Citizenship and validity of passport.

[juliajules1979]

When my husband becomes eligible for Citizenship on 18th February 2010, his Iranian passport will expire two months later on 10th April, 2010. Will he have to renew his Iranian passport or will there be no problem with applying for citizenship.

Many thanks.

[kiwi_in_the_uk]

That really depends on your application - is there any reason to suspect he might not be successful?

You should bear in mind that to get a UK passport you have to go through two applications, and both take time:

1. It takes up to 6 months, I believe, for the Home Office to approve citizenship applications, and
2. applying for a passport is a separate process with its own waiting timeframes, AFTER the citizenship application.

So, if you need a passport to go overseas, it might be a good idea to extend the Iranian one. If you don't need to, you might be happy to wait it out.

[juliajules1979]

Hiya

Thank so much for your reply. So if we have no travel plans, it will be fine to submit his passport even though it will expire during the time that his citizenship is being processed?They wont refuse his application because his passport will be out of date during the consideration of the application?

Thankyou.

[kiwi_in_the_uk]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think that's fine.

I would think that the passport only needs to be current if you want to travel on it. The Home Office should only need the passport to check that your husband has had ILR for long enough, and the length of his absences from the country, and his date of first entry, etc. They can do that whether or not the passport is current.

My reasoning is that citizenship is about status, whereas passports are about travel - which is why they are separate applications. We (immigrants) often tie them together in our minds, but of course that's not necessarily so.

To make sure, I'd suggest that you call or email the Home Office - they should be able to tell you.

[juliajules1979]

Hiya

Thanks so muchfor your help.

Would you know the home office's email address?

Thanks.

[UKBAbble]

Hiya


Would you know the home office's email address?

ukbanationalityenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

[JAJ]

You don't need a passport to become naturalised as a British citizen. Many applicants, such as refugees and stateless persons, cannot get one.

But it can be more awkward to prove residence, if you do not have one.

I would suggest not renewing Iranian passport until after applying for naturalisation, and if you must do so, keep good (certified) copies of any immigration/visa stamps as it may get lost.

[juliajules1979]

Thanks so much for your advice.

Can you tell me, after naturalisation is there a time frame on when a British passport can be applied for, or can it be done as soon as citizenship is obtained?

Would my husband's passport need to be valid to apply for a British Passport?

Thanks again.

[JAJ]

Thanks so much for your advice.

Can you tell me, after naturalisation is there a time frame on when a British passport can be applied for, or can it be done as soon as citizenship is obtained?

No time limit after naturalisation.

Would my husband's passport need to be valid to apply for a British Passport?

No.

[juliajules1979]

Thanks so much JAJ.

Your advice has put my mind at rest.

Cheers.

[juliajules1979]

Hiya

Sorry again. Casa as long as my husband's passport is valid the date of his citizenship application, it dosent matter that it will expire 2 months later. I am correct in thinking that what is important is the fact that it is valid on the anniversary of his 3 years in the UK and that the date of the application is on that 3 years date.

The fact that it expires after two months is not relevant as it is valid on the date when citizenship is applied for? Is that a correct presumption?

Thanks so much again.

[HSMP2008_JANUARY]

Just our of curiosity, I think Iran allows dual citizenship. So why don’t you retain both?

[JAJ]

Just our of curiosity, I think Iran allows dual citizenship. So why don’t you retain both?

He might not want to keep Iranian citizenship, but may have no choice in the matter.

[juliajules1979]

Hiya

Thanks for your replies. There is no problem with him having dual nationality.

I just wanted to confirm that on the 18th Feb, his passport will be valid and he will submit an application for naturalisation. However on the 10th April, 2 months after, his Iranian passport will expire. If the application for naturalisation takes six months, I didnt want the home office to turn round and refuse his application, because his passport is not valid. Although it was valid on the date that he submitted his application. I think according to your previous replies that this will be ok and will not cause a problem.

Thanks very much again.