How do i become a uk citizen

[Bill and Hayley 0]

My wife is English, and just got her greencard. I was just wondering being that we are now married, is it possible for me to get uk citizenship, and how would i go about doing it. Thanks, Bill.

[Amby 490]

I think you have to actually live in the UK for like 2-3yrs before you're eligible

[Fandango 1,439]

Yah, it's a long process....I believe it starts with getting 'indefinite leave to remain' or so* but citizenship? Meh, who knows.....

*just a guess!

[thesnowman 1]

The only way you can become a citizen is if you move to the UK and become a resident. I am from the UK and my wife cannot become a citizen, although any children born in the next 10 years will be.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

You have to live there for 3 years as a person married to a UK citizen

[addy 0]

That's true. At first my honey and I were only going to live together but the visa for that was only for gay couples. After many talks, we decided to go for the fiancee visa. One of the rules I checked on was that after we're married and about 3 (wasn't sure if 2) years, I could go ahead and apply for citizenship. I know I can't work for about 2 years after we're married.

[pucklechurch 0]

My wife received her 'indefinite leave to remain' stamped in her passport about a year after we were married in the UK. We got this sorted out through immigration lawyers and it just consisted of us sending in our passports and marriage certificate so there was no medical, interview, fingerprinting, etc. It was only when circumstances changed and we moved to the US that I had to go through this whole Green Card pantomime.

[izzysmum 0]

I am actually getting ready to go through this process in the next few months. It has taken me 3 years as a spouse to get to the point of where I can apply. You do have to have been present and living in the UK for 3 years. I went through being here for 2 years on an FLR (Further Leave to Remain) visa, then applied and received my ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain). As of April this year, you have to take and pass the "Life in the UK" test before you can receive ILR. Once you receive ILR you can apply for citizenship a year after that, so a total of 3 years to being eligible. I received ILR before April, so have to take the "Life in the UK" test on the 20th of this month, so I can apply for citizenship. Been studying the test guide, so hopefully will do well. I know we are repatriating to the US, but we just want to keep our options open. If we ever do decide to move back to the UK, I will never have to go through all the visa stuff again because I will have Brit citizenship.

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

I know I can't work for about 2 years after we're married.

Couldn't let that go - it's wrong. If you apply for a spousal visa (if you are married for less than 4 years that is FLR, issued for 2 years, after that, or if married for more than 4 years ILR (indefinite leave to remain). On either visa (usually issued in about 6 weeks) you can work as soon as it's issued.

You would have to be living in the UK as a resident for 3 years (time spent on a holiday visa is not counted) before you can apply for citizenship.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/11406/anguidance1.pdf

Edited November 7, 2007 by Poiteen

[Amby 490]

I just looked at that test out of curiousity and some of the questions seem kinda hard...now if it were multiple choice then it would be easy enough

[addy 0]

I know I can't work for about 2 years after we're married.

Couldn't let that go - it's wrong. If you apply for a spousal visa (if you are married for less than 4 years that is FLR, issued for 2 years, after that, or if married for more than 4 years ILR (indefinite leave to remain). On either visa (usually issued in about 6 weeks) you can work as soon as it's issued.

You would have to be living in the UK as a resident for 3 years (time spent on a holiday visa is not counted) before you can apply for citizenship.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/11406/anguidance1.pdf

Hey cut me some slack here. I've been busy and haven't checked through all the notes I've gathered. It is when they give me the 6 months to stay that's when I can't work. Duh on my side. It's good that I can work after I'm married.

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Didn't mean flame you, just wanted to make sure that the OP got the right info.

Just out of curiosity, are you coming here to get married? or after you guys get married?

[Bill and Hayley 0]

thanx all for your replies. So if in the future we ever want to move to the uk would Hayley have to prove she could support me like i did for her visa?

[msu17 0]

The only way you can become a citizen is if you move to the UK and become a resident. I am from the UK and my wife cannot become a citizen, although any children born in the next 10 years will be.

Is that true, that only children born in the next 10 years will be eligible for UK citizenship? So if we have an accident baby in say 13 years they will only be eligible for US? That sucks!

[MargotDarko 0]

The only way you can become a citizen is if you move to the UK and become a resident. I am from the UK and my wife cannot become a citizen, although any children born in the next 10 years will be.

Is that true, that only children born in the next 10 years will be eligible for UK citizenship? So if we have an accident baby in say 13 years they will only be eligible for US? That sucks!

No, that's not true. A baby born to a British citizen is a British citizen (it used to be a bit different in the early 80's and before I think - something to do with it being the mother or father - but a baby born now to a British citizen is British). The parents would just register the birth with a British consulate. I don't where they read the 10 year thing.

thanx all for your replies. So if in the future we ever want to move to the uk would Hayley have to prove she could support me like i did for her visa?

Yeah, that's bascially true, but it's not as crazy strict as it is for UK to US immigration. Basically if either one of you had a decent job offer lined up, that would pass as showing means of support. Assests would count as well and they aren't as strict about that either. It might, and probably will change in the future, but I can't imagine it ever being as hard or harder than UK to US.