Immigrationboards.com

I need some help please on how best to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK followed by Naturalisation.

Brief background: I am a Zimbabwean who is married to a British Citizen. I have been in the UK legally since March 2000 on various different visas's - student, work permit etc. I am currently on a 2-year spouse visa which I obtained in October 2008 and I married my wife in September this year.

My query is how best/quickest way to apply for LTR followed by naturlisation. As I will have been in the UK for 10 years in March this year I am eligible to apply for LTR using the '10 year long residence' category. My query is if I apply for LTR on this basis can I apply straight away for naturalisation or do I have to wait a further 12 months?

Alternatively I can wait until October this year when my 2-year spouse visa expires and then apply for LTR on the basis of my marriage. However can someone please clarify if I will need to wait a further 12 months to apply for naturalisation using this category?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated as I am pulling my hair out and getting nowhere with calling the UK Home Office.

Thanks Amanda

Under current laws, after you're granted ILR, under whatever category, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship as a spouse of a British citizen straight away.

Thanks for your reply.

So I will not have to wait another 12 months from when I get ILR before I can apply for naturalisation? The only criteria I was concerned about was the 3-year residency requirement for naturalisation. It is not clear if this 3 years has to be as the spouse of a british citizen but it does not specify that in the requirements.

graham834 wrote:Thanks for your reply.

So I will not have to wait another 12 months from when I get ILR before I can apply for naturalisation? The only criteria I was concerned about was the 3-year residency requirement for naturalisation. It is not clear if this 3 years has to be as the spouse of a british citizen but it does not specify that in the requirements.

Here is my understanding of the rule: the 3 year Residential Qualification; if you're resident of the UK for 3 years, you're eligible for naturalisation if you have ILR and if you're married to a British Citizen.