The most common way of becoming a British citizen is through a process called naturalisation.
What are the requirements for British Citizenship naturalisation?
The requirements for naturalisation differ if you are a spouse of a British citizen, however, if you are applying by yourself you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be of good character, e.g. You must not have a serious criminal record or a recent criminal record. This also applies to immigration offences within the past 10 years or if you have tried to deceive the Home Office.
- Continue to live in the UK
- Meet the knowledge of English and life in the UK test requirements
You must also have:
- Lived in the UK for at least 5 years before you apply
- Not have spent more than 450 days outside of the UK during those 5 years
- Not have spent more than 90 days outside of the UK in the past 12 months
- Have indefinite leave to remain in the UK or permanent residence if you are an EEA national
- Have had your indefinite leave to remain in the UK for at least 12 months prior to your application
- Not have broken any immigration rules while you have been in the UK
What conditions apply for when you are wanting British Citizenship?
You can apply for British citizenship if your spouse is a British citizen and:
- You are aged 18 or over
- You are sound of mind, e.g. You are able to make decisions for yourself
- You are of good character
- You meet the knowledge of English and life in the UK test requirements
- You have been granted indefinite leave to remain, or permanent residence if you are an EEA national
- You must have lived in the UK for at least 3 years before you submit an application
- You must not have spent more than 270 outside of the UK during those 3 years
- You must not have spent more than 90 days outside of the UK in the past 12 months
- You must not have broken any immigration rules while you have been in the UK
How do I change my immigration visa, type of leave or immigration status?
If you needed a visa initially when you entered the UK, you will likely need to make an application to the Home Office to change your status of immigration. JMR Solicitors can help you change your status of immigration. If you are in the UK already and you submit a legal application before your present visa runs out, the circumstances of your existing status remain unaffected outside the normal expiration date. This continues until the Home Office make a decision on your case and until any consequent appeal process completes.
If you need advice about which type of visa is most appropriate for you, JMR solicitors can offer you a consultation today. Contact us now for your free immigration 30-minute consultation.
How do I appeal against a refusal of leave, visa, British citizenship of British passport?
The First-Tier Tribunal hears appeals in contradiction of immigration decisions of the Secretary of State and Entry Clearance Officers. Only some immigration decisions come with a right of appeal to the Tribunal. In recent years the government has reduced the number of decisions which come with a right of appeal.
If you have been given a notice of decision which carries a right of appeal, you may begin an appeal by sending the notice of decision and completed appeal forms to the Tribunal. This process must be done within strict time limits and therefore it is vital you consult JMR solicitors as soon as possible.
This is because the correct procedure for conducting appeals before the Tribunal is not apparent and you may wish to seek legal advice. Our immigration solicitors have significant experience of support before the Tribunal.