French Citizen Lived in UK for 20 Years

[Laurence22]

Hi

I obtained a BSC in European Business & Technology at Coventry University in June 95.
I came back to the UK in September 1996 to live with the English father of my son who is now 17 years old.
I separated (never married) from my son's dad in 2006 but remained in the UK so that my son could see both his parents.

I have decided to apply for British Citizenship but having read the various guides and applications i am still unclear on certain elements.

1. Do i have to apply for permanent residency before i can apply for British Citizenship?
2. If yes, do i need to wait another 12 months before i can apply for British Citizenship or can i apply as soon as PR has been granted?
3. Will the above degree be sufficient for the English Language requirements?
4. I had a go at completing the Permanent Residency application (in case it is required) and i am struggling to remember all the time i have spent outside the UK since i first came in 1996. Does anyone know if there is an easier/more accurate way to get this info (Would a Subject Access Request from the SAR Unit be able to provide me with this info?)

Many thanks

[secret.simon]

As you arrived in the UK before October 2000, you would want to check your old passports to see if you were issued ILR on arrival in the UK. Before that date, EU citizens were given ILR on the spot.

1. Do i have to apply for permanent residency before i can apply for British Citizenship?

You don't apply for PR, you apply for a PR Card and yes, it is now a requirement for citizenship to have a PR card.

2. If yes, do i need to wait another 12 months before i can apply for British Citizenship or can i apply as soon as PR has been granted?

Provided you met the PR requirements more than a year ago, you can apply as soon as you got the card.

3. Will the above degree be sufficient for the English Language requirements?

Yes

4. I had a go at completing the Permanent Residency application (in case it is required) and i am struggling to remember all the time i have spent outside the UK since i first came in 1996. Does anyone know if there is an easier/more accurate way to get this info (Would a Subject Access Request from the SAR Unit be able to provide me with this info?)

Because EEA citizens arrival and exit is not updated on any system, an SAR won't help.

Have you worked in the UK (with proof, such as P45s, etc) for any five continuous years since 1995? If you have worked in any such continuous five year period, you will have acquired PR. So, all you need to do is provide proof of just that, with the form and payment and you are all set.

[noajthan]

Hi

I obtained a BSC in European Business & Technology at Coventry University in June 95.
I came back to the UK in September 1996 to live with the English father of my son who is now 17 years old.
I separated (never married) from my son's dad in 2006 but remained in the UK so that my son could see both his parents.

I have decided to apply for British Citizenship but having read the various guides and applications i am still unclear on certain elements.

1. Do i have to apply for permanent residency before i can apply for British Citizenship?
2. If yes, do i need to wait another 12 months before i can apply for British Citizenship or can i apply as soon as PR has been granted?
3. Will the above degree be sufficient for the English Language requirements?
4. I had a go at completing the Permanent Residency application (in case it is required) and i am struggling to remember all the time i have spent outside the UK since i first came in 1996. Does anyone know if there is an easier/more accurate way to get this info (Would a Subject Access Request from the SAR Unit be able to provide me with this info?)

Many thanks

1) Quick answer: Yes.
BUT check the passport you originally entered UK with .
You may find you were stamped in to UK with ILR! If so you may have the necessary settled status already.

2) Not if you acquired PR over 12 months ago; (or were granted ILR, pre 2000).

3) If taught in English (& you have degree certificate): Yes.

4) Yes, some members (even from EU) have reported a SAR from UKVI can help.

If you wish to apply for confirmation of PR over a more recent period you don't have to recount very detail back to 19-forgotten.

And you don't have to use latest form if you can find an earlier (simpler) version in Gov UK archive (google) or via a link in a thread to same in this forum.

Edit: beaten to post by secret.simon - bon soir! mon brave!

Good luck.

[secret.simon]

Edit: beaten to post by secret.simon - bon soir! mon brave!

Merci beaucoup.

4) Yes, some members (even from EU) have reported a SAR from UKVI can help.

I find this very interesting. I thought the movements of EEA citizens was not meant to be tracked by member states.

[noajthan]

Edit: beaten to post by secret.simon - bon soir! mon brave!

Merci beaucoup.

4) Yes, some members (even from EU) have reported a SAR from UKVI can help.

I find this very interesting. I thought the movements of EEA citizens was not meant to be tracked by member states.

As a traveller in a modern airport (if not sea-port) in a Westernised/technologically-advanced country one is tracked & scanned & processed to the nth degree;
in fact even before one reaches the airport if you factor in online booking/online check-in (and that's not to mention the smartphone and creditcard/s in your pocket too).

Example: british-citizenship/incorrect-travel-da ... l#p1219872

[Laurence22]

Thank you both for taking the time to reply.

I have just checked and i dont have my old passports i think they take it back. They did for the last one i had replaced last year anyway.

I have worked full time (except 4 months maternity leave) since September 1996 and in my current job for the last 9 years and 3 months so hopefully that should satisfy their requirements.

Let's get that ball rolling then....

Thanks again.

[Gomjaba]

Actually a SAR might help, depending on the airport systems. I did that and there were 7 flights recorded I have forgotten about (business trips to CH and DE via Heathrow). And I got a German passport.

Always worth having, put it this way, if they don't have records, then they can't find anything you may have forgotten. Good control check worth £10 and 40 days. Mine took 41

[LilyLalilu]

I have worked full time (except 4 months maternity leave) since September 1996 and in my current job for the last 9 years and 3 months so hopefully that should satisfy their requirements.

If you have worked continuously for at least 5 years and can prove this via employer letters, P60s and/or an NI contribution summary you have certainly acquired Permanent Residence status quite a while ago. If you want to apply for citizenship as soon as you receive your Document Certifying Permanent Residence, I suggest you supply evidence of treaty rights and residence for a period that ended in (or before) January 2015 (e.g. from 2007-2012 or 2010-2015 etc.; any 5 year period goes). Bon courage