British Citizenship – Good Character Requirement FAQs

[OHT2019]

Hi,
Hope the most experienced people will be able to help,
I was cautioned in 2016 /common assault,
I am applying for my Naturalisation in May 2019.
by the time I apply, I will have had the caution for more than 3 years ;
A non-custodial offence or other out of court disposal that is recorded on a person’s criminal record;;
Application will normally be refused if the conviction occurred in the last 3 years


any chance my application may be refused , for any reason would that have a negative impact on my dependent as they will apply at the same time.

[alsanober]

Hi,
Hope the most experienced people will be able to help,
I was cautioned in 2016 /common assault,
I am applying for my Naturalisation in May 2019.
by the time I apply, I will have had the caution for more than 3 years ;
A non-custodial offence or other out of court disposal that is recorded on a person’s criminal record;;
Application will normally be refused if the conviction occurred in the last 3 years


any chance my application may be refused , for any reason would that have a negative impact on my dependent as they will apply at the same time.

its been three years so you will be all right mate, very important to disclose the info though!

[OHT2019]

Hi,
Hope the most experienced people will be able to help,
I was cautioned in 2016 /common assault,
I am applying for my Naturalisation in May 2019.
by the time I apply, I will have had the caution for more than 3 years ;
A non-custodial offence or other out of court disposal that is recorded on a person’s criminal record;;
Application will normally be refused if the conviction occurred in the last 3 years


any chance my application may be refused , for any reason would that have a negative impact on my dependent as they will apply at the same time.

its been three years so you will be all right mate, very important to disclose the info though!
hi alsanober
thank you so much for the reply ,
I am a bit concerned but started to get relieved

[Aerebus]

Hi,
Hope the most experienced people will be able to help,
I was cautioned in 2016 /common assault,
I am applying for my Naturalisation in May 2019.
by the time I apply, I will have had the caution for more than 3 years ;
A non-custodial offence or other out of court disposal that is recorded on a person’s criminal record;;
Application will normally be refused if the conviction occurred in the last 3 years


any chance my application may be refused , for any reason would that have a negative impact on my dependent as they will apply at the same time.

Bro, please let me know if you will get the citizenship please.

Thank you! I have literally get same cautioned as you, common assault.

[Bentc12]

Hi guys,

I have two questions that I would really appreciate if you help me with:

1) I am going to apply for BC (5 years Tier2+ 1 year ILR) on 3 Feb. 2019. I have paid my council tax regularly, but I am about to move out on 28 Jan. because of noisy neighbours. I have not found a new place yet. So, is it ok to live a couple of weeks or more with a friend at his place who pays full council tax, so that I can find a place or do I have to go to a hotel/airbnb? Will they enquire my friend?

2) Before I got my ILR, I had two late reports in my police registration, but no stamp or warning is shown on my police registration document. However, I am not sure what is on their system: if there is a warning or not. So, does anybody know how this is going to affect my application?

Many thanks.

Can anybody help me with this please? tnx

[Tony_SE22]

Hi, I wonder if someone could help me?
I am (finally) going through the British Citizenship process. I am EU citizen and have been a resident in the UK since 1991.
Many years ago, between 1993 and 1995 I received a non-custodial sentence consisting of a court fine of £100 (I think) and I seem to remember that I was told that the record 'would be deleted' after 1 year.
I think it is important to disclose it in the application for citizenship but I don't remember the date (or the year!), the exact details of the sentence, or where it happened (Crown Court, Magistrates Court?).
I don't have any paperwork as I lost it many years ago.
I wrote to ACRO and they cannot find anything but I am not sure it covers British Transport Police (this is the police body that arrested me).
I would like to ask for an enhanced DBS but individuals cannot apply. Only employers or the self-employed.
Can someone help me and tell me what can I do to find out about this records.
Really appreciated.
Many thanks.

