naturalisation + residential requirements

[shreem]

Guide AN for naturalisation application states the following for the residential requirements.

Evidence of lawful residence during the 5 (or, if the applicant is
married to a British citizen, 3) years before the date of the application

l The applicant’s passports OR say why you are unable to provide one
on page 14 and supply
l Letters from employers, educational establishments or other
Government Departments indicating the applicant’s presence in the
United Kingdom during the relevant period OR
l (For applicants from Switzerland or the European Economic Area)
evidence of attempts to obtain work during the relevant period

Am I right to think that the applicant's passport is enough evidence? Do I have to submit letters from employers as well?

The guidance states to supply the applicants passport OR when unable to provide one, explain on page 14 and supply additional evidence.

Am I right to think that additional evidence such as employers letters are only needed if one's passport is not submitted?

The reason I am asking is that my spouse was not employed for the full 5 years prior to our application and hence cant show evidence of employment for the full 5 years. I wish not to submit this evidence as this is incomplete. On my part I have been employed for > 5 years and can hence submit employer letters as well as my passport.

Can anyone who has submitted Form AN help if one needs to show both the passport and employer documents as evidence of residence?

Thanks

shreem

[JAJ]

Passport often doesn't prove much so best to submit employer letters or tax documentation as well.

I'm not sure why you think proof of spouse's employment is needed - it's not. All you need to show is proof of marriage and proof that spouse is a British citizen.

You should be looking at the 3 year residential period if married to a British citizen.

[shreem]

Thanks JAJ,

I should have clarified.

We both are applying for naturalisation.

We both have to prove residential requirements and hence have to submit our passports. I agree that employer letters will add more weightage to the residence requirement (if employed for 5 years or over).

In my case, I can submit employers letters for the whole period. However, my spouse has only been employed for 4 years and 9 months of that 5 year period. For those remaining 4 months, my spouse didnt have a bank account nor have any tax documents for that period.

My spouse was my dependent without being employed and had been in the UK for over 12 months prior to being employed.

What other documents in addition to the passport be useful to support the 5 year period?

Shreem

[ppron747]

Passport often doesn't prove much so best to submit employer letters or tax documentation as well.

I disagree. The form doesn't say so, and neither do NIs - check para 2 of Annex B to Chapter 18

[Dawie]

Passport often doesn't prove much so best to submit employer letters or tax documentation as well.

I disagree. The form doesn't say so, and neither do NIs - check para 2 of Annex B to Chapter 18

I agree with Paul, it's been heavily discussed in this forum already and confirmed from the guidance advise issued to caseworkers that a passport with your immigration history is sufficient to prove that you meet the residence requirement for naturalisation. It has also been confirmed that the naturalisation applicant will always be given the benefit of any doubt in the case of missing stamps etc.