Unemployment affect naturalisation application?

[jasonjason99]

Hi. Thanks in advance for your help with this question. I am applying for naturalisation based on 4 years on WP plus 1 year ILR. I meet all criteria, but am wondering if the fact that I was made redundant by my company last June will affect my application?

I won't be applying until March, so if need be I could get a temporary job. I'm actually planning to start my own business, but probably won't have it registered by March.

Thanks for your help!

Jason

[ppron747]

I've been through the IND Nationality Instructions on naturalisation, and a quick scan has brought up only one instance of the word "unemployment", and it looks good:

5.2 Normally, the following matters should not, of themselves, be relevant to determining whether the good character requirement has been met:

• Divorce/separation, or other marital or domestic problems

• Promiscuity or sexual preference within the law

• Drinking or gambling

• Eccentricity, including beliefs, appearance and lifestyle

• Unemployment/working habits/means of support

However, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if you were to look through them yourself! The main instructions are at Naturalisation, and the quoted passage is in Annex D.

I think the point is that the Act says nothing about unemployment, and if you were the type to make a habit of it, this would have manifested itself in the years leading up to your ILR application, and should have been picked up then, where it would have made a difference...

[jasonjason99]

Thanks, Paul, for your excellent reply. I've read through every Annex and this indeed does seem to be the one reference to applying while unemployed.

However, there's no place on the application form to put that your are unemployed! I guess I'll just write it in, then add an explanation on the "additional information" sheet. What do you think?

I guess my major concern is that this might slow down the application my making whomever is processing it question either my intend to stay in the UK or my character. From reading the annexes, it does seem that putting down that you're self-employed or a director could lead to delays while they investigate whether you have filed all necessary tax paperwork.

Anyway, thanks again.

Jason

[ppron747]

Thanks, Paul, for your excellent reply. I've read through every Annex and this indeed does seem to be the one reference to applying while unemployed.

However, there's no place on the application form to put that your are unemployed! I guess I'll just write it in, then add an explanation on the "additional information" sheet. What do you think?

I guess my major concern is that this might slow down the application my making whomever is processing it question either my intend to stay in the UK or my character. From reading the annexes, it does seem that putting down that you're self-employed or a director could lead to delays while they investigate whether you have filed all necessary tax paperwork.

Anyway, thanks again.

Jason

You're welcome, Jason! It's odd that there's no "OTHER" tickbox in 4.2....

I agree with what you're proposing to do. Probably sensible to emphasise that you're actively seeking another job and, since the question appears under "Character", I think you should give details of your former employer, so that it's clear that you're open to the idea of IND's contacting them if they wish.

Not sure whether you've browsed through other posts here, but it is pretty clear that it is well worth the extra few quid to apply through a Nationality Checking Service office, if there's one within easy reach. NCS-checked applications seem to get priority treatment, and you may be pleasantly surprised by the speed in which it gets processed.

Good luck - and keep us informed...

[jasonjason99]

Paul,

I'm definitely going to try the checking service. From reading the postings on this board it seems that wait times can range from one week to a few months. Does that seem to be the case? Is there any average wait time that you've been able to discern?

Thanks!

Jason

[lemess]

My wife is unemployed ( well she is looking after a child) and it made no difference to her naturalisation application. She gave no other explanation on the form - she just wrote Housewife/raising child in her occupation column, left the employer details section blank and just gave her NI and tax number in the space provided. Hers was an individual application with the only reference to me being my name as the spouse - no records of my employment or earnings etc.

Her application got approved in 3 weeks. So I don't think this matters - just make sure your NI and tax records are up to date.

[ppron747]

I'm definitely going to try the checking service. From reading the postings on this board it seems that wait times can range from one week to a few months. Does that seem to be the case? Is there any average wait time that you've been able to discern?

I think it's about as long as a piece of string, Jason!

Not sure how IND organises itself, but I get the impression that routine applications are dealt out more or less at random, across a number of caseworking teams, and the speed with which they are processed simply depends on the presure of work for the individual team. I believe some of the teams also specialise in particular types of application, which can mean that their "routine" work gets slowed down if there's a "blip" in their "special" workload. So it does take from weeks to months, depending entirely on the luck of the draw. The official average on the IND site for December was 3.96 months.

That's my take on it, anyway: if any IND moles are looking in, they're welcome to chip in!