[alterhase58]

Hi, I wonder if someone could help me?
I am (finally) going through the British Citizenship process. I am EU citizen and have been a resident in the UK since 1991.
Many years ago, between 1993 and 1995 I received a non-custodial sentence consisting of a court fine of £100 (I think) and I seem to remember that I was told that the record 'would be deleted' after 1 year.
I think it is important to disclose it in the application for citizenship but I don't remember the date (or the year!), the exact details of the sentence, or where it happened (Crown Court, Magistrates Court?).
I don't have any paperwork as I lost it many years ago.
I wrote to ACRO and they cannot find anything but I am not sure it covers British Transport Police (this is the police body that arrested me).
I would like to ask for an enhanced DBS but individuals cannot apply. Only employers or the self-employed.
Can someone help me and tell me what can I do to find out about this records.
Really appreciated.
Many thanks.

Unlikely to find out from publicly available sources- you have tried this. There could be records held which may not be open but we don't know that. Suggest you start reading the UKVI caseworker guidance - page 18 onwards:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... idance.pdf
You may not have a choice but to disclose - in this case describe what you remember.

[Tony_SE22]

Thank you! Really appreciated.

[trueblue1981]

Dear Moderators and Gurus,

I hope you are doing well. I would appreciate receiving quick feedback on the following:

I applied to BC on 15/01/2019 using the new service and attended the biometric enrollment in Croydon.
I was going through my papers today and saw that back in 2014 a local council had filled an order of recovery of PCN at the county court at Northampton. My contention with the council was that they had not given me an opportunity to pay the PCN at a discounted rate, so after filling the witness statement the county court ordered as follows:

It is ordered that the order for recovery of unpaid penalty charge be revoked. It is further ordered that the charge certificate be cancelled.

The court decided in my favour but they did not cancel the original PCN. So the council took the case to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Services tribunal and the TAPAs tribunal did not cancel the PCN and ordered me to pay the PCN which I did.

Now looking at the county court decision in my favour I did not declare this on my BC application. However, now I have doubts about my decision and was wondering what to do about it. The UKVACS online portal is still open and I can draft a letter and tell the home office the whole story or I can leave it as it is because the county court did not decide against me?

Can you kindly advise me as this issue is giving me sleepless nights. I would really appreciate your guidance and support.

[alsanober]

Dear Moderators and Gurus,

I hope you are doing well. I would appreciate receiving quick feedback on the following:

I applied to BC on 15/01/2019 using the new service and attended the biometric enrollment in Croydon.
I was going through my papers today and saw that back in 2014 a local council had filled an order of recovery of PCN at the county court at Northampton. My contention with the council was that they had not given me an opportunity to pay the PCN at a discounted rate, so after filling the witness statement the county court ordered as follows:

It is ordered that the order for recovery of unpaid penalty charge be revoked. It is further ordered that the charge certificate be cancelled.

The court decided in my favour but they did not cancel the original PCN. So the council took the case to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Services tribunal and the TAPAs tribunal did not cancel the PCN and ordered me to pay the PCN which I did.

Now looking at the county court decision in my favour I did not declare this on my BC application. However, now I have doubts about my decision and was wondering what to do about it. The UKVACS online portal is still open and I can draft a letter and tell the home office the whole story or I can leave it as it is because the county court did not decide against me?

Can you kindly advise me as this issue is giving me sleepless nights. I would really appreciate your guidance and support.

if you feel you should write to HO then do it. it will give you peace of mind and also you won't be holding any information.

