Renunciation of British citizenship - effect on future residence

[makem2]

I am Chinese by birth. In April 2010 I married my UK husband in China and entered the UK in July 2010 on a spouse visa. I subsequently obtained ILR.

I October 2013 I was naturalised as a British Citizen.

If I now renounce my British Citizenship:

1. Will I have to begin an application for ILR from the beginning?

2. Will I be able to apply whilst in the UK?

3. Will the 5 year period etc still apply?

[Casa]

For what reason do you want to renounce your British citizenship

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... r_2015.pdf

You may want to consider that since being granted BC your ILR is now void, so how will you continue to reside legally in the UK if you renounce British citizenship?

[makem2]

For what reason do you want to renounce your British citizenship

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... r_2015.pdf

You may want to consider that since being granted BC your ILR is now void, so how will you continue to reside legally in the UK if you renounce British citizenship?

Thank you for your input Casa,

I want to consider renouncing Citizenship to enable me to visit China without needing a visa.

I am aware my ILR is void, hence my question about what repercussions follow.

Presumably I could return to China and submit a spouse visa application again. I see no reason why it would not be granted as my circumstances in respect of finance, marriage and knowledge of English remain the same.

However, that does seem rather long winded when effectively the only change would be relinquishing my UK passport in exchange for an ILR card which I previously held.

[CR001]

Your ILR ceased to exist or be valid on the date you attended your citizenship ceremony, so no you can't just get it back and will have to start the whole process from scratch again with 5 years residence (2 x 2.5 year visas) before applying for ILR, with much tougher visa rules now than in 2010.

You would have to pay the visa fee, currently at £1464 (going up in April to over £1500) for the first 2.5 year visa plus the IHS fee of £600, also set to go up by double later this year.

[seasky]

Is it that hard getting a chinese visa every 2 years?

Likely to move to ten years at one point soon?

[makem2]

Thank you Casa, That was the information I required to make a decision.

Just one unanswered question, would I have to leave the UK immediately and if not what would be the type of visa issued whilst I start again with the documentation?

[hamalt66]

Thank you Casa, That was the information I required to make a decision.

Just one unanswered question, would I have to leave the UK immediately and if not what would be the type of visa issued whilst I start again with the documentation?

Is it more expensive to apply for a Chinese visa as a British Citizen than the amount you'll have to pay for reapplying to get ILR/BC again?

[Casa]

You would have to submit an application from outside of the UK. You can't renounce British citizenship and then just carry on with your life here.

As the saying goes, you seem to be 'using a sledgehammer to crack a nut'

hamalt66 has made a valid point.

[makem2]

I was seeking information because I knew nothing of the procedure or consequences.

I have the information now and thank you.