Correct path to citizenship - things got confusing

[agramer]

Hi all,

I'm not sure whether this is the right forum for it, so feel free to direct me to the appropriate one. Things got confusing in the last few months, so I'm not even sure where to post.

Until July 1, 2013, things were clear. My wife (citizen of Cyprus) and I (citizen of Croatia) got married in 2010. At that time I received a visa to come and live with her in the UK ("non-EU spouse of the EU citizen exercising treaty rights"). I've been in that status for approx three years and everything was peachy.

Then on July 1, 2013, Croatia joined the EU, so all of a sudden I was "EU spouse of the EU citizen exercising treaty rights".

Then few days ago, my wife became a UK citizen, passport in hand. Now I seem to be a "EU spouse of the UK citizen". Completely upside down from when we started.

As my goal is British citizenship, I have no clue what counts towards it anymore and when I can actually apply for the ILR. I don't want to lose 3.5 years I've been here already. If I wait another 1.5 years, will I be eligible for ILR? Or will 3.5 years be wiped away and I have to wait another 5 years? Or ...? What will I be applying as, which of the three scenarios above?

Any suggestions where to look or whom to talk to are more than welcome. Thanks in advance!

[Jambo]

The fact that Croatia is now part of the EU doesn't change the fact that you are still a family member of a EEA national.

Once you complete 5 years of residence in the UK as a family member of EEA national (who has obtained PR status), you will obtain PR status. Once you obtain PR status, you can apply for naturalisation as a spouse of a British citizen. Probably sometime in 2015.