when can child with ile apply citizenship

[mirrorman]

Our child arrives next month with ile settlement visa.she is 12 years old .

Will be 13 in sept

Can we register her for citizenship after 1 year on arriving in UK

Thanks

[7by7]

You say 'our child' but I assume that she is your step child. (If you are British and she is your child then she is probably already British; see British citizenship basics.)

She would apply under Section3(1).

To qualify the child needs to have no time restriction on her stay in the UK, which with ILE she does, and if over 13 been living in the UK for at least two years.

Registration would be at the Home Secretary's discretion; but it is unlikely to be granted unless her Thai parent has already been naturalised or is applying at the same time.

See Guide MN1 for more.

[mirrorman]

Apologies 7x7 have not made myself clear.

I am British , my wife is Thai but has British citizenship for 2 years.

The child is my wife's and is Thai citizen.

The child is 12 years old and will be 13 in sept

I understand that the child as she is 12 can register on arrival up to the age of 13 but the problem is getting a referee that has known her for 1 year .

So we will have to wait 1 year after arrival is this correct and would it be under section 3.1

[mirrorman]

Hello members

Please could someone help and let me know .

Which under which section should I apply for the child which is question 1.1 form mn1.

Can I register child 1 year after arrival or is it 2 years.

My our status. Is in my last post to 7x7

[7by7]

The child will apply under Section 3(1) ( as per post 2 above and the answer given when you asked it here 4 days ago!)

I cannot find anything in either the guide or the form which says that the referees must have known the child for at least 1 year; which I admit does surprise me.

They do both say, though; "One referee should be a professional who has engaged with the child in a professional capacity, such as a teacher, health visitor, social worker or minister of religion." So obviously the child will need to have been in the UK for a while for this to be possible.

If the child is under 13 when they apply there is no minimum residential requirement; otherwise they must have been living in the UK for at least 2 years.

Going off on a slight tangent; your wife has held British citizenship for 2 years; so must have been living in the UK for at least 5 years.

Now, you and your wife obviously had your reasons for the child not coming to the UK 5 years ago with their mother, which are none of our concern. However, had they done so then they could have applied for registration at the same time as their mother applied for naturalisation; saving you this hassle now.

Which is one reason why my advice is that, if at all possible, parent and child should apply for settlement together.

Edited April 10, 2014 by 7by7