Naturalisation
Naturalisation and Registration for British Citizenship with Legal Pathway Solicitors
Introduction
Acquiring UK citizenship through naturalization is the ultimate goal for many immigrants who wish to settle permanently in the UK. With Legal Pathway Solicitors, you can enjoy a smooth naturalization process and live, work, study, and travel without immigration restrictions.
Application Process for British Citizenship
To successfully apply for UK Citizenship, you must complete and submit the citizenship application, which requires details to prove your eligibility, including employment status, proof of residency, biographical information, and evidence of genuine relationship (for spouses of British citizens). Additionally, you must provide details of two referees who must validate your correct information.
Step-by-Step Guidelines
To guide you through the process of applying for UK citizenship, Legal Pathway Solicitors has a step-by-step guide that includes checking if you meet the essential requirements, gathering all the required supporting documents, completing an online application form, and paying the UK citizenship cost of approximately £1,330, plus an additional £19.20 for biometric enrolment (fingerprints and photographs). You also need to upload the scanned documents using the online portal, book and attend the biometric appointment at the UKVCAS centre and arrange and attend the Citizenship ceremony once you have received a UK naturalisation invitation letter within three months of the letter.
Residency Requirements
To meet the Citizenship UK residency requirements, you need a valid certificate of English language and Life in the UK (UK Citizenship) test, evidence of a valid passport, birth certificate, and a valid travel document, if applicable, proof of past immigration history/status, proof of Indefinite Leave to Remain status or EU settled status, and proof of lawfully residing in the UK during the qualifying period. You also need to provide travel details of any time spent outside the UK and show that you were not absent from the UK for more than 450 days during your 5-year qualifying period. Additionally, you must provide proof of character suitability requirements, such as not breaching the immigration laws, and proof of exercising the treaty rights in three or five years, depending on your immigration status.
Referees Requirements
Legal Pathway Solicitors emphasizes that your UK Citizenship application must be duly certified by at least two referees, who will undersign to validate that you have provided the correct details. One of the referees must be a British citizen, and both must satisfy the reasonable character requirements and not have violated any law in the last ten years.
Differences between British Citizenship by Naturalisation and Indefinite Leave to Remain
Although naturalization UK and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allow you to work, study, and live in the United Kingdom without immigration restrictions, there are significant differences. With British Citizenship/Nationality, you can enjoy the full rights of a UK citizen, leave, and enter the UK without any immigration restrictions or control, and not have to abide by the 180-day absence rule, which implies that your period of absence from the UK will not affect your immigration status. On the other hand, with ILR, you are granted Indefinite Leave to Remain after your qualifying period under strict Home Office rules and regulations. With ILR, you can access public funds, including government bursaries, state pensions, etc. Likewise, you can enter and return to the UK without applying for an immigration visa. Nonetheless, you cannot remain absent from the UK for more than 2-years, or your ILR status will lapse.
Renouncing your Nationality
If you are a holder of dual nationality (citizen of another country), you can renounce your UK citizenship by naturalization status. Nonetheless, you may not need to give up your British nationality if you wish to register as a citizen of another country that allows dual Citizenship. However, if you are willing to give up your British citizenship, for instance, to become a national of any other country that does not allow British Citizenship, you will receive a ‘declaration of renunciation’ once your request is approved. While this may affect your UK naturalization, other family members can retain their UK citizenship as British nationals.
Requirements to apply for UK Citizenship by Descent
You may apply for UK citizenship/naturalization by descent if you were born outside the UK/abroad and your grandfather was a British-born employed in crown service. However, you will not automatically acquire nationality by descent in the UK if your parents were British Citizens.
Applying for UK Citizenship as a Refugee
With the announcement of Borders, Citizenship, and Immigration act 2009, there are three stages for refugees to acquire permanent residence and UK naturalization (Citizenship), and these include securing Temporary residence status (five years), Probationary Citizenship (One to three years), and getting full Citizenship (naturalization) or Indefinite status.
Track Naturalisation Application UK
Generally, the average processing time for a UK Citizenship application is within three to six weeks or even longer, depending on the complexity of your case. Interestingly, you can travel abroad while your UK Citizenship application is still being processed. Although the online tracking system is unavailable, you may contact the UKVI via email or a call to inquire about your status.
Conclusion
Legal Pathway Solicitors can assist you in acquiring UK citizenship through naturalization, providing step-by-step guidelines, meeting residency requirements, guiding you through the application process, referee requirements, and renouncing your nationality. Legal Pathway Solicitors is dedicated to providing a seamless and stress-free process of acquiring UK citizenship.