[Liai]

Hello Everyone, this site has been very use to me over the years and I am grateful to all those who have made it available.
I’m considering applying for BC next month but I got a TVlicence conviction January 2017, I paid the fine and applied for ILR a few days later and got it.
The TVlicence issue was a huge oversight. I have been paying for TVlicence for many years but I changed my bank account details and forgot to transfer my direct debit to the new account. When I was warned by the TVlicence agent I forgot again again due to difficult child delivery around that period.
I do not have any other convictions but over 8years ago I defaulted on some store cards and credit card and my account was taken to the debt collectors. It has all been sorted out.
Do you think it’s good idea to proceed with the application at this time?
Also, its there a way I can see if I have been taken to court for a debt in the past.
I would greatly appreciate your response.
Liai

[trueblue1981]

Dear Moderators and Gurus,

I hope you are doing well. I would appreciate receiving quick feedback on the following:

I applied to BC on 15/01/2019 using the new service and attended the biometric enrollment in Croydon.
I was going through my papers today and saw that back in 2014 a local council had filled an order of recovery of PCN at the county court at Northampton. My contention with the council was that they had not given me an opportunity to pay the PCN at a discounted rate, so after filling the witness statement the county court ordered as follows:

It is ordered that the order for recovery of unpaid penalty charge be revoked. It is further ordered that the charge certificate be cancelled.

The court decided in my favour but they did not cancel the original PCN. So the council took the case to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Services tribunal and the TAPAs tribunal did not cancel the PCN and ordered me to pay the PCN which I did.

Now looking at the county court decision in my favour I did not declare this on my BC application. However, now I have doubts about my decision and was wondering what to do about it. The UKVACS online portal is still open and I can draft a letter and tell the home office the whole story or I can leave it as it is because the county court did not decide against me?

Can you kindly advise me as this issue is giving me sleepless nights. I would really appreciate your guidance and support.

if you feel you should write to HO then do it. it will give you peace of mind and also you won't be holding any information.

So it is acceptable and not a problem to send information to HO post application date?

[AnotherUUID]

So it is acceptable and not a problem to send information to HO post application date?

Yes, caseworkers are required to review and take into account any additional information received between the date on the application and the date of consideration.

There could be many reasons why this is allowed, the most obvious one being a change in circumstances. For example, one may not have had an FPN or caution on the date of applying but subsequently received one after sending out the application. If the application has not already been reviewed by that point, this could then turn up on background checks. Cases like this are the primary reason applicants are encouraged to pro-actively notify the HO of any changes in personal circumstances.

Other reasons might of course be negligence, minor errors on the application form, and forgetting to mention something of relevance - it can happen to anyone.

If you choose to notify them, make sure you provide enough details for staff to be able to efficiently identify your application and reduce the time the additional information is added to the application itself. Case ID, full name, and DoB as on the application form along with the date on the application and (if possible) the date the HO received your supporting documents should be more than sufficient.

[trueblue1981]

So it is acceptable and not a problem to send information to HO post application date?

Yes, caseworkers are required to review and take into account any additional information received between the date on the application and the date of consideration.

There could be many reasons why this is allowed, the most obvious one being a change in circumstances. For example, one may not have had an FPN or caution on the date of applying but subsequently received one after sending out the application. If the application has not already been reviewed by that point, this could then turn up on background checks. Cases like this are the primary reason applicants are encouraged to pro-actively notify the HO of any changes in personal circumstances.

Other reasons might of course be negligence, minor errors on the application form, and forgetting to mention something of relevance - it can happen to anyone.

If you choose to notify them, make sure you provide enough details for staff to be able to efficiently identify your application and reduce the time the additional information is added to the application itself. Case ID, full name, and DoB as on the application form along with the date on the application and (if possible) the date the HO received your supporting documents should be more than sufficient.

Thank you for this clarity, it is much needed at times of doubt. I prepared a detailed letter and attached all the relevant documents and the decision of the county court and uploaded it to the UKVCAS portal for submitting documents.

[AnotherUUID]

Thank you for this clarity, it is much needed at times of doubt. I prepared a detailed letter and attached all the relevant documents and the decision of the county court and uploaded it to the UKVCAS portal for submitting documents.

No problem.

