Applying for British Citizenship post Ancestry Visa

[rmsnook]

Hi All

I have what I think is a slightly tricky qn. If anyone knows the answer or can point me in the direction of the answer that would be much appreciated!

Facts
- I have an ancestry visa that commenced in 2011.
- When I moved to the UK I was joined by my then girlfriend, who came on a 2 year working holiday visa.
- We married in 2012.
- In 2013 my wife applied to become a dependent under my ancestry visa and this was granted.
- We both now have a visa expiring in 2016.
- The intention is that I/we apply for (i) ILR in 2016; and (ii) citizenship/passport in 2017.

Qn
I realise the above works for me - it's the standard route of 5 years on the visa + 1 year of ILR and then citizenship/passport.

What I can't seem to figure out from the forums and UKBA website, etc is how this works for my wife.

Specifically:
1. Can she get ILR in 2016 in her own right or does she have to be dependent on my ILR?
2. Can she get citizenship/passport in 2017? e.g. Can she apply at the same time as me? Does she need to wait until I get my citizenship/passport and then apply as my spouse immediately after that (on the basis she has been in the UK for the required period of time already)? Does she need to wait a period of time after I get my citizenship/passport?

Best
RM

[Amber]

Assuming you both settle together which is possible. Once you are British (following the ceremony), your spouse will be able to apply to naturalise once she's been in the UK for the 3 years. If however, she's also been in the UK for 5 years and has had at least 1 year with ILR she can apply at the same time as you.