Summary of Steps and Indicative timeline

[raf005]

Hi there
I am an EU citizen and I started working as a full time employee in the UK since 2008. I recently applied for residency card and I have received it with an eligibilty date in 2013, which means that I could apply for citizenship as of 2014.
I have been living and working in the UK since then, however I have left my job and I am planing to travel for a few months (could be up to 6 months)

What are my options here ?
1- Am I still eligible given that i have fulfilled the 6 years requirement ?
2- Can I apply now and travel during the process ?
3- what if i don't apply now? Can i come back anytime and apply straight away or will I have to wait for another full year after coming back ?

Many thanks

[cyclina1]

Hi there
I am an EU citizen and I started working as a full time employee in the UK since 2008. I recently applied for residency card and I have received it with an eligibilty date in 2013, which means that I could apply for citizenship as of 2014.
I have been living and working in the UK since then, however I have left my job and I am planing to travel for a few months (could be up to 6 months)

What are my options here ?
1- Am I still eligible given that i have fulfilled the 6 years requirement ? Yes.
2- Can I apply now and travel during the process ? Depends how. If you go to apply through council and have passport and PR card copied and submit the copies for application, you can travel. if you apply yourself, you must submit your own passport and PR card and you cannot travel.
3- what if i don't apply now? Can i come back anytime and apply straight away or will I have to wait for another full year after coming back ? In your case, you can but you will need to wait another full year if you leave the UK for more than 90 days.

Many thanks

[raf005]

Thanks Cyclina for your response

[epi]

If citizenship granted, you must attend ceremony within certain time and if you don't you would have to start all over again. It would be better to do citizenship and get passport before you travel, in my opinion.

[raf005]

If citizenship is granted, I will come back for the ceremony

I have one more question : Can I apply then change my address during the process? Would this delay the process ?

Many thanks in advance for your help

[raf005]

Hey there
can anyone help on this please ?
Many thanks !

[raf005]

HI there
one of the residency eligibility requirement is being present in the UK on the day 5 years before "the Home office receives the application"
What qualifies as the day the Home office receives the application ? Is this the day I click submit on my online application ? Or the day they receive the biometrics ? or the day I go to the council to submit my documents ?

Thanks !

[CR001]

Date of application depends on how you apply yes and is either :

Date you submit and pay online; or

Date of NCS (not NDRS) appointment using the paper form; or

Date HO receives your application if you apply by post on your own (paper form).

[raf005]

Thanks a lot for your answer CR001

I will be applying online and I guess payment happens on the same i submit my application. However I will have to book an appointment, within 10 days, at a council to submit the documents that justify my application (passport, proof of residency, my PR card, etc...)

Do you confirm that the date the home office receives my application is the date I submit and pay and not the date they receive all the rest of my documents ?

May thanks

[CR001]

Thanks a lot for your answer CR001

I will be applying online and I guess payment happens on the same i submit my application. However I will have to book an appointment, within 10 days, at a council to submit the documents that justify my application (passport, proof of residency, my PR card, etc...)

Do you confirm that the date the home office receives my application is the date I submit and pay and not the date they receive all the rest of my documents ?

May thanks

The date of application is the date you submit and pay online yes.

[raf005]

thank you !

[raf005]

hi there,
I am ready to submit my online application and I would just need to double check few things regarding the steps to do.

step1: before submitting, I need to book an appoitment with the return service in order not to miss the 10 working day deadline
step2: I submit my application

Step 3: I need to go to post office to ask for a passport application ?
Step4 : I need to go to the post office to have my biometrics taken ? how does that work and when?

Step 5: i attend the appointment at the documents return service and submit all my supporting documents including my passport application

step 6: nothing to do, I just wait for 2 to 6 months until i receive a response
Step 7 : if response is positive I need to book a ceremony within 3 months of receiving a response. Response would come by physical letter is that correct ?

Step 8: what about the passport ? when/how does this happen ?

Many thanks

[CR001]

Please keep ALL your questions on the same application in ONE topic (this one).

step1: before submitting, I need to book an appoitment with the return service in order not to miss the 10 working day deadline
step2: I submit my application

Submit and then book as far as I understand.

Step 3: I need to go to post office to ask for a passport application ?
Step4 : I need to go to the post office to have my biometrics taken ? how does that work and when?

When you finished submitted online, you will get the option to download the biometric enrollment letter. You need the letter to do your biometrics. Yes collect passport form at the post office

Step 5: i attend the appointment at the documents return service and submit all my supporting documents including my passport application

Correct.

step 6: nothing to do, I just wait for 2 to 6 months until i receive a response
Step 7 : if response is positive I need to book a ceremony within 3 months of receiving a response. Response would come by physical letter is that correct ?

Correct. Approval letter is sent in an A5 brown envelope second class post. Ceremony invitation letter sometimes comes separately.

Step 8: what about the passport ? when/how does this happen ?

As you applied with your citizenship application, your passport will only be finalised and sent to you after your ceremony once the council informs HO that your ceremony is complete.

[Ancestor]

step1: before submitting, I need to book an appoitment with the return service in order not to miss the 10 working day deadline
step2: I submit my application

Submit and then book as far as I understand.

Just some feedback and info in my experience, as NDRS service is being transferred out? from Local Council's to somewhere? not sure, do yourself a favor, try and confirm and book NDRS appointment first, and then just ensure you submit application within 10 days prior. Just my input from my experience.

Cheers.

[raf005]

Thanks to both of you

I did miss my appointment indeed when i used the EU passport return service for my PR, because i couldnt find an appointment on time and I ended up doing a new application. But I just checked for the NDRS and it seems that there are much more availabilities. I should be fine.

CR001,
before you replied, i was googling some info on the biometrics, and some people were talking about a letter sent by the post in the following 4 to 6 weeks of applying. Is that not the case anymore ? Can I simply download the biometrics letter directly myself from the online application ?
Reason I am asking is because i am going travelling for some time exactly 6 weeks from now

Thanks

[CR001]

CR001,
before you replied, i was googling some info on the biometrics, and some people were talking about a letter sent by the post in the following 4 to 6 weeks of applying. Is that not the case anymore ? Can I simply download the biometrics letter directly myself from the online application ?
Reason I am asking is because i am going travelling for some time exactly 6 weeks from now

Thanks

That is relevant to the paper applications, not the online one where you can download the letter and enroll biometrics.

[raf005]

Amazing, thanks a lot!

[raf005]

So now given this new information, is it better for me to submit the application the latest possible before i go travelling ? in order to maximise my chance of being back for the ceremony ?