Citizenship help

[WorkingMummy]

Dear Forumites,

Right to remain and right to work is obviously a big concern for many families in our area right now. And many people with big emotional and social (not to mention financial) investments in our community do not want to wait 2 years for ??? Boris or someone to sort out what their rights will be at the end of 2018.

Does anyone have a reliable rule of thumb guide to applying for citizenship? Chez nous we have a Swedish national who has lived and worked as a member of our family (paying taxes etc etc) for 5.5 years. Her work and importance to our family certainly makes her feel irreplaceable to us. She has (culturally non european) extensive wider family here in London but she is not married and has no children of her own. We also have a Swiss national (so non EU, but bilateral border arrangement) who has lived and worked here for more than 10 years, has British children here, (but is not married and is not cohabiting with a UK citizen or anything like that).

The details do not matter too much, but does anyone with expertise have any kind of gauge: easy, guaranteed, hard, not guaranteed?

Peoples' lives feel turned upside down and many feel so shunned and insecure. In our household it would be so good to have something solid for us all to look to personally.

Slightly ashamed that I do not know the answer to this question. But we never dreamed we would have to answer it when we started our family.

WM x

[Loz]

When I got my citizenship (admittedly about 10 years ago) it was granted based on 5 years residency. It looks like that is still the main criteria.

https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen

You might want to check the rules of their other country as well. Some countries have rules around dual nationalities, especially where it is not by birthright.

When I did it, it was incredibly easy - fill out a form, send it off with the necessary documentation and two weeks later I received my certificate through the post. That's changed now - you have to do the rather silly 'test' and go through the even more silly ceremony.

[civilservant]

WM - a great post on the other thread

i am sorry that i don't have an answer to your question, but as i said before many in my immediate family are in exactly the same situation. this applies to loads more people, and will be a real issue for whoever takes over from Cameron (and Corbyn). Farage's wretched mob and their allies and supporters chose to paint them as scroungers and burdens, but they are irreplaceable within this country's economy for all sorts of reasons - this is the unpalatable (to them) truth that the Brexiters will have to face up to.

so any future plans for EU residents will have to factor these economic realities in.

we are going to go through hard times and we can ill afford to lose skilled and committed and well-integrated people. i expect that there will laso be a lot of legal challenge to any attempt to shift people, which will slow the process down.

i would say hang on and see what transpires, and don't lose heart! that's what we plan to do.

[midivydale]

wm, pls pm me. I am currently working out my own situation and happy to share findings with your Swedish friend. Sweden accepts dual citizenship. X

[WorkingMummy]

Thank you Loz and CS. Really helpful words.

We are going to go for citizenship to try to regain the certainty we had last week.

[civilservant]

good luck - let me know if i can help, and who knows, i might ask yours instead!

[muffins78]

I'm looking into this too! There are two things listed, one is a certificate if you've lived here for at least 5 years, and then citizenship if you've lived here for 6 years.

Do we need to get the certificate thing first? Or can we go straight for the citizenship? I've checked the dual nationality aspect, and I'm eligible or that.

It's rather long winded!! :) thanks!!

[shaunag]

whatever you need to do, do it quick. There will be a big queue and they may try to change the rules...

[picknmix]

WM, I just recently got my citizenship and it is pretty straight forward if you read the procedure via www.gov.uk. If you need to have some clarification or compare notes Im okay to chat and give you a good insight of what they need to provide and how to go with it. Just PM me. x

[jaywalker]

Shaunag is right - don't delay. The rules will change very fast as the implications become clear. I am deeply ashamed of my country right now.

[LondonMix]

My experience of this was 5 years gets you indefinite leave to remain. One year after that you can get citizenship. You need 5 years of employment (years studying do not count).

You cannot skip straight to citizenship but indefinite leave to remain is more than secure enough from a right to live and work in the UK perspective.

Good luck with the specifics. My heart goes out to you and all others directly impacted.

[midivydale]

I have started this process now, you do need to apply for indefinate leave to remain first, but if you qualify for citizenship you can apply straight away after you have received your card. You do not need to wait a certain amount of time (if you fulfil the criteria).