Post
by tina2001 » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:13 pm
On 19 March, Lord West of Spithead (Home Office Minister) tabled the following amendment to the the Borders, Citizenship & Immigration Bill:
Before Clause 43
LORD WEST OF SPITHEAD
Insert the following new Clause—
"British Nationals (Overseas) without other citizenship
(1) Section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61) (acquisition by registration: certain persons without other citizenship) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) omit "or" immediately before paragraph (c), and
(b) after that paragraph insert ", or
(d) British National (Overseas)".
(3) In subsection (2)(c), for "4th July 2002" substitute "the relevant day".
(4) After subsection (2), insert—
"(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), the "relevant day" means—
(a) in the case of a person to whom this section applies by virtue of subsection (1)(d) only, 19th March 2009, and
(b) in any other case, 4th July 2002.""
If this is approved by parliament, then a solely BN(O) will not need to meet any ordinary residence test to become a British citizen. The law will require the BN(O) that the Secretary of State is satisfied that the person has not after 19th March 2009 renounced, voluntarily relinquished or lost through action or inaction any citizenship or nationality.