Immigrationboards.com

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:12 am**

Hello,

I have been considering applying for naturalisation for a while now and have mostly been waiting for enough time to pass for a person of professional standing to qualify as my referee. However, I now find myself in an slightly odd (unexpected) scenario and I would be grateful for any clarification.

I am an EEA citizen, and
have been a resident in the UK since 2008, and
have been a student from 2008 until late 2013.
I have been in full time employment since 2013.
In 2014 I successfully acquired a document certifying permanent residence (blue card)

However, I am about to commence a 4 year PhD course later this year and I was wondering if this will have any impact on a future application for naturalisation (assume the application will be made after my studies have commenced). In particular, since I am already a permanent resident:

will the fact that I will be a full-time student and not in employment affect my application?
will I still need to arrange for private (or home country EHIC) comprehensive sickness insurance for the time I am going to be a student? I have a British EHIC card as I have been paying NI while under full time employment.
My PhD will be fully funded and I have been awarded a scholarship to contribute to living costs - does this count at all? I understand this is tax-free and is not subject to NI contributions.

The AN guidebook doesn't really consider such cases and the only real pre-requisite is to have been free of immigration restrictions and, for EEA applicants, already hold a document certifying permanent residence. I have been struggling to find any details or between-the-lines oddities.

Thanks!

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:31 am**

The requirements for citizenship have no connection or relationship with those for PR.

The requirements for naturalisation are
a) That you have been free of immigration restrictions for at least a year. - As you have got a DCPR dated 2014, you meet the requirement.
b) That you have not been outside the UK for more than 90 days in the past year and more than 450 days in the past five years.
c) That you were physically in the UK exactly five years prior to the date of application.
d) That you are of good character (no criminal record, illegal stay, bankruptcy or pattern of indebtedness, etc)

Employment, earnings and exercising treaty rights are not requirements for citizenship.

Best of luck on your PhD studies.

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 1:26 am**

AnotherUUID wrote:Hello,

I have been considering applying for naturalisation for a while now and have mostly been waiting for enough time to pass for a person of professional standing to qualify as my referee. However, I now find myself in an slightly odd (unexpected) scenario and I would be grateful for any clarification.

I am an EEA citizen, and

have been a resident in the UK since 2008, and

have been a student from 2008 until late 2013.

I have been in full time employment since 2013.

In 2014 I successfully acquired a document certifying permanent residence (blue card)
However, I am about to commence a 4 year PhD course later this year and I was wondering if this will have any impact on a future application for naturalisation (assume the application will be made after my studies have commenced). In particular, since I am already a permanent resident:

...

The AN guidebook doesn't really consider such cases and the only real pre-requisite is to have been free of immigration restrictions and, for EEA applicants, already hold a document certifying permanent residence. I have been struggling to find any details or between-the-lines oddities.

Thanks!

Yours is an open and shut case, based on your stated facts.

Congratulations on having had the foresight to obtain a PR card.

As long as you have not been absent from UK for 2 years since acquiring PR your settled status is assurred.

You can use your degree for proof of English.

So as long as you can fulfill the remaining requirements (sound mind, LITUK, referees, good character) you are good to go.

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:36 am**

That's what I thought the case would be but seemed appropriate to ask just in case.

Thanks again!

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