A Couple of Naturalisation Questions

[xsteena]

Hi there

New here - hope you don't mind me starting off with a series of questions.

I've been in the UK now for just over 10 years on an ILE visa (originally from New Zealand). I have just completed the Life in the UK Test successfully (YAY!!) and am now applying for my British citizenship through the naturalisation process and I have a couple of questions (in no particular order):

1. The Fee - it's just me, so I assume it's £874 for me...and that's including the £80 for the ceremony? It's not entirely clear if I need to pay £954 (£874 + £80) or just the £874?

2. My referees managed to not keep within the lines on a couple of the questions (not miles out - just a word or two that won't fit in the box or the end of a letter dropping out the bottom). My partner doesn't think it'll be an issue - I just don't want to waste £874!

3. Question 1.1 - The only reference number I have is the ref no for my ILE visa. Does this go in here, or does this stay blank (good start eh - not sure on the first question!)

4. On the top of the Payment Slip form, it has HO Ref - I assume this is for home office use when the form arrives with them?

5. Now - the big one - I've been on my ILE visa now for over 10 years, however to the date I'll be applying 5 years ago I wasn't actually in the UK (was away on a long work trip). My partner doesn't think this'll be an issue as I was technically in the UK (as in a resident of the UK) however I wasn't physically in the UK on that date (obviously was previously). Is this going to cause me an issue? Just to add here, looking at the supporting documents page - Section 3, it says "Evidence of lawful residence during the 5 years before the date of the application" - I've been resident for that entire time.

6. Evidence of lawful residence - my original New Zealand passport has my visa in it (from 2003). It expired in 2008. Then I got a new one in 2008. That one then expired in Feb this year. I then got a new one that is now current. Do I need to submit all 3, or just the first and last ones?

7. I have to also submit my UK photo driving licence (as that was what I used for my identification in the Like in the UK Test). I'm submitting this application in the next couple of days - when am I likely to get these back/can I request them returned sooner? I am away reasonably regularly (next time is over Christmas/New Year). Also I then have no photographic identification.

It looks like they should scrap the life in the UK test and just get everyone to fill in these forms under test conditions!!

Many thanks in advance

Xsteena

[Derivaz]

Hi there

New here - hope you don't mind me starting off with a series of questions.

I've been in the UK now for just over 10 years on an ILE visa (originally from New Zealand). I have just completed the Life in the UK Test successfully (YAY!!) and am now applying for my British citizenship through the naturalisation process and I have a couple of questions (in no particular order):

1. The Fee - it's just me, so I assume it's £874 for me...and that's including the £80 for the ceremony? It's not entirely clear if I need to pay £954 (£874 + £80) or just the £874?

2. My referees managed to not keep within the lines on a couple of the questions (not miles out - just a word or two that won't fit in the box or the end of a letter dropping out the bottom). My partner doesn't think it'll be an issue - I just don't want to waste £874!

3. Question 1.1 - The only reference number I have is the ref no for my ILE visa. Does this go in here, or does this stay blank (good start eh - not sure on the first question!)

4. On the top of the Payment Slip form, it has HO Ref - I assume this is for home office use when the form arrives with them?

5. Now - the big one - I've been on my ILE visa now for over 10 years, however to the date I'll be applying 5 years ago I wasn't actually in the UK (was away on a long work trip). My partner doesn't think this'll be an issue as I was technically in the UK (as in a resident of the UK) however I wasn't physically in the UK on that date (obviously was previously). Is this going to cause me an issue? Just to add here, looking at the supporting documents page - Section 3, it says "Evidence of lawful residence during the 5 years before the date of the application" - I've been resident for that entire time.

6. Evidence of lawful residence - my original New Zealand passport has my visa in it (from 2003). It expired in 2008. Then I got a new one in 2008. That one then expired in Feb this year. I then got a new one that is now current. Do I need to submit all 3, or just the first and last ones?

7. I have to also submit my UK photo driving licence (as that was what I used for my identification in the Like in the UK Test). I'm submitting this application in the next couple of days - when am I likely to get these back/can I request them returned sooner? I am away reasonably regularly (next time is over Christmas/New Year). Also I then have no photographic identification.

It looks like they should scrap the life in the UK test and just get everyone to fill in these forms under test conditions!!

Many thanks in advance

Xsteena

Hi Steena

1) £874 covers both; that's all you have to pay
2) That shouldn't be an issue; mine didn't either and it got approved
3) I don't think that's a big deal, but if you have a visa number, put it in there and explain what it is; I had an EU P.R. card and put the number in there and explained it. Didn't have any issue.
4) I didn't enter anything there; leave it blank
5)) If you weren't PHYSICALLY, in the UK, exactly 5 years before the HO receives your application, it will be refused; it doesn't matter if you were a resident, you must have been in the UK that day; if you entered / exited the country that day, it counts as if you were in the UK; so make sure you were in the UK or entered / exited the UK, 5 days before they receive your application or it will be refused. You are from an English speaking country; so the new English assessment doesn't affect you, so delay the application to make sure you meet this requirement.
6) I'd submit the visas for the entire period; although, technically, you need to cover only the last 5 or 6 years; I'm not sure if 5 or 6.
You don't have to, but you can provide additional info to make it easier for the HO to check, like an employment letter and/or P60s.
7) I think you'll need to submit your driving license (cos you use it for LIUK test) and your passport too; so if you are going to travel for xmas; I'd recommend to submit it via the NCS; they'll photocopy them and give them back to you right away; if you submit it yourself, you have to send the original and god knows when you'll get them back (that's if they don't get lost). the NCS will charge you about 50/60 quid, but you dont have to send your documents.

In my opinion the LIUK test should be more about current culture, life style and daily things that a normal citizen does, rather than history, but tha'ts just my opinion.

2 of my pals are in Kiwi land now; i might visit them

Good luck, mate

D