how long does it take to get British citizenship after applying?
In order to apply for British citizenship, you must complete a number of steps. First, you will need to be in the UK. You then have to prove that you have been living in the UK with a permanent residence status for at least five years and regularly paying tax and national insurance (if applicable). After this is done, you need to apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’, which allows you to live in the UK indefinitely – with no time limit on how long you can stay.
What are the British Citizenship requirements?
To become a British citizen, you must have been resident in the UK for 4 years (known as ‘the residential qualifying period’) and hold indefinite leave to remain. After 3 years of residence, you can apply for naturalisation; and meet the other eligibility requirements; and pass the Life in the UK test – this is also known as “English for Speakers of Other Languages” or ESOL. You may be able to get extra help with your English if you need it; and bring your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner who has lived with you in the UK for at least 3 years on a family permit which was valid on the day you applied. We call this person your ‘sponsor’. Sponsorship ends when you become a British citizen. The person who sponsors you should be your husband, wife, or civil partner; and pay an application fee
How can I become a British citizen by Naturalization?
To become a British citizen by naturalization, an applicant must usually be aged 18 or over and pass the “Life in the UK” test. The Life in the UK test will cost you £50. You can prepare for the Life in the UK test by buying official study guides. The cost of materials is not part of becoming a British Citizen and has paid separately. You can also take your own notes with you on Test Day (if they’re not too much like course material). Also, if English is not your first language, then there are books that help people learn English at lower levels. For instance, A2-B1 are beginner’s level while B2-C1 are more advanced. The book costs £20 and has plenty of tests on the back of it so you can gauge your level.
What is the British Citizenship application form?
Under British nationality law, there is a section that asks about your relationships with other people. Many times, we forget to answer these questions. But it’s important to answer them because they can affect your immigration status and eligibility for benefits. It is about:
#1: Your relationship with your sponsor? If you are sponsored by someone else and you marry or change civil partnership to that person, then you might be ineligible for many of the family-dependent visas depending on what kind of visa you have applied for. Click here for more information. #2: Your relationship with another member (s) of your family? For example, even if one of your parents lives with you at least half the time yet not as a spouse or partner or civil/married partner, you may have to apply for a Residence Card as a ‘family member’ instead of the family visa.
How can I acquire British Citizenship by Marriage?
Applying on the basis of marriage does not make you automatically eligible for British citizenship, but there is an accelerated path to becoming a legal Permanent Resident of the UK allowing you to ultimately qualify for settlement without requiring additional periods of leave. For most couples, this means that after years of marriage the person who is not yet a British citizen having “qualified” for settlement will be able to apply straight away for UK citizenship.
If you are marry or in a civil partnership with a British Citizen, after 5 years of residence in the country, you are easily applying for Permanent Residence. This requires that both of you have had Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover throughout your time of residence which means that it’s important to check what your existing health insurance options are under your partner’s employer package before arriving if possible. Also, during the five-year period, one of you must have held indefinite leave to remain so long as this was not grant on some other basis.
Advantages to becoming a British citizen
- the right to live in the UK forever – your status will be permanently settel
- the right to hold a British passport
- full civic rights – this includes the right to vote in elections and the right to stand for public office
- free NHS medical care
- no restrictions on your right to work
- unrestricted entry to the UK
- no restrictions on travelling abroad
British citizenship fees 2021
Accordingly, the British Naturalisation fees will remain at £1,330, inclusive of the citizenship ceremony fee of £80.
What can I do if my application for British citizenship is refues?
If a naturalisation application is refuses, then there is no right of appeal against the decision. You can submit a request for reconsideration of the decision using form NR if you have extremely strong grounds to believe your application shouldn’t have been refusing – this is an internal review process.
How we can help?
At Immigration Solicitors UK, we are more than happy to assist you if you meet the basic eligibility criteria. There is nothing adverse against you that may stop you from entering the UK.
Immigration solicitors 4me is an SRA-regulated law firm. We have a client base all over the UK and the world. Professionalism and client care are our core attributes leading to numerous happy clients.
Our success rate is over 98% owing to the expertise and thoroughness of our legal staff. Especially, when it comes to refusal, our legal approach is very pragmatic and realistic and we offer our client assurance of the best legal advice.
We are accessible 24/7 in case of any emergency, detention or deportation, refusal of entry at airports.
We have specialized client coordinators to deal with initial free assessments and they are very passionate about their work. Our bilingual staff assists the clients to discuss their legal matters with someone very close and understanding.
