When can I apply naturalisation?

[newlife2009]

Hi Everyone,

I am the holder of 2 years spouse visa.
I am so confused that the naturalisation period.
Let me write more about my situation.

Nov/2008 - got the entry clerance from Hong Kong and came to UK
Mar/2009 - got married in UK
Apr/2009 - Apply two years spouse visa at Croydon
Mar/2011 - will plan to apply ILR
Apr/2011 - two years spouse visa expire and need to apply ILR

When can I apply naturalisation/british passport?
Which one is correct??

Apr/2012 (12 month after ILR) ??
OR
Nov/2011 (3 years after resident in UK) ??

[djb123]

Assuming the rules haven't changed by then it will be "Nov/2011 (3 years after resident in UK)"

[newlife2009]

Thanks for your reply.

That's good new for me but bad new for my wallet.

[John]

newlife2009, wait a minute, you haven't actually told us enough information to enable anyone to answer with certainty. Can you please confirm that your spouse is a British Citizen?

I suspect the answer is "yes", but it might not be, given that you could have got your fiancé(e) visa, then your spouse visa, because your spouse is non-British but has say ILR.

[newlife2009]

John, I can confirm that my hushand is a british critizen.

As my first posted, " I am the holder of 2 years spouse visa " is correct.

I just want to get more information in advance. For example, if I can apply my naturalisation/british passport in Nov/2011, I need to consider the fee of ILR/naturalisation/british passport. Am I wrong???

[John]

Thank you for confirming that your husband is British. The point is that you could have had your spouse visa without your husband being British, so it was best to check with you.

Your underlying problem here is that changes of legislation are highly likely to affect your situation. For example by March 2011 when you would apply for ILR, the law is likely to have changed, and instead you might be applying for something called provisional citizenship, which isn't really citizenship at all!

Also, as regards an application for Naturalisation, the details have yet to be posted by the Government ... the Bill currently going through Parliament gives them power to lay regulations ... but it could well be that the qualifying period for someone married to a British Citizen will be 5 years, but reduced by 2 years to 3 years .... if the person has done some voluntary work. Don't ask me about the details of this ... because the Government has not yet told anyone how it will work.

[newlife2009]

Hi John, Thank you for your remind.
I know that the immigration law always change. We are all waiting the clear instruction how to become a british critizen.
I will always check the update infomation at the website.

Thanks