However, since you've already had your appointment at UKVCAS they may have already sent out your application and supporting documents to the HO. I would highly suggest that you get in touch with the UKVCAS centre that you attended and ask them specifically how to make application updates/changes. Their process wrt updates may be different and, due to the more human effort involved, it may take more time (something you want to reduce as much as possible) before HO actually receive the update. Despite the UKVCAS portal still being open, uploading additional documents to it may or may not guarantee that they will send these updates to HO.

Disclaimer: I personally did not use UKVCAS services for my application, so UKVCAS experienced members may provide a bit more input as to subsequent application updates. In my case (online + existing service) I sent both of my out-of-application updates via Royal Mail directly to HO/UKVI in Liverpool so I definitely knew that they had received them.

[Liai]

Hello Everyone, this site has been very use to me over the years and I am grateful to all those who have made it available.
I’m considering applying for BC next month but I got a TVlicence conviction January 2017, I paid the fine and applied for ILR a few days later and got it.
The TVlicence issue was a huge oversight. I have been paying for TVlicence for many years but I changed my bank account details and forgot to transfer my direct debit to the new account. When I was warned by the TVlicence agent I forgot again again due to difficult child delivery around that period.
I do not have any other convictions but over 8years ago I defaulted on some store cards and credit card and my account was taken to the debt collectors. It has all been sorted out.
Do you think it’s good idea to proceed with the application at this time?
Also, its there a way I can see if I have been taken to court for a debt in the past.
I would greatly appreciate your response.
Liai

Hi, please can someone kindly respond. I am freaking out

[CR001]

Hello Everyone, this site has been very use to me over the years and I am grateful to all those who have made it available.
I’m considering applying for BC next month but I got a TVlicence conviction January 2017, I paid the fine and applied for ILR a few days later and got it.
The TVlicence issue was a huge oversight. I have been paying for TVlicence for many years but I changed my bank account details and forgot to transfer my direct debit to the new account. When I was warned by the TVlicence agent I forgot again again due to difficult child delivery around that period.
I do not have any other convictions but over 8years ago I defaulted on some store cards and credit card and my account was taken to the debt collectors. It has all been sorted out.
Do you think it’s good idea to proceed with the application at this time?
Also, its there a way I can see if I have been taken to court for a debt in the past.
I would greatly appreciate your response.
Liai

Hi, please can someone kindly respond. I am freaking out

If you were convicted in court for non payment of TV licence, then yes, you risk being refused. A member was refused last year for the same conviction.

[Liai]

Hello Everyone, this site has been very use to me over the years and I am grateful to all those who have made it available.
I’m considering applying for BC next month but I got a TVlicence conviction January 2017, I paid the fine and applied for ILR a few days later and got it.
The TVlicence issue was a huge oversight. I have been paying for TVlicence for many years but I changed my bank account details and forgot to transfer my direct debit to the new account. When I was warned by the TVlicence agent I forgot again again due to difficult child delivery around that period.
I do not have any other convictions but over 8years ago I defaulted on some store cards and credit card and my account was taken to the debt collectors. It has all been sorted out.
Do you think it’s good idea to proceed with the application at this time?
Also, its there a way I can see if I have been taken to court for a debt in the past.
I would greatly appreciate your response.
Liai

Hi, please can someone kindly respond. I am freaking out

If you were convicted in court for non payment of TV licence, then yes, you risk being refused. A member was refused last year for the same conviction.

Thanks

[Zeebro44]

Hello guy I'm new here I need some information I'm going to apply BC soon but I read some where HO don't approve overstayed application here is my story

I came in May 2010 as student
My visa expire April 2012 and before 20 days of expire my visa I was registers civil partnership
And latter on some body told my father I'm involve in civil partner ship and my father stop me funding and expensive I become empty and delays my application about spouse visa after 8 month I decide to apply asylum in December 2012 which is grant me just in 15 days last year I got ILR now some body told me u can't apply nationality reason is overstay but home office ask me about overstay in court room and I told them all story and give them proof but now I'm stressed when I heard this one so guy tell me they will refuse my application on good character basis?? Or what

[cardsman]

Hi
I will be eligible to apply for naturalisation next month after completing 12 months on ILR. Have seen different comments (varying application outcomes) posted on this forum with regards to speeding charge hence asking the question again !!!

