Naturalisation by a EU citizen

[Marco A.]

Dear all,

I am in possess of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). I am originally from Italy. On the card there is no date showing when it was issued, only the expiring date.

The EHIC is issued automatically every 6 years by the Italian government (no need to apply). The expiring date of my card is 2019, which means it was issued in 2013. However, I studied a MA degree in the UK in 2011. Obviously, I haven't kept my old card.

From your experience, would attaching the current card to my application be enough to satisfy the requirement "evidence of funds and comprehensive sickness insurance for self-sufficient persons and students" for year 2011?

Thank you!

[noajthan]

Dear all,

I am in possess of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). I am originally from Italy. On the card there is no date showing when it was issued, only the expiring date.

The EHIC is issued automatically every 6 years by the Italian government (no need to apply). The expiring date of my card is 2019, which means it was issued in 2013. However, I studied a MA degree in the UK in 2011. Obviously, I haven't kept my old card.

From your experience, would attaching the current card to my application be enough to satisfy the requirement "evidence of funds and comprehensive sickness insurance for self-sufficient persons and students" for year 2011?

Thank you!

Congratulations on your foresight in procuring an EHIC;
the CSI requirement has caught out many good, diligent students.

If you were to use your 2013-issued card for this purpose you would also have to include a 'statement of intent' demonstrating your time in UK is limited and that you have ties in home country & intend to return to home country (eg after studies are complete).
That is the deal if submitting an EHIC as a form of CSI.

Alternately, do you have a RC from that period & issued to you as a student 'qualified person''?

fyi - there was a transitional arrangement put in place in 2011 when the long-standing requirement for students in UK to have CSI began to be enforced.
That transitional arrangement may exempt you from CSI (if you had the correct type of RC at the appropriate time).

[Marco A.]

Thank you for your reply noajthan.

However, it is not really clear what you mean when you talk about "statement of intent" (what is it?) and demonstrating my time in the UK is limited (I want to stay in this country, that's why I am applying to become a British citizen). I haven't read anything on any government guide.
Also, I am not sure what RC is..

Basically, my timeline is:

Year 7 - Arrived to the UK. Employed
Year 6 - Sept 2009: Starting date MA Degree
Year 5 - Sept 2010: Finishing date MA Degree. Few months claiming job seeker allowance.
Year 4 - January 2011 to December 2011: Internship (unpaid, self-sufficient).
Year 3 - 2012 Employed
Year 2 - 2013 Employed
Year 1 - 2014 Employed full time until September, then I changed my contract to become sessional worker, as I started another MA Degree (receiving NHS Bursary)
Year 0 (now) - 2015 Second year of the MA degree, still employed as sessional worker.

I have to demonstrate I meet the CSI requirement for Year 5, when I finished my Master's degree, and year 4, when I was self-sufficient. As well as this last year and few months, in which I am studying a new Master's degree.

With only my EHIC in my possess (with no stated date in which it was issued), can I do that?

[noajthan]

Thank you for your reply noajthan.

However, it is not really clear what you mean when you talk about "statement of intent" (what is it?) and demonstrating my time in the UK is limited (I want to stay in this country, that's why I am applying to become a British citizen). I haven't read anything on any government guide.
Also, I am not sure what RC is..

Basically, my timeline is:

Year 7 - Arrived to the UK. Employed
Year 6 - Sept 2009: Starting date MA Degree
Year 5 - Sept 2010: Finishing date MA Degree. Few months claiming job seeker allowance.
Year 4 - January 2011 to December 2011: Internship (unpaid, self-sufficient).
Year 3 - 2012 Employed
Year 2 - 2013 Employed
Year 1 - 2014 Employed full time until September, then I changed my contract to become sessional worker, as I started another MA Degree (receiving NHS Bursary)
Year 0 (now) - 2015 Second year of the MA degree, still employed as sessional worker.

I have to demonstrate I meet the CSI requirement for Year 5, when I finished my Master's degree, and year 4, when I was self-sufficient. As well as this last year and few months, in which I am studying a new Master's degree.

With only my EHIC in my possess (with no stated date in which it was issued), can I do that?

I do not know if HO will accept an undated EHIC (one you have explained was issued in 2013) for a period extending back to 2010/2011.

A RC is residence certificate - sometimes (optionally) issued to EEA nationals to confirm their status.

Regarding CSI, see this guidance to the transitional arrangement, to see if you can use it.
(You would have needed a RC issued to you at the time, as a student).
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... issued.pdf
- for example, see para 5 & 6 about the 'statement of intent'

To use an EHIC in lieu of a full CSI policy when applying for a RC a statement of intent is (usually) required.
Maybe that's not the case for citizenship - you would have to dig into that further.

[Marco A.]

I do not know if HO will accept an undated EHIC (one you have explained was issued in 2013) for a period extending back to 2010/2011.

A RC is residence certificate - sometimes (optionally) issued to EEA nationals to confirm their status.

