Questions about tail end of Naturalisation process and ceremony

[happyhero]

My mother who is German and has lived in the UK since she was 18, was ecstatic to receive her letter from the Home Office telling her she had been successful and would shortly receive her letter to attend a citizenship ceremony where she will be presented with a certificate of British citizenship, only 2 weeks after we had sent in her paperwork and biometrics. Considering we had been warned about having to wait 6 month and the fact we were worried if anything was wrong on the form and so might mean they contact us about a problem, this is a great relief and she is very happy but of course she worried about every stage and is now worried about the ceremony and getting a British Passport so we have a few new questions if anyone could help please.

She is 79 and so was not required to do any of the language or knowledge obligations normally required, so what will she actually have to do at the ceremony, she is panicking?

She has always looked forward to getting a British Passport and of course there is no mention of this on her letter, so at what point can she apply for this, is it once she has this certificate of British citizenship after the ceremony?

When she applies for a British Passport will she need to send it off with the application and is it only for her first British passport or every time (yes I know she is 79 but she is optimistic about living a long time)(she’s thinking along the lines of “when will I be truly British and not have to send extra paperwork off that a normal British citizen would not have to”)?

Considering the process she will have gone through to get to this point is there anything special she needs to do when applying for a passport that say a British subject would not have to?

Incidentally, as her original documentation was lost from when she first came to the UK in 1955 she had to get a Residence Document to state that she has permission to stay here but we’ve heard this will soon become invalid as the system gets changed and so we’re not sure if this will play any part in a passport application, at least while it is still valid. Will it?


Any answers or help appreciated.

[ariskar]

My mother who is German and has lived in the UK since she was 18, was ecstatic to receive her letter from the Home Office telling her she had been successful and would shortly receive her letter to attend a citizenship ceremony where she will be presented with a certificate of British citizenship, only 2 weeks after we had sent in her paperwork and biometrics. Considering we had been warned about having to wait 6 month and the fact we were worried if anything was wrong on the form and so might mean they contact us about a problem, this is a great relief and she is very happy but of course she worried about every stage and is now worried about the ceremony and getting a British Passport so we have a few new questions if anyone could help please.

She is 79 and so was not required to do any of the language or knowledge obligations normally required, so what will she actually have to do at the ceremony, she is panicking?

She has always looked forward to getting a British Passport and of course there is no mention of this on her letter, so at what point can she apply for this, is it once she has this certificate of British citizenship after the ceremony?

When she applies for a British Passport will she need to send it off with the application and is it only for her first British passport or every time (yes I know she is 79 but she is optimistic about living a long time)(she’s thinking along the lines of “when will I be truly British and not have to send extra paperwork off that a normal British citizen would not have to”)?

Considering the process she will have gone through to get to this point is there anything special she needs to do when applying for a passport that say a British subject would not have to?

Incidentally, as her original documentation was lost from when she first came to the UK in 1955 she had to get a Residence Document to state that she has permission to stay here but we’ve heard this will soon become invalid as the system gets changed and so we’re not sure if this will play any part in a passport application, at least while it is still valid. Will it?


Any answers or help appreciated.

You may contact the local council registar office and ask if ceremony is applicable to her case or if one of the two allowed visitors can act as interpreter for her to take the oath in her native language, if English is not an option. It may be possible to get an exemption. However, learning the few oath words shouldn't be that hard if one of her witness can help her.

[alterhase58]

Herzlichen Glueckwunsch an die Frau Mama!

Yes, it's only the oath that is required to be spoken, and as your mother has spend in the region of 60 years in the UK that won't be a problem. Once she has received the certificate she is truly a British citizen. She can then apply for a British passport, either paper form from the Post Office or on-line. All that needs to be submitted (in original) is the certificate and all "uncancelled" passports, those that are current or expired. A cancelled one is where one corner is cut off,I seem to remember. You may be worried about losing the originals, but I recommend you have certified copies made at the Post Office.

Brexit is no longer a headache as mother is British, she can keep the blue card as a souvenir.

[alterhase58]

I should clarify that BC is conferred by receiving the certificate at the ceremony, so until the ceremony is completed one is not yet British. And the status of EU citizens remains unchanged until the UK leaves the EU.

[happyhero]

My mother thinks your answer is brilliant and says this " Herzlichen Dank fuer ihre freundlichen Worte. You are very kind. Regards from German Mama. I feel already British!