NCS 5 years in the country before application

[Valentina83]

Hi All,

I have a little doubt now re-reading the NA booklet.
It says that the application had to be in the country 5 years before the same day the application reach the home office. I've been told by a friend that did the application that this is applicable to the NCS appointment.

I've booked for tomorrow, 5 years ago on the 19th (until the 26th) I was away.
If it is applicable to the NCS appointment I'm fine, if it's about the day the documentation will reach the home office I'm basically screwed.

Can someone clear this for me? Thank you!

[ariskar]

Hi All,

I have a little doubt now re-reading the NA booklet.
It says that the application had to be in the country 5 years before the same day the application reach the home office. I've been told by a friend that did the application that this is applicable to the NCS appointment.

I've booked for tomorrow, 5 years ago on the 19th (until the 26th) I was away.
If it is applicable to the NCS appointment I'm fine, if it's about the day the documentation will reach the home office I'm basically screwed.

Can someone clear this for me? Thank you!

You should be ok. The HO receives special delivery the next working day (18th in your case) which should still be fine. If you departed UK on 19th (5 years ago) you would still count as present for the part of the day you were in the country, which gives an extra day.

If you date and sign your application with the NCS date and write in a cover letter explicitly that 5 years before the date of your application through NCS (17th Jan 2013) you were present, you should be fine.

Double check with NCS officer. They may guide you better. If you still have doubts, rebook NCS for a week later or so, you risk far less money than the naturalisation fee.

[CR001]

Date of application is the date of your NCS appointment if you apply using NCS.

[Valentina83]

Hi All,

I have a little doubt now re-reading the NA booklet.
It says that the application had to be in the country 5 years before the same day the application reach the home office. I've been told by a friend that did the application that this is applicable to the NCS appointment.

I've booked for tomorrow, 5 years ago on the 19th (until the 26th) I was away.
If it is applicable to the NCS appointment I'm fine, if it's about the day the documentation will reach the home office I'm basically screwed.

Can someone clear this for me? Thank you!

You should be ok. The HO receives special delivery the next working day (18th in your case) which should still be fine. If you departed UK on 19th (5 years ago) you would still count as present for the part of the day you were in the country, which gives an extra day.

If you date and sign your application with the NCS date and write in a cover letter explicitly that 5 years before the date of your application through NCS (17th Jan 2013) you were present, you should be fine.

Double check with NCS officer. They may guide you better. If you still have doubts, rebook NCS for a week later or so, you risk far less money than the naturalisation fee.

the NCS appointment page says "When selecting your appointment you must ensure that the applicant(s) were physically present in the UK exactly 5 years to the day from the date of the appointment (3 years if married/civil partnered to a UK citizen)"
I suppose I'm still fine then. In case I'll go and if it's not fine I go another time, I have to re-pay anyway in that case.

Thank you for replying!