Applying for the Naturalisation

[hp2]

I am asking for my spouse:

My partner has got his ILR in Jan 2019.

We are looking for applying for his naturalisation, we were abroad last year from November 2020 till June 2021.

Shall we apply for naturalisation? or does he has to be in the UK for 1 year in a row in order to apply for it?

Thanks in advance!

[alterhase58]

There is no rule that one has "to be in the UK for 1 year in a row".
In terms of absences you are normally allowed 90 days in the 12 months preceding the application date. So currently you are in excess of this rule. It may be advisable to wait a few months to bring down the number to or very near the 90 days.
Please refer to the AN guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... n-guidance

[hp2]

There is no rule that one has "to be in the UK for 1 year in a row".
In terms of absences you are normally allowed 90 days in the 12 months preceding the application date. So currently you are in excess of this rule. It may be advisable to wait a few months to bring down the number to or very near the 90 days.
Please refer to the AN guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... n-guidance

Thank you for your reply!

So, Shall I apply near to April 2022? would that be fine to apply or should I wait to apply Next year November 2022 where I went abroad in November 2021?

[alterhase58]

April 2022 looks sensible, unless you have further absences in the meantime.

[hp2]

OK!!
Is there any exception on the COVID during the times? If I had to apply earlier - say, shall we write a cover letter that got stuck during the COVID times?

[CR001]

OK!!
Is there any exception on the COVID during the times? If I had to apply earlier - say, shall we write a cover letter that got stuck during the COVID times?

No, not really. You left a long time after the main lockdown in the height of the pandemic and the time you were away, there were still flights coming to the UK and you could have travelled back.

[hp2]

OK!!
Is there any exception on the COVID during the times? If I had to apply earlier - say, shall we write a cover letter that got stuck during the COVID times?

No, not really. You left a long time after the main lockdown in the height of the pandemic and the time you were away, there were still flights coming to the UK and you could have travelled back.

Right, so when shall I apply then - I will stick to it!
Originally we went by Nov 2020 came back by June 2021.

WIll be much appreciated for the clarification.

ps: we may travel abroad again for a month or 2 in May 2021.

Kindly give us the right advice on when to apply? so can avoid unnecessary refusals.

[CR001]

Apply when the absence in the final 12 months immediately preceding application date is 90 days or less. It isn't a difficult calculation to make.