In the guidance, they have not asked for job-seekrs allowance letter.
But as I mentioned that since June 2008, I'm receiving Job-seekers allowance, I'm at an impression that I should submit this letter.

No mention of Bank statements in Guidance letter.

I did submitted the Life in UK test certificate for my ILR, but they took copy of it and returned original to me. Now. I guess we need to handover the original Life in UK test certificate and they will not return that to us.

Thanks John for your help.

[Rahulmanju]

And, Sorry John, I'm not inventing any new requirements that do not exist.
I was just asking whether my understanding on the guidance is wrong and just seeking your expert views.

Regards,
RM

[John]

I'm not inventing any new requirements that do not exist.

But sorry, you are, and indeed you have admitted it! :-

In the guidance, they have not asked for job-seekrs allowance letter.
But as I mentioned that since June 2008, I'm receiving Job-seekers allowance, I'm at an impression that I should submit this letter.

No mention of Bank statements in Guidance letter.

Just supply what they ask for! Don't over-complicate a simple form-filling exercise! What they ask about on the application form is important to UKBA, other matters are not! For example, your bank statements are of no concern to them; however they do ask about bankruptcy and CCJs, and hopefully none of that applies to you.

And they are not concerned with benefit claims, that you are now making, and indeed you are entitled to make.

The part of the form AN of most concern to applicants are the referees. Have you got those sorted out OK?

[Rahulmanju]

Thanks John.

Yes I got 2 referees, one an ILR holder, who was my collegues at office1 and another one a British Citizen, again my collegue at office2.

Thanks for your help!

Regards,
RM

[John]

The Guide AN states :-

Each referee should have known you personally for at least 3 years.

One referee should be a person of any nationality who has professional standing, such as a doctor, a minister of religion, civil servant or a member of a professional body, e.g. accountant or solicitor (but not representing you with this application). A list of acceptable professional persons can be found on our website.

The other referee must be the holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or over the age of 25.

So the first referee you mention, are you happy that they are a person who has "professional standing"?

Are you not able to find another British Citizen, so that both your referees are British?

[Rahulmanju]

John,

Both the referees know me since 5+ years.These Collegues are Engineering degree holders and professionals(AVPs) in Investment banking cos.
These are the words given in Forn AN guide relating to referees:
One referee should be a person of any nationality who has professional standing, such as a doctor, a minister of religion, civil servant or a member of a professional body, e.g.accountant or solicitor (but not representing you with this application). A list of acceptable professional persons can be found on our website.
The other referee must be the holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or over the age of 25.
Each referee should be:
• not related to you
• not related to the other referee
• not your solicitor or agent representing you with this application
• not employed by the Home Office

What I understand by "Professional Standing" is someone should be holding a professional degree and be working or practising as professionals.
Pls. correct me if I'm wrong.
I also approached my local GP and he refused to sign stating that he knew me as a patient but not as a person.

I do know another British Citizen, who is my landlord. He is a director of Limited Co., in UK. Can he be termed as a person who has "Professional Standing"?? My Landlord knew me since 3+ years.

Appreciate your views in this regard.

RM.

[Rahulmanju]

John,

Here we find the List of acceptable professional persons for referees:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

So, a person who is a director of Limited Co., registered in UK can sign as professional person.
and also a person with an engineering degree is qualified as professional person.
Pls. correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
RM

[John]

You are not wrong. Whilst getting a non-British Citizen to sign is OK I think it is better to stick to British Citizens if you can. So I think dump the ILR holder and include your landlord.

Only one of them needs to be a professional person, but it does not matter if they both are.

[Rahulmanju]

Thanks John..

I will go for British Citizens for both the referees.
Thanks for all your expert views and help.

Regards,
RM

[republique]

4. There is provision to mention of any bank details to pay fee for application in Form AN. Do NCS people charge at their office so that we can pay using Debit card??

Rm

Please note that depending on the NCS office, paying cash is best. If you pay be cheque or credit card, they have to process it before submitting your application. I first gave them a credit card and as it was saturday, she said this won't be processed until monday and probably submitted by tuesday. I said never mind here is cash.

[Rahulmanju]

Thanks Republique.

I will pay them cash then.

I guess paying thru Debit card also takes time..

Regards,
RM