Home Office files copies of Life in the UK test results?

I got my ILR in 2007, after passing my Life in the UK test, and based on my time in the UK will be eligible for citizenship in April 2008. However, I think it will take me much longer due to not having known a member of a professional organisation for a long enough time.  My GP's surgery said they won't do it, and while I have some alternatives in mind, there is nobody else I have known for close to three years yet.

So, I have my Life in the UK pass result with the lovely stamp from the testing office in a nice plastic folder, but I am wondering what will happen if in the time between now and when I apply for citizenship (possibly a year or more) it is lost or mutilated.

When I got my ILR, the nice people at the Home Office made a copy and returned the original to me, so I suppose this means that they can access it when I apply for citizenship?

Why would they access it since it is required that you pass the test for ILR?

On the citizenship application is a box to tick that states you passed the test as a requirement for your ILR so I don't think it would be a problem.

The citizenship application also asks you for the test number which is the instance ID in the top right hand corner of the pass letter you receive. So, I assume they can probably match them up somehow but I wouldn't want to rely on that.

edit: sorry I just noticed you needed yours for ILR. I didn't, so the Citizenship form was the first time anyone needed to see my pass letter. I assume the citizenship form would be the same though in either case and it would still request your test ID.

Why would they access it since it is required that you pass the test for ILR?

The ruling that said you need to pass the test for ILR is a recent one. So there are people who are applying for citizenship who never took the test to get ILR. Originally, it was only required for citizenship.

My understaning is that you can't get copies, and that if you lose the certificate you need to take the test again.

Vicky

My understaning is that you can't get copies, and that if you lose the certificate you need to take the test again.

Vicky

Yep -- that's what I was told at the testing centre when they handed me my certificate.  I feel like I've seen it in writing somewhere as well, but would have to dig around to find where.

Thanks. Will continue to be very careful. They definitely made a copy of it when I applied for my ILR in person, though.

Yes, they would have.  I am not sure if you would need to supply it again, to be honest.  I misunderstood - if you had lost it between passing and making any application then you'd have to resit, but in your case I think you'd be fine.

Best to not though, just in case.

Vicky

Is the copy you get after passing a certified copy or just a normal copy? If it's a normal copy, you could always scan it and email it yourself to keep a copy that way just in case.

On the citizenship application is a box to tick that states you passed the test as a requirement for your ILR so I don't think it would be a problem.

This is correct.

Is the copy you get after passing a certified copy or just a normal copy? If it's a normal copy, you could always scan it and email it yourself to keep a copy that way just in case.

It's the printout from the testing centre, stamped by the person administering the test. There is a test ID number on it.

I already have it scanned into my home computer.

However, I think it will take me much longer due to not having known a member of a professional organisation for a long enough time.  My GP's surgery said they won't do it, and while I have some alternatives in mind, there is nobody else I have known for close to three years yet.

I'm still pretty new to the UK and just wondering what the three year requirement is?

Thanks--

I'm still pretty new to the UK and just wondering what the three year requirement is?

Thanks--

When you apply for citizenship, you need to have a British citizen who has known you personally for three years sign your application, as a reference of sorts.  There's a list of acceptable people (teachers, civil servants, doctors, etc.) in the application's guidance notes.

Same deal when applying for your UK passport, though the qualifying period for that is two years.

Yes, they would have.  I am not sure if you would need to supply it again, to be honest.  I misunderstood - if you had lost it between passing and making any application then you'd have to resit, but in your case I think you'd be fine.

Best to not though, just in case.

Vicky

I was told at the Birmingham PEO when I got my ILR that we needed to keep my pass certificate safe as I would need it again if or when I applied for Citizenship.