Regarding CSI, see this guidance to the transitional arrangement, to see if you can use it.
(You would have needed a RC issued to you at the time, as a student).
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... issued.pdf
- for example, see para 5 & 6 about the 'statement of intent'

To use an EHIC in lieu of a full CSI policy when applying for a RC a statement of intent is (usually) required.
Maybe that's not the case for citizenship - you would have to dig into that further.

Everything is so frustrating and confusing, I want to cry!

Thank you for the clarification. And no, I have no RC..

No EHIC (which has a standard format for all Europe) states the issuing date, only the expiring date. And in Italy it is automatically issued to its citizens once they turn 18 (I had several of them in my lifetime), and automatically renewed once it expires.

I may have to seek legal advice then, before starting the time consuming task of gathering evidence and putting an application together.

[noajthan]

I do not know if HO will accept an undated EHIC (one you have explained was issued in 2013) for a period extending back to 2010/2011.

A RC is residence certificate - sometimes (optionally) issued to EEA nationals to confirm their status.

Regarding CSI, see this guidance to the transitional arrangement, to see if you can use it.
(You would have needed a RC issued to you at the time, as a student).
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... issued.pdf
- for example, see para 5 & 6 about the 'statement of intent'

To use an EHIC in lieu of a full CSI policy when applying for a RC a statement of intent is (usually) required.
Maybe that's not the case for citizenship - you would have to dig into that further.

Everything is so frustrating and confusing, I want to cry!

Thank you for the clarification. And no, I have no RC..

No EHIC (which has a standard format for all Europe) states the issuing date, only the expiring date. And in Italy it is automatically issued to its citizens once they turn 18 (I had several of them in my lifetime), and automatically renewed once it expires.

I may have to seek legal advice then, before starting the time consuming task of gathering evidence and putting an application together.

If no RC then it's a case of use EHIC or nothing.

The question is will HO accept just the one EHIC card (going back to 2013)?
Or, if they know the Italian system, would they want to see the previous undated EHIC card too (ie for period 2007-2013).

Do you have/can you get an Italian government or healthcare document showing that citizens are covered by Italian healthcare when living abroad & entitled to be issued with EHIC cards (ie cards issued automatically)?
Even without the old EHIC such a document may boost your supporting evidence.

Another idea: a low-risk strategy.
You could first apply for a 'confirmation of PR' card; (permanent residence)
(fee £65 plus a biometrics fee) and with a right of appeal.

Thus any potential issues with your PR could be identified for less than approx £100, rather than risking the naturalisation fee (& a refusal without appeal).

PR (settled status) is ofcourse a vital prerequisite when applying for citizenship (whether you have a PR card or not).

The optional PR card can also help as part of the evidence for a naturalisation application, at a later date.

[Marco A.]

The low risk strategy is a brilliant idea I haven't considered First I will gather as much official evidence I will find about how EHIC works in Italy, then I will apply for the PR card.

When (and IF) the PR card is issued, will I need to wait 1 year before applying to British citizenship or can I just apply straight away?

[noajthan]

The low risk strategy is a brilliant idea I haven't considered First I will gather as much official evidence I will find about how EHIC works in Italy, then I will apply for the PR card.

When (and IF) the PR card is issued, will I need to wait 1 year before applying to British citizenship or can I just apply straight away?

As you may be aware, if not married to a BC, you will need to have been free from immigration time restrictions (ie holding PR) for 12 months.
As you have been in UK over 6 years it is likely you have done so already.
(You still need to prove all this to HO with adequate documentary evidence).

The reason you would apply for confirmation of PR is to 'test the water'.
If approved, & if you already have 12 months of PR under your belt, then yes, you could then apply for the privilege of citizenship asap;
(also assuming all the other requirements for naturalisation have been/can be met).

The forum FAQs explain the options well, see:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/britis ... 95747.html
- see Q5 & 'option 1'

Hope it makes sense.

[Marco A.]

The low risk strategy is a brilliant idea I haven't considered First I will gather as much official evidence I will find about how EHIC works in Italy, then I will apply for the PR card.

When (and IF) the PR card is issued, will I need to wait 1 year before applying to British citizenship or can I just apply straight away?

As you may be aware, if not married to a BC, you will need to have been free from immigration time restrictions (ie holding PR) for 12 months.
As you have been in UK over 6 years it is likely you have done so already.
(You still need to prove all this to HO with adequate documentary evidence).

The reason you would apply for confirmation of PR is to 'test the water'.
If approved, & if you already have 12 months of PR under your belt, then yes, you could then apply for the privilege of citizenship asap;
(also assuming all the other requirements for naturalisation have been/can be met).

The forum FAQs explain the options well, see:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/britis ... 95747.html
- see Q5 & 'option 1'

Hope it makes sense.

Thank you! All clear. I will definitely go down the route of applying for confirmation of PR first, to be safe. Noajthan, your advices have been extremely important to me, thank you

[noajthan]

Thank you! All clear. I will definitely go down the route of applying for confirmation of PR first, to be safe. Noajthan, your advices have been extremely important to me, thank you

Prego!

Take it step by step.
Search out & submit comprehensive documentary evidence (to minimise or eliminate HO 'wriggle room');
keep scans & copies of everything you submit.

Good luck.