Hello everyone

I am a British citizen and currently live with my Thai girlfriend in the UK. We had lived together in Thailand for over 3 years and then applied for an unmarried partner settlement visa. This visa was granted in February 2011 and in April 2011 the visa was activated upon arrival in the UK. My partner already has passed LIfe in UK test. We plan to marry in the future and understand that if we do marry then my partner will be able to apply for citizenship sooner. Does it make any difference when we marry? If we apply for ILR as unmarried partner and then after ILR is obtained we then marry, will that be ok re our application for citizenship later on?

Many thanks

The requirements for a citizenship application as the spouse of a British citizens simply say that you must be the spouse of a British citizen when you apply. There is nothing to say how long you need to have been married.

Therefore I am fairly sure that she can apply as your spouse, provided you have by then married.

I'm not 100% sure, though, but if you apply through the Nationality Checking Service they will tell you if the application is incorrect and advise you to withdraw it before you pay the application fee.

See British Citizenship Basics for more details.

I have amended the topic title to show the country; please remember this is a forum for all countries except Thailand; not just the UK.

cheers 7by7