Citizenship

Hi
Been awhile since I’ve been here and finally doing my citizenship. I see, I have to upload documents pertaining how long I’ve lived in the UK which has been almost 9 years and married to a British citizen. I’m assuming, I need to prove 3 years? What documentation are they looking for as I’ve already added when all my visas were approved in the application section when asked. I don’t work so I can’t use P60’s anything work related. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you


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As you are married to a UK citizen, the only document you need to upload in order to prove your residency is your passport.

From the paper Form AN for citizenship (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67921baca0bd2a64fc27fbf0/form-an-01-2025.pdf):

3: Evidence you were physically present in the UK:
• 3 years ago (if the applicant is married or in civil partnership with a British citizen), or
• 5 years ago (for all other applications)

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.

And from the Form AN Guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680cc573521c5b6f2883ccbc/Guide+AN+-+May+2025+_V2_.pdf):

Residence Requirements
Absences
You should supply the following documents to show you have been mainly in the UK during the 5 years (or, if married to or in civil partnership to a British citizen, 3 years) before making your application:

• Your passports
• If you are unable to provide your passport, explain why and supply letters from employers (including start and finish dates), payslips, P60s, educational establishments or other government departments indicating your presence in the United Kingdom during the relevant period

Only passport? As it’s asking for on my checklist

The passport issued by United States of America for myself

Proof of living in the UK for myself for 5 years if applying in your own right or 3 years
if applying as the spouse of a British Citizen

Your marriage or civil partnership certificate

The United States of America passport, identity
card or official letter for myself to prove the level of English language required

Two referee declarations for Myself

One proof of British citizenship for husband(such as a passport or UK citizenship certificate)


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Also having a major issue. My friend who is a referee just informed me even though she is a civil servant she works for the home office of immigration. Application was put through last night and no where does it say to withdraw and now I’m fearing I’ve just loss money.


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Only passport? As it’s asking for on my checklist

Yep, only passport.

For each of the documents they list, you provide the following:

The passport issued by United States of America for myself  = your current US passport

Proof of living in the UK for myself for 5 years if applying in your own right or 3 years if applying as the spouse of a British Citizen = your current US passport + any previous US passports held since moving to the UK

Your marriage or civil partnership certificate = your marriage certificate

The United States of America passport, identity card or official letter for myself to prove the level of English language required = your current US passport

Two referee declarations for Myself =  your 2 referee forms

One proof of British citizenship for husband(such as a passport or UK citizenship certificate) = his UK passport

So, the all documents you actually need are:

Proof of identity, proof of residency and English language requirement:
- your current US passport
- any previous US passports you've held since moving to the UK

Evidence of marriage to a UK citizen:
- your husband's UK passport and your marriage certificate

Good character requirement
- your referee forms

Previously, you would also upload your BRP card showing you have ILR, but as it's all online now, I assume they just ask for your e-visa information.

Also having a major issue. My friend who is a referee just informed me even though she is a civil servant she works for the home office of immigration. Application was put through last night and no where does it say to withdraw and now I’m fearing I’ve just loss money.

Doing a quick Google search, I don't think this will be a problem.

If you want to change your referee, I believe all you need to do is:
- have your new referee sign the referee declaration form
- write a cover letter to the Home Office, which includes your new referee's personal details, and explains why you are changing your referee

Assuming you haven't submitted your documents yet, you then just upload these along with everything else.

Thank you very much no, I haven’t uploaded anything. I did withdraw my application should I just back and submit it? I don’t want to lose out.


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Read that’s a no on my application on getting it back. I’ll have to wait and see what they will do.
I still see my application for now. Hope I emailed the right people. This has become a huge mess


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Thank you very much no, I haven’t uploaded anything. I did withdraw my application should I just back and submit it? I don’t want to lose out.
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Read that’s a no on my application on getting it back. I’ll have to wait and see what they will do.
I still see my application for now. Hope I emailed the right people. This has become a huge mess

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It's not a mess at all, and you have nothing to worry about. As you have not uploaded anything or attended biometrics yet, this is a good thing... you don't need to withdraw the application, because this can be fixed without withdrawing it... .

Maybe I didn't explain it well enough, but all you have to do is, instead of uploading the original referee's declaration, you simply upload a new declaration from a different referee, along with a letter explaining the reason for the change in referee, and giving your new referee's personal details.

So you upload:
- your current US passport
- any previous US passports you've held since moving to the UK
- your husband's UK passport
- your marriage certificate
- your original first referee declaration (who does meet the requirements)
- a new second referee declaration (from someone who does not work for the Home Office)
- a letter to the Home Office explaining the referee change

Thank you very much no, I haven’t uploaded anything. I did withdraw my application should I just back and submit it? I don’t want to lose out.

I may have misread this post.

Are you saying you have already withdrawn the application?

If so, you are going to need to start all over again with a new application, and pay again.

As you had not uploaded/attended biometrics yet for the withdrawn application, you should be able to get a refund for the original application, though it can take 28 days to get the money back:
https://www.gov.uk/cancel-visa/get-refund

Again though, whether or not you have withdrawn the application, this is still not a mess and is easily fixable.

The application has been withdrawn as I have an email for it. But they won’t see it until tomorrow that’s it’s been requested.


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I appreciate all of your help just upset they won’t refund the money. That’s a lot to lose.


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I appreciate all of your help just upset they won’t refund the money. That’s a lot to lose.

But you shouldn't lose it, because as I said above, you CAN get a refund.

As long as you have NOT attended biometrics yet (or if you have been asked to submit using the app, as long as you haven't uploaded documents and submitted on the app), they should refund the money. It takes about 28 days for the refund to come through.

See here for how to apply for your refund:
https://www.gov.uk/cancel-visa/get-refund

Just updating I had emailed the home office on Sunday and they are updating my application removing the referee and adding the other to my knowledge. Still hasn’t been updated as I had an email this morning asking if I wanted to cancel my application from ROD request home office.
I’m just going to upload the new referee declaration and uploading a letter explaining why just in case and go to my biometrics next month. Seems all is fine


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Can I do the referees digitally by chance? Send through email to them? And upload to my documents? As they aren’t close by to do so.


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