Do time spent on student visa count towards citizenship?

[lsofia]

Hello all,
I wonder if someone can help me with this question.

I've been living in the UK for 4 years now. I came on a student visa on 08/2008 then I extended my student visa for another year on 06/2009.
I got married to a British citizen and got 2 year spouse visa on 03/2010.
I've got ILR recently (I applied on march but it took long time as I made the application by post).
I would like to know if I can apply for citizenship now or I have to wait until march next year, as part of the 3 years I was on student visa.
I'll be waiting for your response Thanks

[geriatrix]

Yes, you may apply now.

[lsofia]

Thanks for your quick response sushdmehta. I will ring the NCS in waltham forest as hubby and I don't want to spend long time again without our passports.

[Myb]

Omg thats exactly my situation as im applying for ILR in few weeks time and wasnt sure if the one year i spent on a student visa counts towards my three years lawfull residency
Thank you for answering and clearifying it for us
The only issue i will have is finding a referee because im planing on applying once i finish the 3 years period and i lived one year in one place then moved to a different place and i dont have contact with the people i knew at the start of the three years
Do i have to keep contact with those people or as long as they knew me at the start of the three year thats enough ?
Thank you

[ITGraduate]

I came to uk as a student in 2004. switched to hsmp in august 2007 and got ilr august 2012.

I am not married to a British spouse. I have read the guidelines and I believe I cannot apply for Naturalisation until August 2013.

My mate applied for Naturalisation and he was successful and he was on a similar case as me. I called the HO and I was told I can apply. ( she told me some strange clause )

I'm not trying to open a can of worms here by creating rumours but could the experts confirm if that can be true.

I then called dmdigital tv to ask one of the solicitors and he confirmed too. Eventhough I believe its not possible, I wanted to double check, Please help

Sincerely!!!

[Gyfrinachgar]

To the best of my knowledge, one has to be free from immigration restrictions (i.e. have ILR or PR) for one year, which means in your case indeed August 2013. I have never heard of any clause to circumvent that requirement and would be very interested to hear more of it.

[ITGraduate]

once again thanks for your clarification.

Its unlikely to be true but like you mentioned very interested to find out of thats possible.

It will help a lot of people here in this forum.

lets wait to hear from experts!! They may have known about such incidents ib the past!!

Cheers

[daniel147]

Hello People, just a quick question, i came to uk in 2009 on student visa, i got married and acquired my spouse visa in 2012 and last month i received my ILR, can i apply straight away to naturalise as a british citizen or do i need to wait. I will appreciate a answer please.

Thanks

[CR001]

Hello People, just a quick question, i came to uk in 2009 on student visa, i got married and acquired my spouse visa in 2012 and last month i received my ILR, can i apply straight away to naturalise as a british citizen or do i need to wait. I will appreciate a answer please.

Thanks

3 years residence with any legal stay/visa counts if applying for naturalisation as spouse of British Citizen, so if you have 3 years legal stay and ILR, you can apply straight away for citizinship. LIUK and English Level B1 or a UK degree.

[daniel147]

oh nice to know, in total have stayed here for 4yrs 8months which includes while i was on student visa which was still in date before i got my spouse 2 yrs visa and last month my ILR, so to clarify on monday i can just fill the form and send it off if i want yea?

Thanks.

[CR001]

Yes, as long as you meet all the standard requirements in terms of english, absences etc.

Apply using NCS at your local council as then you get to keep your original documents and passports.