Getting British Citizenship can be a life-changing decision for you. This is because it will grant you an ‘indefinite leave to remain’ status, which means that you can live and work in the UK for the rest of your life without having to worry about visa or immigration issues. There are many benefits of acquiring British citizenship which is why people from all over the world try to get it. One of the ways for you to become a naturalized citizen of the United Kingdom is via the UK Ancestry Visa Scheme. This scheme has been designed specifically for those who are eligible family members/spouses/children of citizens or permanent residents in the United Kingdom and have been residing there legally for at least five years.
What is naturalization?
Naturalization is the path that leads to British Citizenship. An individual who gained citizenship in the UK through naturalization is legally known as a “naturalized British citizen”. Naturalization is unrestricted permission to foreign individuals to work, study and settle in the UK. Naturalization is one of the most common ways for an individual outside the EU to settle life in the UK. According to statistics from 2011, about 14,500 people are granted British citizenship through naturalization each year.
British citizenship can be applied for through naturalization. The documentation requirements for applying change from time to time, which is why it is important to stay updated on recent changes. The UK allows different forms of citizenship and there are many eligibility rules and regulations for acquiring British citizenship. This article covers the main steps to becoming a citizen.
To get British Citizenship through Naturalization, you are required to be in the UK for 3 or 5 years and must not have left the UK at least 12 months before the submission of the application. They must also have been able to demonstrate good character during that time, such as not having any criminal convictions or outstanding criminal charges.
British Citizenship Eligibility
If you are interested in UK Citizenship through naturalization, you will need to fulfill several criteria. These vary depending on the length of your residency, age, criminal record, and English language ability.
* You must have been living in the UK with a valid visa and working legally or self-employed.
* You must have a fluent English skills level.
* You must not have criminal convictions recorded against you.
* You must have financial resources enough that you can afford a suitable lifestyle for yourself and your family without depending upon the public funds.
Exemption from English language requirement
You are exempted if:
* You are 65 years old or older.
* Suffer from a physical or mental condition.
* English language proof through degree or research.
Documents for UK citizenship
Authorities demand the following documents from the applicants of UK citizenship.
* Original passport.
* English proficiency certificate.
* Proof of residence and IRL.
* Travel document of last five years.
* Information of previous visas.
How much does it cost?
The government keeps the cost of UK citizenship high to discourage foreigners from acquiring the status. The fees to naturalize as a British citizen are currently over £1,000 and it increases from time to time.
According to the Home Office, the average fee for an application is £1,330. This includes £873 for the first adult applicant, £764 for any dependents (if applicable), and £80 citizenship fee. There are also non-refundable biometric fees of £19.20 per person.
Rejection of application
Your application can be rejected due to the following reasons:
* On basis of character.
* Employment history.
* Existing CCJ.
* Tax reasons.
Duration of British Citizenship application through naturalization process?
It takes almost 3 months to get the application processed for UK citizenship.
It’s the dream of many people to obtain a visa to remain UK. They want to enjoy a better lifestyle and facilities as compared to what they have in their Home country. The UK offers citizenship to many people from foreign countries based on different criteria. You can gain British Citizenship in many ways.
Also, getting citizenship through naturalization is a complex process so, to get things, you must seek help from expert immigration lawyers at Total.law. Rejection of your application can waste a lot of your time and money and you won’t do that especially if the reason for rejection is a simple one that could be avoided easily if you had proper guidance earlier. Contact the best immigration lawyers today and get a positive result on your British citizenship application.
