ILR to Citizenship

I'm sure this must of been answered before, but I'm not finding what I'm looking for.....

Hubby is USC married to me (Dual, UKC and USC) before arriving in the UK.  We've been here 2.5 yrs and he has an ILR.  He wants to have UK citizenship incase we decide to leave.  I've been looking at the home office website and I'm still confused.  Does he apply when it's 3 years for right of abode? 

Can anyone share the different stages and form names ?  Am I right in thinking we have to wait until the 3 year date has come and gone before we send in paperwork?

Thanks,

Julia

He has to have been present in the UK for three years to qualify for citizenship.  You can send the application in early - I think it is three months - as it will take them that long to process the application (probably longer).

Victoria

thanks that helps clarify the timing.  Any idea on forms?  Do I download a form or phone and ask for an application to be mailed ?

Form AN (NEW), downloadable from www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk  There is also guidance notes there.


Victoria

Brilliant  - Thanks 

You can send the application in early - I think it is three months - as it will take them that long to process the application (probably longer).

Victoria

Not sure about this because I was reading the Application Guide this morning and it said something like "you must check whether you were physically present in the UK for 5 yrs (3 yrs if you are married to a Brit) before the date the application will be received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate". 

I also remember Garry saying something about this recently....so my thought was to mail it exactly one day after my 3rd anniversary so its postmarked as such. 

I'm looking at form AN on the home office website, it clarify's the 3 or 5 yr ruling by saying that if you're applying on the basis of marriage to a UKC then it's 3 years.  Look at No. 7 on page 4.

I have a question (I think Garry answered this before, saying there was no problem, but now that I'm reading here, I wonder if that's the case)...

I entered the UK on a work permit 15th August 2002. I lived with DH as an unmarried partner from November 2002. I married him on 13th April 2004, and was still technically on my work permit at the time because I was still employed by the school that I had a permit to work for. I resigned in August 2004. My FLR for marriage is dated 15th April 2004 (I got it then so I could begin to seek other employment to leave teaching). I received my ILR for marriage on 19th April 2006. 

So my question is, based on my total time spent in the UK, when can I apply for nationality? Could I do it in August 2006??

Based on this thread- http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=22803.0 - it sounds like you are eligible to apply for naturalization now. You've been here for three years, you're married to a British citizen, and you have ILR...I think that's all the requirements.

I'm not an expert though, so hopefully someone who knows for 100% certain will come and back me up on this (or correct me if needed!)

I'm not an expert though, so hopefully someone who knows for 100% certain will come and back me up on this (or correct me if needed!)

Though I am not an expert either, and hopefully Gary or Victoria will chime in, I wonder if because you entered orginally under a work permit, if the "marriage" clock didn't start until the change in status...  It is a good question though.

Though I am not an expert either, and hopefully Gary or Victoria will chime in, I wonder if because you entered orginally under a work permit, if the "marriage" clock didn't start until the change in status...  It is a good question though.

That's a good point, and I thought about that too after posting...I'm almost positive it's been brought up before on this board before but I can't remember exactly when and I'm too lazy to go hunt down the post

Hope you get your "official" answer soon, Carla!

Clock starts when you enter, regardless of what basis you entered on, so Amarylis is right, you can apply now.

Garry's on hols, so it's just me for a while I'm afraid....


Victoria