Applying for citizenship etc

[Cheffie]

Howzit all

Shortly I will have to do the whole citizenship thing.

I would like some advice (where possible with links etc) on the following:

(note - please make it idiot proof as I don't want to waste your time, and you mine )

Dual nationality? Steps etc required, time frames etc.

Citizenship (British)? Been on ILR for a year after WP for 4years. Steps to apply for this, time frame, costs etc.

British passport? Wait for the biometric ones? Steps to apply for the passport etc.

Any other relevant info I need?

Many thanks in advance for advice and help
G

[dudette]

Hi Cheffie
Congrats on finally making it to short finals... the process is not as difficult as you might expect.

The link you require for the IND is http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/
http://www.workpermit.com/uk/naturalisation.htm ... sorry if this doesn't work, but seems ok (my usual link isn't working this morning )

When we applied 2 years ago, we didn't have to go through the rigmorale of proving we were English speaking, so I am not sure of the requirements, but as far as I remember all you needed was
Firstly you send a letter to the British Home Ofice giving your passport and birth details and request a letter from them saying that you have not yet applied for British citizenship.

When you have received this, you then send your section 6 application too SA House
http://www.southafricahouse.com/hacs/retention.htm. You need not wait for this to come back before applying for naturalisation though.
Then you complete the form you downloaded off the IND website (hopefully it can be found at my link )
On the same website, it clearly gave advice for your application.(Form N, I think) If you follow that, you should have no problems.
Our application took 4 weeks before they debited our card, and then 6 weeks later we got our letter and passports back.

We sent off our first letter in March and our citizenship ceremony was on the 24th June.

My sister in law though sent in her application a week earlier than ours and only after badgering her MP twice, did they get their applications through in August!
So I am not sure what the time frame is at the moment, but hopefully you're one of the lucky ones

Passport application is even easier. Just get a form from the post office and they do it for a small fee. And they guarantee you get it back in 2 weeks
Costs? http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/_2_howtoapply/2_w...urrentfees

http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/_1_applications/1_contents.asp

The link above also discusses biometric passports.

Enjoy and let us know how you proceed. If you need any more info please don't hesitate to shout.

[TracyW]

Thanks for this as I am also about to do mine in April this year. Had a mad panic last week, thought I had lost my passport :yikes: but thankfully found it.

[mcamp999]

Cheffie, am in the process of doing this at present, there are a few extra hurdles now, you have to do a citizenship test as well as a few othewr things since Dudette when through the hoops.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/.../app...tionality/
I will PM my phone numbers and you can contact me about the process. We sent our papers off two weeks ago.

[Cheffie]

Hi dudette and Mcamp

Thanks for the tips etc.

Will let you know how it progresses
G

[Ray]

as long as you get "naturalisation" paper , and/or a Brit-drivers' licence and a few utility bills and/or such supporting docs ; the U.K. passport is real EASY , thereafter ..as in : no sweat , jis' a few Xtra mugshot pics ...and some fistfulls of squids more !

[spam]

Howzit all

Shortly I will have to do the whole citizenship thing.

I would like some advice (where possible with links etc) on the following:

(note - please make it idiot proof as I don't want to waste your time, and you mine )

Dual nationality? Steps etc required, time frames etc.

Citizenship (British)? Been on ILR for a year after WP for 4years. Steps to apply for this, time frame, costs etc.

British passport? Wait for the biometric ones? Steps to apply for the passport etc.

Any other relevant info I need?

Many thanks in advance for advice and help
G

Gee there is just no telling who they will give citizenship to these days......
Been a long haul but i hope it all goes OK.....you still at the place in Richmond???

[Cheffie]

Gee there is just no telling who they will give citizenship to these days......
Been a long haul but i hope it all goes OK.....you still at the place in Richmond???

LOL... stranger things have happened. Who knows perhaps they might even let me cook for a living here too

Yup.. still in East Sheen. Will catch up on phone soon.

Ray.. you make it sound so easy LOL

I see mcamp has left a thread so will look into that too. Cheers Mcamp :thumbs:

[Ray]

O.K. , we're talking early 1995 , when I applied for mine ;
after a few months of worrying , and still not getting any response at all , I phoned them up and was told that my Certificate of Naturalistion had been posted to me , in ordinary mail , some "weeks ago" already...
In traditional Brit-manner , Royal Mail cold-bloodedly denied any wrongdoing or losing the document...
So , since it appers that one can't get a duplicate , I got issued with a letter which confirms the issuance of the Certificate , which I only pull out of safe once in every 10 years i.e. when applying for a new passport .
Oh , but the joys of travelling on a Brit-passport are terrific , so I wish you :
well and soon to get one !
East Sheen used to be in my "areas of frequent visits" , as I then resided in Esher , Oxshott , Cobham - but our S.A. and other friends were mostly in the stretch Wimbledon - Putney - Kingston - Richmond...
Good Luck , Mate !