Form AN

[tekaweni]

My son is applying for naturalisation and asks whether his British girlfriend can sign as one of the referees supporting his application. The guide does say the referees may not be family but I guess 'girlfriend' would be ok. Can anyone confirm?

I notice that since my own naturalisation application last Feb, form FORM_AN_NEW has become just FORM_AN again on the IND website. It looks basically the same but both referees now sign the same page and a photo of the applicant now gets stuck to it. Confusingly, the bottom of the last page says 2005... I hope its the right one!

Thanks!
Kim

[Dawie]

There are a number of problems with form AN, mostly with the referee section. You will notice that both referees are referred to as the 1st Referee. Also, the wording of the explanatory notes in the referee section make it sound as if only one of your referees has to be British. In addition, the guidance notes are extremely vague about what kind of professions qualify for the referee who has to be a "professional". People on this forum usually work to the assumption that the list of professionals is the same as those required for counter-signing a passport application.

There is nothing in the guidance notes that specifically excludes a girlfriend or boyfriend from being a referee. However, does she pass the other criteria for being a referee, one of which being that she has to have known him for 3 years or more?

[tekaweni]

Thanks Dawie, yeah the form does seem to have been slapped together in a hurry. The guide says one of the referees has to be 'professional' but the form itself fails to ask either of the referees for that information - so how will they even know? Unless they can call up that info on their computers from elsewhere they aren't going to know what either referee even does for a living..

The girlfriend qualifies on the other criteria, ie known him +3 years, is British and over 25.

Thanks again!
Kim

[darksquid]

Thanks Dawie, yeah the form does seem to have been slapped together in a hurry. The guide says one of the referees has to be 'professional' but the form itself fails to ask either of the referees for that information - so how will they even know? Unless they can call up that info on their computers from elsewhere they aren't going to know what either referee even does for a living..

The girlfriend qualifies on the other criteria, ie known him +3 years, is British and over 25.

Thanks again!
Kim

hi Kim,

I just applied for naturalisation via NCS (East Kilbride, which I can heartily recommend - not far from you!) on the 9th of February. I was quite concerned about my referees as well, so I made sure I asked alot of questions at my appointment.

The officer implied that the list for passport counter-signatories is a good indication of which professions will be acceptable, as Dawie says.

I was also concerned about the fact that there is no space for the referees to indicate their professions.The NCS officer asked me to write a short note on the following page (which is blank, and can be used for any additional information). If I recall, I wrote something like, 'Referee #1, John Doe, is a retired policeman, and is the next-door neighbour of my husband's parents. Referee #2, John Smith, is a fireman, and is a close friend of my husband and myself.' This expanded on how they both know me, as they were both very vague on the form, and also divulged their professions.

It has also been surmised that the professions of your referees can be determined by tracing their passport numbers.

Do use the East Kilbride NCS if you can - it made the application process very easy, and the shopping centre across the street is excellent!

[Marco 72]

I didn't indicate the referees' professions on my application. One of them is a university lecturer but she may not have been at the time of her passport application. Does anyone think it might be a good idea to write a letter to the Home Office explaining this?
Thanks.

[darksquid]

It is my understanding that they will contact you if they need any additional information, and not decline your application outright. So I wouldn't worry...they will let you know if they need anything else from you.

[Dawie]

I didn't indicate the referees' professions on my application. One of them is a university lecturer but she may not have been at the time of her passport application. Does anyone think it might be a good idea to write a letter to the Home Office explaining this?
Thanks.

There is absolutely no legal requirement for you to mention the profession of your referees on the form, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Marco 72]

Thanks, today I called the helpline. They also said it wasn't necessary, as they can find out by calling the referees if necessary. I was told I could send a letter if I wanted, and it would be put in the file, but I don't think I'll bother.