I got an SP30 charge as per details below:
Penalty points: 3
Offence date: 8 Dec 2017
Expiry date: 8 Dec 2020
Removal date: 8 Dec 2021
Offence details: SP30: Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road

I accepted the charge and paid £100 fine, was not called to the court. This was mentioned in my ILR application filed in March 2018 which was approved, all I want to ask is will it potentially become a ground for refusal of my naturalisation application as a British citizen?

[IceMaN38]

Subject: Naturalisation application and speeding tickets abroad

Dear Members,

Need your advise on the following topic - have spent a lot of time looking for the existing posts, but did not find much for now.

Basically, I'm applying for the UK citizenship in the end of February (12 months with ILR and 6 years in the UK) and thinking how to proceed with 2 speeding tickets I received while on vacation abroad (was renting a car). Had one in Portugal 1.5 years ago and one in Spain last summer - standard camera / radar shots which I received by post after returning to the UK. Have paid both straight away after receiving them in my mailbox.

Have read a lot about the requirements to disclosed Fixed Penalty Notices and that they should not really impact the decision (as far as they are paid and there are not too many of them), however did not find anything on the forum around tickets from abroad.

To provide a full picture, I was never driving in the UK and my driving license is a non-EU one which I could use for car rental outside of the UK (that's what I was doing).

Question 1: Are speeding tickets from abroad (Span, Portugal) need to be declared as well in the application?
Question 2: Are they treated as UK Fixed Penalty Notices?
Question 3: Does it impact my application (good character requirement)?

Many thanks in advance!

[trueblue1981]

Thank you for this clarity, it is much needed at times of doubt. I prepared a detailed letter and attached all the relevant documents and the decision of the county court and uploaded it to the UKVCAS portal for submitting documents.

No problem.

However, since you've already had your appointment at UKVCAS they may have already sent out your application and supporting documents to the HO. I would highly suggest that you get in touch with the UKVCAS centre that you attended and ask them specifically how to make application updates/changes. Their process wrt updates may be different and, due to the more human effort involved, it may take more time (something you want to reduce as much as possible) before HO actually receive the update. Despite the UKVCAS portal still being open, uploading additional documents to it may or may not guarantee that they will send these updates to HO.

Disclaimer: I personally did not use UKVCAS services for my application, so UKVCAS experienced members may provide a bit more input as to subsequent application updates. In my case (online + existing service) I sent both of my out-of-application updates via Royal Mail directly to HO/UKVI in Liverpool so I definitely knew that they had received them.

Thanks again. You are definitely right, so I sent an inquiry to the UKVCAS (new service) through their website and asked them specifically for confirmation that the additional document currently uploaded and showing under my name in their system is sent to HO as well. They still have not replied. Will update once they reply.

[Liai]

Hello Everyone,
In 2011 I was sent summons and bailiff recovery letters from the council for not paying council tax. At the time I was in full time education so I was exempt from paying council tax. I gave my admission letter to the council and the told me I had been cleared.
Pls do I have to declare this in my BC application?
Thanks

[Sagamihara]

Hi all respectable members.I came to the UK October 2001 in visit visa and apply under human rights in November 2008 and got ilr in December 2009. My question is when can I apply for citizenship after November 2018 when I submitted my application or after December 2019 when I got Ilr. Thanks

[Sonu21]

Question on behalf of a friend for British citizenship
He have few convictions
1) on (02/01/2014)

Drink and drive (ban and fine)

2) on 10/03/2016

a) fraud by false Representation
b) driving without insurance
c) taxi touting

Driving ban, fine+100hour Community service

My question is what is best time to apply for citizenship? TIA