British Mum UK citizenship questions

It not as straightforward as just applying for a British passport.  Because you were born before 1983 to a British mother, you first have to register as a British citizen (the is a process similar to naturalization).  This process is taking about 5 months at the moment.  Once you have your registration, you can apply for a British passport.

Details from here:

Guide UKM

Get your British passport and come on over Scott! what part of California are you from?

Im from Sacramento...so northern California!!

WOW! So many responses already!

this is great

Ok, But do I have to renounce citizenship in the states to work there?? I didnt think that was the case...

Can I come to the UK with my Passport, and decide while Im there if I want to work or no? i guess that is my question. Can I come on a passport, and find out if I can get work..and then get the proper visa??


Everybody is so great here already!!

Scott

Oh and let me state that I can get a passport in 6 weeks to travel to the UK..for a 6 month period (me Mum is an American citizen now)....its just that Im concerned that if I go to the UK, and look for work..can I do it while Im there..and then recieve a work visa...

Im calling the British Consulate tommorow morning to work some of this info out!!

Scott

You don't have tp renounce your US citizenship when you get British citizenship/passport and once you have that passport you can come over here, look for work, study or whatever you want (as long as it's legal!). If you come over as a visitor on your US passport you (theoretically) can't look for work and you are definitely not allowed to apply for a work permit - you have to leave the country t odo that, and in any case it's the employer that has to apply for it and it's a big hassle unless you work in an area where there is a huge shortage or something very specialised that no-one already here can do. If you can hang off a few months to get the British passport I'd recommend it, your life will be much easier!

What part of England is your mum's family from? is that where you plan to head?

My Mummy's village was Wellenborough..or Wellingborough..something to that effect, sorry for my ignorance on that one. Its a tiny place. i dont plan on making my life where she was from, although I heard it is a beautiful place...

So let me get this straight...just for my own clarification...

I basically have to have a job "lined up" for me if I decide i want to work there? before i arrive, if I want to stay? is that what I gather from what you are telling me?

So if i visit with my passport...get to the UK..and decide to stay..I have to leave and come back again?? Did I get that right?? If i want to work legally??

hmmmmmm

So confusing. Ok, so lets play out another scenario..say i have my passport...and before I arrive in the UK have a job lined up then its ok??

Again, sorry for asking so many questions...but I really want to be in the UK,,and I want to do anything possible to get there, and stay...

Scott

You have to be empoyed by a UK employer before you enter the country, and they have to apply to the HomeOffice for a work permit for you. You will need to have your passport stamped and have the work permit and letter from the Home Office for when you enter the country at the airport. You are not allowed to come over as a visitor and seek employment.

I basically have to have a job "lined up" for me if I decide i want to work there? before i arrive, if I want to stay? is that what I gather from what you are telling me?

Yes.

So if i visit with my passport...get to the UK..and decide to stay..I have to leave and come back again?? Did I get that right?? If i want to work legally??


If you mean your US passport, yes.

So confusing. Ok, so lets play out another scenario..say i have my passport...and before I arrive in the UK have a job lined up then its ok??

Now I'm confused If you want to come and work on your US passport, you have to have the job & the work permit before you come.

If you get the UK passport you don't need anything else, you can just come and live here.

One other thing ... you MIGHT be able to come over as a visitor and apply for your UK citzenhsip/passport while you are here, but I'm not certain of that ... one to check with the consulate. In fact you should check everything with the consulate, while I'm sure I'm right about the other stuff, I am not the one letting you in the country, they are. Hope this is helpful, let us know how you get on!

Scott...I would suggest that you check out the Visa portion of the website - there are a lot of links & good answers on that part of the web-boards...and people there who focus on these issues.  But here's what I've gotten from that area:

1.  You can visit for up to 6 months.  Officially you cannot look for a job during that time...but some do.

2.  If you did find someone who needed you, they would have to apply for a work permit for you...you would then need to leave the country, send in your passport plus the work permit to your local counsul in order to get an Entry Clearance to stay in the country as long as your work permit allows (it can get extended at some point).  It is hard to find work in this way as they have to prove that they can't hire anyone else from the UK to take the job.

3.  If you instead apply for your UK citizenship/residency (because of mom's birth here), and you get it, then you are able to come over to live & work regardless...much easier to find a job.

Hope that puts things together a bit more...but do check out the Visa portion of this place!

WOW!!

I didn't know it was that complicated..but I appreciate the information everyone has given me...

Thank you so very much..

So it comes down to this basically...

If i want to work in the UK..my passport isnt good enough..

I need to have a job, and the paperwork you reccomend filled out and completed before i can even enter..and work in the UK..

Fascinating...damn..i thought it might be easier..but such is life...but again I appreciate the info..so..that means I call my cousin and make him give me a job woking with him!!..LOL

Im sure i can do it..if im determined i can do it..I want this so very badly
And with family there..im sure that i can get something..

Thanks everyone!!

Cheers
Scott

3.  If you instead apply for your UK citizenship/residency (because of mom's birth here), and you get it, then you are able to come over to live & work regardless...much easier to find a job.

Hope that puts things together a bit more...but do check out the Visa portion of this place!

This is great info!!

but My Mom is now an American citizen, however she was born and raised there..and my grandparents are officially british citizens still

Does this matter??

Can I apply to live and or work in the UK because my Mom was born there..or does it matter now that she is an American citizen..i make it so complictaed dont I..LOL...

Scott

I don't see how this is complicated, really.   

Contact the British Consulate and find out if you are eligible for British Citizenship.  If you are, then you have no worries.  You register, you get a UK passport, and you are free to enter and stay and work in the UK without any sort of job lined up beforehand or any sort of visa.

Quite simple, really.  And a rather enviable position...

Thank you , thank you , thank you!!

Im so impressed already!!

I will call the British Consulate tomorrow!!

When i get there..BBQ at my place ok??

Im so excited!

Scott

Try this site to see if you can get any information while waiting to call the consulate..

http://www.britainusa.com/visas/visas.asp

Thank you ! I will

wow

big props for this site!!

You've all been so helpful

next update..tomorrow after my call to the Consulate!

Scott