Financial Requirement for British Citizenship?

[ksmasher247]

Hi,

Hope you're well. My wife now has ILR from FLR(M) since last week. I am aware we can apply anytime from now for her British Citizenship/Naturalisation rather than waiting 12 months. I am wondering, do we have to show minimum financial requirement again? I am looking to resign from my current workplace (that I've used to show income for ILR) as it's a zero hours contract and they hardly give shifts.

Do I need to show any income requirements for my wife's British citizenship application?

Also, since she has ILR, what's the maximum time I have to apply for her British citizenship? As I can see the current cost is £1650, I don't have that sort of money right now and I have prioritised expenses to spend on first. We are thinking of applying around 3 years later from now. Is that ok or too late? Would it be a problem?

And are British Citizenship and Naturalisation the same? I'm seeing two different words of them everywhere.

And would claiming Universal Credit together affect her entitlement to becoming British?

[CR001]

1. There is NO financial requirement for citizenship. It is not an immigration application.

2. She can apply at ANY time or not at all. It is NOT a mandatory application. Note that rthe fees go up every year.

3. She is applying to Naturalise as a British Citizen. Same thing!

4. Citizenship is not an immigration application and claiming benefits is irrelevant!!

I suggest you at least read rthe guide for form AN to understand rhe minimal requirements.

[contorted_svy]

Hi,

Hope you're well. My wife now has ILR from FLR(M) since last week. I am aware we can apply anytime from now for her British Citizenship/Naturalisation rather than waiting 12 months. I am wondering, do we have to show minimum financial requirement again? I am looking to resign from my current workplace (that I've used to show income for ILR) as it's a zero hours contract and they hardly give shifts.

Do I need to show any income requirements for my wife's British citizenship application?

Also, since she has ILR, what's the maximum time I have to apply for her British citizenship? As I can see the current cost is £1650, I don't have that sort of money right now and I have prioritised expenses to spend on first. We are thinking of applying around 3 years later from now. Is that ok or too late? Would it be a problem?

And are British Citizenship and Naturalisation the same? I'm seeing two different words of them everywhere.

And would claiming Universal Credit together affect her entitlement to becoming British?

Wife can apply now only if you, her spouse, are already a British citizen, otherwise she needs to wait for a year. No issue on income requirements or benefits as far as she is entitled to claim them. Fees have just gone up last year, that could happen again (generally fees go up in either April or October) there is no guarantee on how much it could cost in a year or 3 but it won't cause an issue to wait as long as you have the correct documentation.

[ksmasher247]

1. There is NO financial requirement for citizenship. It is not an immigration application.

2. She can apply at ANY time or not at all. It is NOT a mandatory application. Note that rthe fees go up every year.

3. She is applying to Naturalise as a British Citizen. Same thing!

4. Citizenship is not an immigration application and claiming benefits is irrelevant!!

I suggest you at least read rthe guide for form AN to understand rhe minimal requirements.

Ahh ok. That's basically the last stage ever in this journey. I got it. So I'll just resign from my job. Thank you for your response.

[ksmasher247]

Hi,

Hope you're well. My wife now has ILR from FLR(M) since last week. I am aware we can apply anytime from now for her British Citizenship/Naturalisation rather than waiting 12 months. I am wondering, do we have to show minimum financial requirement again? I am looking to resign from my current workplace (that I've used to show income for ILR) as it's a zero hours contract and they hardly give shifts.

Do I need to show any income requirements for my wife's British citizenship application?

Also, since she has ILR, what's the maximum time I have to apply for her British citizenship? As I can see the current cost is £1650, I don't have that sort of money right now and I have prioritised expenses to spend on first. We are thinking of applying around 3 years later from now. Is that ok or too late? Would it be a problem?

And are British Citizenship and Naturalisation the same? I'm seeing two different words of them everywhere.

And would claiming Universal Credit together affect her entitlement to becoming British?

Wife can apply now only if you, her spouse, are already a British citizen, otherwise she needs to wait for a year. No issue on income requirements or benefits as far as she is entitled to claim them. Fees have just gone up last year, that could happen again (generally fees go up in either April or October) there is no guarantee on how much it could cost in a year or 3 but it won't cause an issue to wait as long as you have the correct documentation.

Ok thanks.

[ksmasher247]

1. There is NO financial requirement for citizenship. It is not an immigration application.

2. She can apply at ANY time or not at all. It is NOT a mandatory application. Note that rthe fees go up every year.

3. She is applying to Naturalise as a British Citizen. Same thing!

4. Citizenship is not an immigration application and claiming benefits is irrelevant!!

I suggest you at least read rthe guide for form AN to understand rhe minimal requirements.

One of the requirements I've come across is:

"Prove you were in the UK exactly 5 years before the day the Home Office receives your application".

Isn't providing proof of ILR enough? As you'd need to have 5 years of residency to be eligible.
If not, what do I provide? My wife's first entry stamp date on her passport to the UK or proof of co-habitation documents spanning for 5 years of her stay in the UK here?

[CR001]

One of the requirements I've come across is:

"Prove you were in the UK exactly 5 years before the day the Home Office receives your application".

Yes, you need to have been PHYSICALLY present in the UK on the date at the start of the qualifying period, ie not away on holiday or living abroad.

Isn't providing proof of ILR enough? As you'd need to have 5 years of residency to be eligible.

Citizenship is a completely separate process with its own rules and requirements and completely separate to the immigration journey and ILR. Simply holding ILR is not enough. You must meet all the requirements.

If not, what do I provide? My wife's first entry stamp date on her passport to the UK or proof of co-habitation documents spanning for 5 years of her stay in the UK here?

You simply need to provide the full passport with the stamps.

I suggest you do yourself a favour and read the Form AN Guidance Notes as I already advised previously!!

[ksmasher247]

One of the requirements I've come across is:

"Prove you were in the UK exactly 5 years before the day the Home Office receives your application".

Yes, you need to have been PHYSICALLY present in the UK on the date at the start of the qualifying period, ie not away on holiday or living abroad.

Isn't providing proof of ILR enough? As you'd need to have 5 years of residency to be eligible.

Citizenship is a completely separate process with its own rules and requirements and completely separate to the immigration journey and ILR. Simply holding ILR is not enough. You must meet all the requirements.

If not, what do I provide? My wife's first entry stamp date on her passport to the UK or proof of co-habitation documents spanning for 5 years of her stay in the UK here?

You simply need to provide the full passport with the stamps.

I suggest you do yourself a favour and read the Form AN Guidance Notes as I already advised previously!!

Ok thanks. My wife's been abroad between August 2022 to October 2022. That's it. She came to the UK on April 2019. I don't think that's a problem.

[CR001]

If you are British, her application will be based on 3 years residence.

[ksmasher247]

If you are British, her application will be based on 3 years residence.

Yeah, i am a british born citizen. So i'll submit documents of co-habitation such as utility bills for the last 3 years and her passport stamps showing her first date of entry to the UK, i.e. April 2019.

[alterhase58]

For ILR holders passport with stamps covering the residency period is sufficient.
Utility bills or statements are not required (or accepted).

[ksmasher247]

For ILR holders passport with stamps covering the residency period is sufficient.
Utility bills or statements are not required (or accepted).

Thanks. By stamps, you mean travel stamps dated? Or first date of entry clearance stamp/card?

[CR001]

All passports stamps to prove residency as has been advised!