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Hi,

I've been granted ILR and since I am married to an BC, I have found out that I do not have to wait 12 months to apply for Citizenship, which is great.

I am looking to apply end of March via the National Checking Service so that I can keep hold of my passport.

If my calculations are correct, given the current timelines for citizenship, with a bit of luck, I should be granted citizenship by November.

However, we have a holiday booked to Cuba in November. I wondered if this would cause a problem ; would I have problems getting through customs on the way back from Cuba if I was granted citizenship whilst I was in Cuba? Does my old passport get cancelled when the UK citizenship is granted? Although I am sure Cuba is a great country to go on holiday, I am not particularly interested in being stuck there long term .

Thank you in advance for all your replies.

Regards,

I have found out that I do not have to wait 12 months to apply for Citizenship, which is great.

Do you have 3 years residence??

end of March

Were you physically present in the UK exactly 3 years ago?? This is the date that HO would receive your application, not the date you submit at NCS.

Also please note that the fees go up on 6th April to £1005 (current fee is £906). Date of fee is based on the date HO receives your application.

would I have problems getting through customs on the way back from Cuba if I was granted citizenship whilst I was in Cuba?

No, because you would use your foreign passport and your ILR BRP card.

Approvals are taking roughly 2 to 3 months at present so you should have this before you travel in November.

Does my old passport get cancelled when the UK citizenship is granted?

HO has no authority on foreign passports. Depending on your nationality though, it might not be valid if your home country does not allow dual nationality.

If you are only approved when you are away, you should be aware that there is a time limit by which you have to book your ceremony (you are only British once you attend the ceremony). The ceremony needs to be booked within 21 days of the approval letter and you have to attend the ceremony within 90 days of approval letter.

Hi, Thanks for your reply.

I have found out that I do not have to wait 12 months to apply for Citizenship, which is great.

Do you have 3 years residence??

Yes, I've lived in the UK for 10.5 years, my ILR is based on long residence.

end of March

Were you physically present in the UK exactly 3 years ago?? This is the date that HO would receive your application, not the date you submit at NCS.

Yes, I've checked this, I've never travelled outside the UK in the months of March and April

Also please note that the fees go up on 6th April to £1005 (current fee is £906). Date of fee is based on the date HO receives your application.

If I submit the application via NCS would it not be posted straight away? Do you think 6 days is not enough of a gap for home office to receive the application via NCS?

would I have problems getting through customs on the way back from Cuba if I was granted citizenship whilst I was in Cuba?

No, because you would use your foreign passport and your ILR BRP card.

Approvals are taking roughly 2 to 3 months at present so you should have this before you travel in November.

Thanks

Does my old passport get cancelled when the UK citizenship is granted?

HO has no authority on foreign passports. Depending on your nationality though, it might not be valid if your home country does not allow dual nationality.

I am Sri Lankan and Sri Lanka do have dual citizenship, but I think I need to pay for it. Hopefully wont be a problem.

If you are only approved when you are away, you should be aware that there is a time limit by which you have to book your ceremony (you are only British once you attend the ceremony). The ceremony needs to be booked within 21 days of the approval letter and you have to attend the ceremony within 90 days of approval letter.

That's ok, I won't be out of the UK for that long at a time.

Thank again for all your answers, really appreciate it.

You would need to check with whichever NCS you use to see when they send the applications. Some send once a week others send more frequently.

To calculate the 'application date', it is the date +1 that HO receives your application. So ideally, you would want your application to arrive on 3rd April latest just to be safe and pay current fee.

Hi, Thanks. Given that its a long bank holiday, and the advise you've given, think its safer to get a half day the weekend before just to be on the safe side. Thank you for your help.

You are welcome and good luck. Keep us updated.