EEA Spouse - Getting Citizenship

[k2017]

Hi,

I'm a UK born British Citizen and my wife is a Polish Citizen.

We married last year (June 2016) in the UK and she has been living and working here for 3 years (since March 2014), with a National Insurance number and proof of work. We also have a UK born 1 year old daughter.

My wife has an EEA Registration Certificate, showing her right to live and work in the UK.

The GOV website says that she's eligible for British Citizenship after 3 years as my spouse, but that she also needs a Permanent Residence card. PR cards require you to be in the country for 5 years though.

So, when can she actually apply for British Citizenship?

1. March 2017 - As her spouse is British, she's been in the country 3 years and has a Residency/Registration Certificate
2. March 2019 - After she has spent 5 years in the country and has a PR card
3. March 2022 - 3 years after she has received her PR card

It seems like she's being penalised for being from the EU?! If she was from the US instead of Poland, she'd get British Citizenship after 3 years wouldn't she?

Thanks for any help in clearing this up for me!

[CR001]

Hi,

I'm a UK born British Citizen and my wife is a Polish Citizen.

We married last year (June 2016) in the UK and she has been living and working here for 3 years (since March 2014), with a National Insurance number and proof of work. We also have a UK born 1 year old daughter.

My wife has an EEA Registration Certificate, showing her right to live and work in the UK.

The GOV website says that she's eligible for British Citizenship after 3 years as my spouse, but that she also needs a Permanent Residence card. PR cards require you to be in the country for 5 years though.

So, when can she actually apply for British Citizenship?

1. March 2017 - As her spouse is British, she's been in the country 3 years and has a Residency/Registration Certificate
2. March 2019 - After she has spent 5 years in the country and has a PR card This one
3. March 2022 - 3 years after she has received her PR card

It seems like she's being penalised for being from the EU?! If she was from the US instead of Poland, she'd get British Citizenship after 3 years wouldn't she? No she isnt' and no she wouldn't. She would still require 5 years residence and ILR as a non_EU citizen married to a British spouse. There is no 'short cut route'.

Thanks for any help in clearing this up for me!