Ability to take Citizenship ceremony at a consulate outside UK

[gofornaturalisation]

Hi all,

I just wanted to see whether anyone had any experience with taking their citizenship ceremony outside the UK, and whether it was difficult to accomplish or not etc?

I'm currently overseas with no idea when I'll actually be able to come back to the UK. I'm yet to receive my confirmation letter (applied almost 2.5 months ago) so that's the first hurdle to clear, but assuming by some miracle I'm lucky enough to get approved in the near-term, how likely is it that the HO will allow me to do the ceremony overseas given the situation with the virus and the postponed ceremonies all over the UK?

I know they've extended the period for ceremonies from 3 to 6 months but I would ideally like to be able to get my citizenship sooner as we have no idea how this situation will unfold and I'm very much of the opinion that I'd prefer not to delay something like this if I can somehow do it now, especially at such a volatile time. Additionally, my wife will give birth to our 2nd overseas and if I don't get citizenship before the birth, number 2 will likely be the only one in my family without citizenship by the end of 2020. Not the end of the world by any means, but a very tedious, long and expensive alternative route will need to be taken in order to get it.

I know its an option on the website (www.gov.uk/citizenship-ceremonies) and my local embassy provides the service (its listed in the consular fees), but in practice, how likely is it that HO will be OK with the ceremony being overseas? Will they leave the decision up to the consulate, as the website seems to suggest, or will they take a negative view? Might they be sympathetic given the virus situation? Any experience or thoughts are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[secret.simon]

There are many aspects to to your particular situation that makes me think that there will be many a slip betwixt cup and lip.

Firstly, see this post by me earlier about why I think that processing naturalisation applications will slow down.

Secondly, the general rule is that citizenship ceremonies are conducted abroad only for people who have applied for naturalisation under Section 6(2) - as the spouse of a British citizen - or who have registered as adults under an entitlement under the British Nationality Act 1981. In both those cases, there is no "future intentions" requirement, where the applicant is expected to make the UK his permanent home. Therefore, people naturalising or registering under these specific provisions who are resident abroad can (or are entitled to, as the case may be) attend a citizenship ceremony abroad.

However, there is a future intentions requirement for applicants applying under section 6(1) - See Section 1(1)(d)(i) of Schedule 1 of the British Nationality Act 1981. The future intentions are judged on past behaviour and the fact that you will have left the UK almost immediately after making the application will be considered (as you will not yet have become a British citizen until you attend the ceremony) and you may well be denied British citizenship after getting initial approval.

Indeed, this requirement is taken so seriously that there were two recent (late-2019) cases on these forums where the Passport Office escalated two passport applications to the Home Office for breach of this requirement because, while the applicant had attended the citizenship ceremony in the UK, their first British passport application was from overseas, thus showing an intent of not "making the UK their permanent home".

Keep in mind that these are exceptional times and circumstances and the Home Office may relax some rules or requirements. But the advice above is based on the known expectations and experiences of the recent past.

I would suggest that you at least attempt to return to the UK and attend the citizenship ceremony AND apply for your first British passport in the UK before travelling abroad again.

[gofornaturalisation]

There are many aspects to to your particular situation that makes me think that there will be many a slip betwixt cup and lip.

Firstly, see this post by me earlier about why I think that processing naturalisation applications will slow down.

Secondly, the general rule is that citizenship ceremonies are conducted abroad only for people who have applied for naturalisation under Section 6(2) - as the spouse of a British citizen - or who have registered as adults under an entitlement under the British Nationality Act 1981. In both those cases, there is no "future intentions" requirement, where the applicant is expected to make the UK his permanent home. Therefore, people naturalising or registering under these specific provisions who are resident abroad can (or are entitled to, as the case may be) attend a citizenship ceremony abroad.

However, there is a future intentions requirement for applicants applying under section 6(1) - See Section 1(1)(d)(i) of Schedule 1 of the British Nationality Act 1981. The future intentions are judged on past behaviour and the fact that you will have left the UK almost immediately after making the application will be considered (as you will not yet have become a British citizen until you attend the ceremony) and you may well be denied British citizenship after getting initial approval.

Indeed, this requirement is taken so seriously that there were two recent (late-2019) cases on these forums where the Passport Office escalated two passport applications to the Home Office for breach of this requirement because, while the applicant had attended the citizenship ceremony in the UK, their first British passport application was from overseas, thus showing an intent of not "making the UK their permanent home".

Keep in mind that these are exceptional times and circumstances and the Home Office may relax some rules or requirements. But the advice above is based on the known expectations and experiences of the recent past.

I would suggest that you at least attempt to return to the UK and attend the citizenship ceremony AND apply for your first British passport in the UK before travelling abroad again.

Hi secret.simon,

Thanks for your response, that's really informative. My first option is most definitely to return to the UK to complete the citizenship/passport aspect, our life is there anyway so I'm returning home at some point soon.

I thought I might be able to circumvent the delay due to town halls being shut by doing the ceremony where I am currently, but it's definitely not worth the risk if they're questioning my intention to remain in the UK. I assume there's nothing sinister in calling them to request this and talk about it if I were to receive my approval letter soon? It's an innocent request and hopefully they'll view it as such?

Also a good point about the passport application and thank you for noting the two recent cases of passport applications done outside the UK.

You're absolutely right in that I'm putting the cart before the horse given I haven't even been given approval yet (another issue), I'm thinking ahead and I hope, as you said, that these exceptional times allow for for some flexibility from the HO in terms of ceremonies.

Interestingly, user "small" from the general thread noted that HO were considering online ceremonies. Not sure where that information has come from but it does seem like a cracking idea, it would solve most people's issues I'd have thought, particularly mine.

[CR001]

The users in the general thread all appear to know what ho plans to do by mere guesswork or what they want ho to do and nothing else.

The usual 90 days to attend a ceremony has been extended to 6 months with no penalties to applicants due to the current crisis.

Note also that to attend a ceremony abroad, you need the certificate sent abroad, which is unlikely to happen at this stage.

[gofornaturalisation]

The users in the general thread all appear to know what ho plans to do by mere guesswork or what they want ho to do and nothing else.

The usual 90 days to attend a ceremony has been extended to 6 months with no penalties to applicants due to the current crisis.

Note also that to attend a ceremony abroad, you need the certificate sent abroad, which is unlikely to happen at this stage.

Hi CR001,

Thanks for your message, and yes indeed it would require them to send it overseas. I was hoping that wouldn't be much of a problem given the mail is still operating in the UK and abroad but it's yet another level of complexity...

Let's see what happens, I'll post back up here for reference if I get to that stage (wishful thinking).