Hi Guys,

My request seems a little different than most any advise would be greatly appreciated.

My wife and I have just passed our 3 years of marriage mark. She has had the IRL visa for the last year. We understand she is now able to apply for citizenship and then the main goal of a UK passport. Now here is the sticking point, I have been working as a consultant in Germany for the last 2 years. My wife has spent a good deal of the last 2 years with me, apart from having our daughter in the UK. Is my working away from the UK a valid reason not to have hit the alotted 270 days in the Uk?. The only reason we really want her to have a UK passport is, she can't travel to Europe on her own (has to travel with me with IRL visa). My job in Germany is not perminant, and if anyone asks her passport wasn't stamped on leaving the Uk for 90% of our exits (via car), but has been stamped on every entry.

Has anyone else had a similar experience or can a legal person expalin where I stand.

many thanks

Bob

There's a bit of latitude granted, but not much. You need to read pages 31 & 32 of the attached document:-

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/nationality/guide_an.pdf

They'll disregard anything up to 300 days, and up to 450 days but the qualifying period is then 4 years, or 540 days, but qualifying takes 5 years, and that's if your wife can show that her main residence is the UK. Remember when you're reading the advice that 'you' is the applicant, not the sponsor.

She's passed the Life in the UK test?