When to apply citizenship

[gibbodpe]

Can someone please confirm have received conflicting information

Arrived UK 13/09/02 on work permit no breaks or absenses.
ILR obtained 23/08/07

My understanding is that i can apply after i have held ILR for 12 months and be physically in the UK six years after application date? So i can apply on 14/09/08 ? Form Guide An says five years but guessing this has not been updated? Anyway which date? 14/09 or 24/08

Thanks in advance

[try-one]

My understanding is that is physically present 5 years before (just checked on the HO website)

[republique]

My understanding is that is physically present 5 years before (just checked on the HO website)

it usually takes 6 because normally you need 1 year ILR which can only be obtained after 5 years wP

[anjali_devi]

Check the residential requirements, it is 5 years. so 4 years on WP and 1 year on ILR in this case.

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/britis ... uirements/

[republique]

Check the residential requirements, it is 5 years. so 4 years on WP and 1 year on ILR in this case.

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/britis ... uirements/

Yes it is 5 years but you can't get ILR before 5 years so for all intents and purposes, it ends up being 6 years
It hasn't been 4 years for WP for quite awhile to get ILR. Suggest you research it again.

[John]

My understanding is that i can apply after i have held ILR for 12 months and be physically in the UK six years after application date? So i can apply on 14/09/08 ? Form Guide An says five years but guessing this has not been updated? Anyway which date? 14/09 or 24/08

The Guide is right. You are trying to add time periods together and that is not helpful. There are other rules but as regards these two :-

• you need to have had your ILR for at least one year, and
• you need to have been physically in the UK exactly 5 years before UKBA will receive the Naturalisation application

So on your dates you can apply on Tuesday 26th August. (You could have applied on Monday 25th but it is a Bank Holiday!) ...... as long as you were not out of the UK late August back in 2003. So check your dates ... any holiday/business trip out of the UK at that time? This 5 year rule is very important ... UKBA have no discretion about whether it is passed or not.

Also, how many days out of the UK in the 5 year period to 26.08.08? And how many outside the UK in the one year to that date? Also, any criminal convictions?

If you are happy all the tests are passed, and you can get the form completed in time, try and get an appointment at a convenient NCS office on 26.08.08.

[gibbodpe]

I have had about 20 days out of the country on work over the last year and have no criminal convictions and was definitely in the Uk August 03, So based on Johns advice i will make an appointment on the 26/08/08.

Thanks for clearing that up

[John]

gibbodpe, that sounds fine, as long as you were out of the UK less than 450 days in the 5 years up to 26.08.08.

All I would add is, don't lead the completion of the form AN to the last moment. For a start you need to get it signed by two referees, and I would hate to think that one or both of your intended referees was out of the country, or away from home, just before you are going to apply.