Citizenship Application Procedure after ILR SET(M) - Reference Doc

Hi All-

Just booked my biometrics. Hope I am not asking a question that has been asked before but want to get this right for obvious reasons. On the UKVACS site for uploading my support docs it asks for my passport of course but they also want the "Proof of living in the UK for 3 years as spouse of UK citizen". In previous posts, it was stated that our passports would show we had lived here for 3 years (assuming one had). Which I have. Sooooo.... should I re-upload my passport into this field? Or is it better to play it safe and provide bank statements and utility bills? I recently read a disturbing post about one of our UKY comrades getting to their appointment and having to run home and provide these. Just want to get it right.

Thanks,
NWKH

Hi All-

Just booked my biometrics. Hope I am not asking a question that has been asked before but want to get this right for obvious reasons. On the UKVACS site for uploading my support docs it asks for my passport of course but they also want the "Proof of living in the UK for 3 years as spouse of UK citizen". In previous posts, it was stated that our passports would show we had lived here for 3 years (assuming one had). Which I have. Sooooo.... should I re-upload my passport into this field? Or is it better to play it safe and provide bank statements and utility bills? I recently read a disturbing post about one of our UKY comrades getting to their appointment and having to run home and provide these. Just want to get it right.

Thanks,
NWKH

Your passport IS your proof of living here three years. Upload it only once, there is so little to upload for the citizenship application that it’s all easy for them to see.


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Thanks so much Rick.

Just want to get it right. So I should upload NOTHING for this field "Proof of living in the UK for 5 years....." on the website??

Thanks,

NWKH

As long as you uploaded the required documents….and there aren’t many….you’ll be fine. I picked the most likely place for each document and went for it.


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Citizenship Application after ILR SET(M) Reference Doc
Updated 15th Aug 2023

Any help or info to improve this doc is appreciated.

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION/PASSPORT - (DIFFERENT FROM ILR)
1) Before you can apply for a passport you need to become a UK citizen by applying for citizenship and then attending a UK citizenship ceremony.
2) If you are married to a UK citizen, you can apply for citizenship as soon as you have ILR as long as you meet the 3-year residency requirements.
3) It costs about £1300 for citizenship and can take up to 6 months for processing. You then have 3 months to attend to citizenship ceremony after that.
4) Once you have UK citizenship, you can apply for a UK passport, which is about £80 and takes up to a few weeks for processing.

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION
1)   Fill out the Application Form
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-naturalise-as-a-british-citizen-form-an/apply-online-form-an
2)   There are links to the Referee Forms.
One referee should be a person of any nationality who has professional standing, such as a minister of religion, civil servant, or a member of a professional body such as an accountant or solicitor (who is not representing you with this application). The other referee must normally be the holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or over the age of 25.
You will need their:
• Name
• DOB
• Passport Number
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Profession
• Address
• Residential addresses for 3 years
• Relationship to applicant
3)   Submit Form + Pay Fee (£1330 in August 2022)
4)   Mandatory Actions – includes Referee Forms (again) + Family Consent for Verification Checks form.
5)   Sopra Steria. You love it.
Look out for an email sent to your registered UKVCAS email address called:
Book your UKVCAS appointment now or Download the UKVCAS IDV app now (IDV = UKVCAS Identity Verification)
You can then go ahead and either book a UKVCAS appointment or download and use the IDV app so UKVI can process your application
If you have not received an email within 14 days inviting you to book an appointment or use the IDV app, get in touch with UKVCAS.Register and book Biometric Appointment.
You will not be able to use the IDV app unless you receive an invitation from UKVCAS. If you are using the IDV app, don’t book a UKVCAS appointment.
6)   Upload Docs before Biometric Appointment (must complete at least 48hours before) or take the docs to the Appointment if you have booked/paid to have them scanned.

Citizenship is a completely different type of application and is in no way comparable to a spousal visa, FLR or ILR.
It is not a visa and it has almost no requirements. It is the easiest application you will fill in.

