Why BC if you are from EEA?

[Ginza]

What am I missing? I understand people from non-EU trying to get British citizenship.. But what if you are Italian or Spanish or whatever.. You already have a right to live and work in the UK indefinitely. You can travel the world visa free already... So why would you want a BC? Just to be able to vote in UK elections? Don't think it's a reason big enough... Will appreciate your thoughts.. Thanks

[LilyLalilu]

Well, the reasons always depend on the individual, but a few are for example:

- to be able to vote in General elections
- to be able to apply for listed jobs which are reserved for British citizens (a lot lately!)
- feeling more secure with regards to your immigration status, especially with the current climate/debate about EU migration
- for some EU nationals (I think Polish citizens for example), becoming British allows them visa free travel to more countries (e.g. USA)
- and generally, why not have two passports if you can; it's like having the best of both worlds

However, one potential downside of becoming a British citizen is that you will not be able to sponsor a non-EU national to come to the UK under EU regulations.

[paperthin]

Well, the reasons always depend on the individual, but a few are for example:

- to be able to vote in General elections
- to be able to apply for listed jobs which are reserved for British citizens (a lot lately!)
- feeling more secure with regards to your immigration status, especially with the current climate/debate about EU migration
- for some EU nationals (I think Polish citizens for example), becoming British allows them visa free travel to more countries (e.g. USA)
- and generally, why not have two passports if you can; it's like having the best of both worlds

However, one potential downside of becoming a British citizen is that you will not be able to sponsor a non-EU national to come to the UK under EU regulations.

I wouldn't agree with you about some of the points mentioned.

2. If you were thinking about the public sector, jobs that are normally reserved to British citizens are normally open to EU citizens too (member states cannot discriminate between the two, unless there are good reasons. Ie. security reasons, etc). I've never come across jobs reserved to BC only in the private sector.
3. After 5 years of continuous residence, EEA nationals automatically become permanent residents. This means that their immigration status is not subject to EU law anymore. If the UK decides to restrict immigration from the rest of the EU, it will have no effect on permanent residents. If you want to feel more secure, for £55 you can apply for confirmation of permanent residency (EEA3).
4. That is true regarding to eastern European countries. However, there are countries in the EU/EEA whose passport holders enjoy more visa free travel than the UK (Scandinavia). If you're a national of a western European country in general (Germany, France, Spain, Italy etc), there is basically no difference.

It's also worth mentioning:
- Some countries in Europe (and around the world) require you to relinquish to your original citizenship, in case you acquire another country's.
- It's also worth mentioning that for your home country, you will always be a citizen of that country only, which means British authorities won't be able to help in case of trouble.

To sum up, in my view, unless you are an eastern European, the only tangible benefit of becoming a British citizen is to vote in the General Elections.

However, the option is there. If you believe that becoming BC would benefit you, enrich you in any way, or make you better person; if you also wish to feel more part of the British society, you consider yourself British and you want a proof that you're totally integrated here, the naturalisation fee (£906) will be well spent.

[ohojska]

or you are a husband/wife or a non EU national and you want to speed up their process of becoming BC to finish the head ache of UK visa applications...

[Casa]

They wouldn't be entitled to apply for BC until they had permanent residence (ILR) which would mean the visa process would already be over.

[ohojska]

They wouldn't be entitled to apply for BC until they had permanent residence (ILR) which would mean the visa process would already be over.

If you had many many years of painful visa process behind you that time you want all of that to be over as quick as possible. As a spouse of BC you don't need to wait another year after ILR. On the top of that the whole family will be able to go abroad to try a new life and if sth goes wrong will be always able to come back to UK...Lots of people=lots of reasons...

[Ginza]

Thank you all for your replies! It seems to me that there is only one way of reasoning expressed by peperthin:

" If you believe that becoming BC would benefit you, enrich you in any way, or make you better person; if you also wish to feel more part of the British society, you consider yourself British and you want a proof that you're totally integrated here, the naturalisation fee (£906) will be well spent."

I.e. there are no pragmatic reasons but rather sentimental ones... And I am amazed that there so many "sentimental" people over there including this forum... Or am I still missing something?

[paperthin]

Thank you all for your replies! It seems to me that there is only one way of reasoning expressed by peperthin:

" If you believe that becoming BC would benefit you, enrich you in any way, or make you better person; if you also wish to feel more part of the British society, you consider yourself British and you want a proof that you're totally integrated here, the naturalisation fee (£906) will be well spent."

I.e. there are no pragmatic reasons but rather sentimental ones... And I am amazed that there so many "sentimental" people over there including this forum... Or am I still missing something?

Fear is another sentiment, especially for people who have lived in poverty for most of their lives, have come to the UK where they were given the means to lead a decent life.

Whoever has experienced a bad life and is disillusioned with their state of origin is definitely more likely to seek the protection of Great Britain for themselves and their kids, although there are no pragmatic reasons for doing so.

Eastern Europeans are today's examples, but there have been other nationality groups in western Europe who emigrated in the past to escape hunger, disease and poverty in search of a better life (Irish, Italians, Greeks etc)

I believe, that is the reason why the vast majority of today's EEA applicants are from eastern Europe and not from Germany.

Anyway, personally I feel sorry about whoever has come here for need - and not to have fun. I feel very lucky and privileged to have been born in a first world nation. I do realise we cannot solve the problems of the world by making the world British, au contraire, we would make them worse (see British imperialism).

However, choosing to become a British citizen in today's world is people's choice, which demands respect and understanding above all.

[milan69]

British citizens do not visa for 173 countries (like Swedes and Danes).

[Wanderer]

Only British Citizens are allowed to criticise the food, the teeth of the nation, the weather, the Gov., the Cricket team, the Football team, the Rugby team, public transport and the congested motorways.

Yes, it's great to be British!

[paperthin]

Only British Citizens are allowed to criticise the food, the teeth of the nation, the weather, the Gov., the Cricket team, the Football team, the Rugby team, public transport and the congested motorways.

Yes, it's great to be British!

It's not true. Whoever can say whatever they want. Modern Britain is not Nazi Germany.

[Ginza]

Surely it was a joke, don't take it litteraly, paperthin..

I totally agree that the wish for naturalisation must be respected and my original question was not intended to offend. I fully understand that people that happened to be in dire situation may want to get a BC. However if you are from EU (even if you are from Bulgaria), then you already have all the benefits of BC: you can stay and live in the UK indefinitely.. And if you come here looking for better life (economy and opportunity-wise), then most likely you don't care about having a right to cast your vote in general elections....

[Wanderer]

Only British Citizens are allowed to criticise the food, the teeth of the nation, the weather, the Gov., the Cricket team, the Football team, the Rugby team, public transport and the congested motorways.

Yes, it's great to be British!

It's not true. Whoever can say whatever they want. Modern Britain is not Nazi Germany.

Whooooosh..........