AN (naturalisation) queries

When I applied for citizenship, I affixed a photo of myself on each of the referee forms before giving the forms to the referees to complete.  That was how I interpreted the instructions.  Did I do it wrongly, and still somehow manage to get my application approved anyway?

This is what the paper form says:

5. Referees and Identity

Write your name and date of birth on the back of a photograph of yourself. This should then be glued into the space aside. This part of the form is to be filled in by your referees once your photograph has been affixed aside as explained above.

....

Affix passport size photo. See Nationality Forms Guide for information.

Ahh, I read further down to the referee's declaration section.  It says:

1st Referee declaration
I declare that I am qualified to act as a referee. The photograph above is a true likeness of the
applicant.

Thanks jfkimberly,

I just know I'm overthinking it at this point, but if you did that - this is how I initially interpreted it, as per the guidance - but this was just directly from the referee declaration. I'll do it the jfkimberly way, which is proven to succeed

Thanks jfkimberly,

I just know I'm overthinking it at this point, but if you did that - this is how I initially interpreted it, as per the guidance - but this was just directly from the referee declaration. I'll do it the jfkimberly way, which is proven to succeed

I completely understand overthinking it!  By the time I got to this application, I felt like I had run the gauntlet with UKVI.  But, oddly, the citizenship one really is much more straightforward.  It's hard to believe it at the time (I second-guessed everything!), but once it's done you'll be all, "Was that it?!" 

When I applied for citizenship, I affixed a photo of myself on each of the referee forms before giving the forms to the referees to complete.  That was how I interpreted the instructions.  Did I do it wrongly, and still somehow manage to get my application approved anyway?

This is what the paper form says:
Ahh, I read further down to the referee's declaration section.  It says:

We affixed the photos on each form before giving to the referee! hope we have done it right?

We affixed the photos on each form before giving to the referee! hope we have done it right?

Yes, this is what I did.

We affixed the photos on each form before giving to the referee! hope we have done it right?

Yes, this is what I did.

Us too, I think that's the right thing to do.

Us too, I think that's the right thing to do.

We just had our final referee sign today, and we affixed the photographs in front of them as we handed the form over, just to make extra, extra sure (!)

Scanning tomorrow, then we'll book biometrics, hopefully in a COVID nadir!

Thanks everyone

We just had our final referee sign today, and we affixed the photographs in front of them as we handed the form over, just to make extra, extra sure (!)

Scanning tomorrow, then we'll book biometrics, hopefully in a COVID nadir!

Thanks everyone

Good luck!

I am following along with this so I'm ready to go once my new BRP arrives. I am going to try to make this last phase quick and painless.

I am following along with this so I'm ready to go once my new BRP arrives. I am going to try to make this last phase quick and painless.

As others said, it really is surprising how straightforward it is! If you want to be prepared, get a couple of passport photographs and two referees lined up. Biometric appointments seem to be available neatly at the end of the window for a lot of places - we booked ours around 7am this morning and had the pick of times for mid December at our local one.

As others said, it really is surprising how straightforward it is! If you want to be prepared, get a couple of passport photographs and two referees lined up. Biometric appointments seem to be available neatly at the end of the window for a lot of places - we booked ours around 7am this morning and had the pick of times for mid December at our local one.

I actually already had passport photos taken shortly before Lockdown 2.0 because I need to renew my US passport. I think I have one referee already, but I am struggling to find another. So many people I know are retired or have lost their jobs due to the virus.

I actually already had passport photos taken shortly before Lockdown 2.0 because I need to renew my US passport. I think I have one referee already, but I am struggling to find another. So many people I know are retired or have lost their jobs due to the virus.

As far as I recall, it's okay if they're retired from their profession.  They still qualify as the professional standing referee.

For me, getting the professional standing one was really hard.  I had someone lined up (the license holder of our old local pub volunteered for the role years before I even knew it was something I was going to need), but then we moved to the far side of Wales, and I was relying on communications with the potential referee through my husband.  That slowed me down a bit... but we got there in the end!  (My husband is otherwise perfect!  *assure*)

As far as I recall, it's okay if they're retired from their profession.  They still qualify as the professional standing referee.

For me, getting the professional standing one was really hard.  I had someone lined up (the license holder of our old local pub volunteered for the role years before I even knew it was something I was going to need), but then we moved to the far side of Wales, and I was relying on communications with the potential referee through my husband.  That slowed me down a bit... but we got there in the end!  (My husband is otherwise perfect!  *assure*)

Thank you for this clarification. My new BRP arrived today, so I started looking through the online citizenship application. Did those of you who completed your applications apply for your UK passports at the same time? This link (https://richmond.gov.uk/media/15490/jcap_service_passport_form_guidance.pdf) says JCAP is now possible, but I can't find much more on it.

Also, what did you do with your old (expired) BRP cards?

Any help would be appreciated!

When I did my citizenship application (just two years ago!), they were phasing out NDRS and JCAP.  You might contact Richmond Borough and see if that's a new PDF and they're doing JCAP again.  As far as I know, the service was stopped.

You hold on to your BRP until after you become a citizen.  You'll apply and submit the supporting evidence and wait. Then you'll receive a letter saying your application has been approved (most likely) and you'll be invited to book a citizenship ceremony at the local authority you nominated in your application.  Once you attend your ceremony and say the oath, you're officially British (dual citizen).  You'll receive a naturalization certificate, and probably a small gift to remember the day.  Then you go celebrate because you did it!

Then, within 5 days after the ceremony, because you no longer need a BRP because you're British, you destroy your card and post the remains to the address contained in the letter they sent you to tell you your application was successful.

When I did my citizenship application (just two years ago!), they were phasing out NDRS and JCAP.  You might contact Richmond Borough and see if that's a new PDF and they're doing JCAP again.  As far as I know, the service was stopped.

You hold on to your BRP until after you become a citizen.  You'll apply and submit the supporting evidence and wait. Then you'll receive a letter saying your application has been approved (most likely) and you'll be invited to book a citizenship ceremony at the local authority you nominated in your application.  Once you attend your ceremony and say the oath, you're officially British (dual citizen).  You'll receive a naturalization certificate, and probably a small gift to remember the day.  Then you go celebrate because you did it!

Then, within 5 days after the ceremony, because you no longer need a BRP because you're British, you destroy your card and post the remains to the address contained in the letter they sent you to tell you your application was successful.

Hmmmm...that's a pity if the JCAP service was discontinued. But I guess it wouldn't surprise me.

I am confused about the BRP card. I have an old one (my first one) which already expired a few months ago. I THOUGHT I was supposed to cut that up and send it back to them.
 <YIKES!>

I received a new one today which is good until 31 Dec 2024.