For citizenship (if married to a UK citizen), the only requirements are:
- Hold ILR.
- Married to a UK citizen.
- 3-year residency requirement (in UK 3 years prior to application date and no more than 270 days outside the UK in last 3 years) .
- Proof of Living in the UK for 3 years if applying as the spouse of a British Citizen (or 5 years if applying in your own right). (For most applications this will be your passports but if your passports do not confirm this, letters from employers, educational establishments or other Government Departments indicating presence in UK.)
- Good character requirement (no unspent convictions and you have been paying your taxes).
- 2 referees to confirm your identity.

None of the spousal visa requirements apply to citizenship. There is:
- No accommodation requirement
- No financial requirement
- No relationship requirement (other than your marriage certificate)

Unless you are self-employed, pretty much the only documents you should need for citizenship are:
- Applicant’s passport
- UK spouse’s passport
- ILR BRP card
- Marriage certificate
- Life in the UK test reference number
- 2 referee forms
- Consent for Verification Checks form


Citizenship Timelines.
Time from completing Citizenship Application to Biometrics - approx 21 Days according to one recent Applicant.
There is no Priority Service available for Citizenship Applications because it is not a visa.
*Average Citizenship Application processing times 8-12 weeks (Nov 2022)* 










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Citizenship Application after ILR SET(M) Reference Doc
Updated 15th Aug 2023

Any help or info to improve this doc is appreciated.

Maybe worth mentioning that if you are over 65 years old or have a long-term physical or mental condition you are exempt from the Life in the UK test?

Mbmoffat, your help is really appreciated. This list was crucial to me when I was submitting last month.
Would you be able to clarify regarding the Consent for Verification Forms? It's definitely a common question on this and other threads because you've got it listed, but the citizenship application at no point asks for or provides this form. So I think there is a lot of confusion about it. Would you be able to give any info regarding why you've got it listed? I know I was scared enough about it to use th link that Ksand24 provided and submitted them just in case because youve listed it, but the application does not actually ask for them.

Mbmoffat, your help is really appreciated. This list was crucial to me when I was submitting last month.
Would you be able to clarify regarding the Consent for Verification Forms? It's definitely a common question on this and other threads because you've got it listed, but the citizenship application at no point asks for or provides this form. So I think there is a lot of confusion about it. Would you be able to give any info regarding why you've got it listed? I know I was scared enough about it to use th link that Ksand24 provided and submitted them just in case because youve listed it, but the application does not actually ask for them.

It depends which type of application you are making as to whether the consent forms are required or not…. And I can never remember which applications require it and which don’t.

Rule of thumb:

- if the online application asks for it, fill it out and include it (the application should give you a link to the form)

- if the online application does not ask for it, do not include it, as it will not be required


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Citizenship Application after ILR SET(M) Reference Doc
Updated 21st Aug 2023

Any help or info to improve this doc is appreciated.

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION/PASSPORT - (DIFFERENT FROM ILR)
1) Before you can apply for a passport you need to become a UK citizen by applying for citizenship and then attending a UK citizenship ceremony.
2) If you are married to a UK citizen, you can apply for citizenship as soon as you have ILR as long as you meet the 3-year residency requirements.
3) It costs about £1300 for citizenship and can take up to 6 months for processing. You then have 3 months to attend to citizenship ceremony after that.
4) Once you have UK citizenship, you can apply for a UK passport, which is about £80 and takes up to a few weeks for processing.

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION
1)   Fill out the Application Form
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-naturalise-as-a-british-citizen-form-an/apply-online-form-an
2)   There are links to the Referee Forms.
One referee should be a person of any nationality who has professional standing, such as a minister of religion, civil servant, or a member of a professional body such as an accountant or solicitor (who is not representing you with this application). The other referee must normally be the holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or over the age of 25.
You will need their:
• Name
• DOB
• Passport Number
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Profession
• Address
• Residential addresses for 3 years
• Relationship to applicant
3)   Submit Form + Pay Fee (£1330 in August 2022)
4)   Mandatory Actions – includes Referee Forms (again) + Family Consent for Verification Checks form (if requested - this requirement seems to vary).
5)   Sopra Steria. You love it.
Look out for an email sent to your registered UKVCAS email address called:
Book your UKVCAS appointment now or Download the UKVCAS IDV app now (IDV = UKVCAS Identity Verification)
You can then go ahead and either book a UKVCAS appointment or download and use the IDV app so UKVI can process your application
If you have not received an email within 14 days inviting you to book an appointment or use the IDV app, get in touch with UKVCAS.Register and book Biometric Appointment.
You will not be able to use the IDV app unless you receive an invitation from UKVCAS. If you are using the IDV app, don’t book a UKVCAS appointment.
6)   Upload Docs before Biometric Appointment (must complete at least 48hours before) or take the docs to the Appointment if you have booked/paid to have them scanned.

Citizenship is a completely different type of application and is in no way comparable to a spousal visa, FLR or ILR.
It is not a visa and it has almost no requirements. It is the easiest application you will fill in.

For citizenship (if married to a UK citizen), the only requirements are:
- Hold ILR.
- Married to a UK citizen.
- 3-year residency requirement (in UK 3 years prior to application date and no more than 270 days outside the UK in last 3 years) .
- Proof of Living in the UK for 3 years if applying as the spouse of a British Citizen (or 5 years if applying in your own right). (For most applications this will be your passports but if your passports do not confirm this, letters from employers, educational establishments or other Government Departments indicating presence in UK.)
- Good character requirement (no unspent convictions and you have been paying your taxes).
- 2 referees to confirm your identity.

None of the spousal visa requirements apply to citizenship. There is:
- No accommodation requirement
- No financial requirement
- No relationship requirement (other than your marriage certificate)

Unless you are self-employed, pretty much the only documents you should need for citizenship are:
- Applicant’s passport
- UK spouse’s passport
- ILR BRP card
- Marriage certificate
- Life in the UK test reference number
- 2 referee forms
- Consent for Verification Checks form (if requested - this requirement seems to vary).


Citizenship Timelines.
Time from completing Citizenship Application to Biometrics - approx 21 Days according to one recent Applicant.
There is no Priority Service available for Citizenship Applications because it is not a visa.
*Average Citizenship Application processing times 8-12 weeks (Nov 2022)* 










.

Mbmoffat, your help is really appreciated. This list was crucial to me when I was submitting last month.
Would you be able to clarify regarding the Consent for Verification Forms? It's definitely a common question on this and other threads because you've got it listed, but the citizenship application at no point asks for or provides this form. So I think there is a lot of confusion about it. Would you be able to give any info regarding why you've got it listed? I know I was scared enough about it to use th link that Ksand24 provided and submitted them just in case because youve listed it, but the application does not actually ask for them.

Thanks for this great input - I tried to nail it all but there are some variables. We definitely had to submit Consent Forms and the Doc was originally based on our process.

I have adjusted the Reference Doc to reflect your suggestion:
"4)   Mandatory Actions – includes Referee Forms (again) + Family Consent for Verification Checks form (if requested - this requirement seems to vary). "
+
"- Consent for Verification Checks form (if requested - this requirement seems to vary)."

This thread is really helpful. Thanks for putting it together and all the useful questions.

I'm filing out my application now. When they ask for previous immigration applications, do they want a rundown of every visa I've received in the UK? Or, is the information from my Indefinite Leave to Remain visa enough?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Cheers,
Julie

This thread is really helpful. Thanks for putting it together and all the useful questions.

I'm filing out my application now. When they ask for previous immigration applications, do they want a rundown of every visa I've received in the UK? Or, is the information from my Indefinite Leave to Remain visa enough?

Never mind on this. Thanks for all the info in this thread. So helpful.

My application is in, biometrics in a few weeks. Here we go again!

Good luck! 

Hi all.
My wait is finally over.
Applied online: 25th May 2023
Biometrics: 17th June 2023
Received approval: not yet
Received email from council inviting me for ceremony: 15th September 2023

Thankyou for all your help everyone and good luck to those waiting

Hi all.
My wait is finally over.
Applied online: 25th May 2023
Biometrics: 17th June 2023
Received approval: not yet
Received email from council inviting me for ceremony: 15th September 2023

Thankyou for all your help everyone and good luck to those waiting

Congratulations!