British Nationality/passport

[Jasmine]

Sorry if this has been done to death or I've posted in the wrong section but I just don't know where to start.

I'm married to a Thai man (married 1999)and we have lived in the UK since 2000 with our kids.

We want to apply for British Nationality for him/British passport etc. I'm really confused about how to go about this and this new test/compulsory ESOL lessons thing.

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance.

[vinny]

See British nationality

[Mossfinn]

Hi Jasmine,

Vinny has given you the link that tells you all you need to know.

Just to help put yur mind a little at rest.

The form itself is fairly easy to fill in as long as you fulfil all the criteria, I actually posted here because I was confused at how little information they were requesting compared to the hoops you have to jump through to get to this position.

The 'Life in the UK' procedure is also a simple process and the test itself is a computer multiple choice of 24 questions on three chapters of the book.

Buy the book and he'll sail through this part, I'm sure.

There is pledge or something you have swear to, but that comes later, I'll post that procedure when we get to it, if it might help.

Hope all goes well.

Good Luck

Moss

[Jasmine]

Thanks Vinny and Moss

Do you mean this book?

Someone told me there are some sample/practice tests on the internet, does anybody know if this is true?

[Mossfinn]

Thanks Vinny and Moss

Do you mean this book?

Someone told me there are some sample/practice tests on the internet, does anybody know if this is true?

Yes, thats the book.

Don't know if there are practice tests on the internet or not, but for the cost of the book, it would be better to study the official literature, I would have thought.

If they are test questions, surely they wont cover all the material, but thats my opinion only.

Good Luck

Moss

[GU22]

There is pledge or something you have swear to, but that comes later, I'll post that procedure when we get to it, if it might help.

I (full name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her Heirs and Successors according to law.

I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.

Alternatively, instead of affirming the new citizen may swear an oath to "Almighty God."

Different local authorities run their citizenship ceremonies in slightly different ways. For example, a friend of mine and his wife live in Liverpool and so she had her ceremony there, where they were given a proper buffet afterwards. We live in Surrey, and all Surrey County Council gave us was a cup of tea and a biscuit! (This was 2 years ago, things may have changed.)

Your local authority will contact you shortly after the citizenship has been accepted with the details of the ceremony.

Edited July 12, 2006 by GU22

[the scouser]

Jasmine,

An idea of the questions asked can be found here.

It is expected that the applicant can speak English to a prescribed standard. However, successfully passing the test is considered to be demonstration that this standard has been attained and no further English qualification is then needed. Alternatively, your husband can attend an ESOL with Citizenship course at your local further education college which, should he pass, will absolve him from sitting the Life in the UK test.

Having obtained the relevant qualification, your husband can then submit his naturalisation application. In broad terms, he should have been in the UK for 3 years and have indefinite leave. Of the last 3 years, he can't have spent more than 270 days outside of the UK and no more than 90 in the last year (there is a degree of discretion, though, depending upon the reason for a prolonged absence). He must be of good character (no unspent convictions) and be of sound mind.

Your husband will then be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony at the local town hall which should done within the allowed time span. Once he's done that, and providing everything's in order, he'll get his certificate of naturalisation which he then uses to support his application for a British passport.

Scouse.

[atlastaname]

I have to say having looked at the link provided by scouce , that i couldn't answer most of the questions with complete confidence that i was totally right. I could of course answer them all, but not totally 100% correctly.

I wonder what the point of it is ? Knowing these kind of things will have no impact or effect on the future lives of those applying , and the passing of the test depends more on the persons ability to swot up the night before and remember (short term) the likely answers. Having passed they will undoubtably forget them all, so whats the point?

Seems like a huge waste of government (and thus my) money . Perhaps the idea is just to put one furthur obstacle in the way of those who are seeking British Citizenship.

I do think a language test should be applied , as i think its fair to ask all people applying to become British to have the ability to speak english to a reasonable standard. But i'm not sure i can see the point of this test.

[GU22]

I think that ensuring that people who wish to become citizens of a country know about the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen of that country, and something of it's history, laws and government is sound. So I have no problem with questions about government, the legal system etc., but see little point in questions like "Do many children live in single parent families or step-families? When do children leave home?"

The fact that many people born in the UK would have difficulty with the questions is a sad indictment of our education system. Citizenship classes should, I think, be compulsory in secondary schools.

It is certainly vital, I think, that those applying to become citizens of any country should have a basic grasp of at least one of the native languages of that country. For their own sake if nothing else.

For an example of how other countries do it, see INS Citizenship Test Questions from the US.

[Jasmine]

Thanks everyone I really appreciate your help.

I have to say I agree with atlastaname. I do think the test looks quite hard. I'm not saying my husband is thick but he isn't particularly academic (left school at 16).

My husband's dad was an English speaking tour guide in the early 80's, all his siblings speak English with one other being married to a farang female and he worked on Samet with tourists for 10 years so he has reasonable spoken English. He also managed to pass the UK written driving test but I just think he might struggle with this....could be wrong???

Do any of you know a Thai person who has taken the test or joined up to the ES0L lessons? And if so what did they make of it?

Thanks again

[GU22]

Do any of you know a Thai person who has taken the test or joined up to the ES0L lessons? And if so what did they make of it?

My wife obtained her British citizenship before these tests came in (just!), so I can't give you any personal experience, I'm afraid.

I would say that if your husband's English was good enough for him to have no problems studying for and taking the driving theory test, then it should be good enough for the English part of this test.

Have a look at Thailand-UK, there are many there who are currently studying for this test, or have recently passed it.

Edited July 13, 2006 by GU22

[Mossfinn]

Thanks everyone I really appreciate your help.

I have to say I agree with atlastaname. I do think the test looks quite hard. I'm not saying my husband is thick but he isn't particularly academic (left school at 16).

My husband's dad was an English speaking tour guide in the early 80's, all his siblings speak English with one other being married to a farang female and he worked on Samet with tourists for 10 years so he has reasonable spoken English. He also managed to pass the UK written driving test but I just think he might struggle with this....could be wrong???

Do any of you know a Thai person who has taken the test or joined up to the ES0L lessons? And if so what did they make of it?

Thanks again

Hi Jasmine,

My wife has recently passed the test.

She bought the book and studied its content and I selected certain questions to test her ability on remembering what she had learned.

I still think it is essential to buy and study the book, as his english is good in my opinion he will have no trouble.

My wife had reasonble english when she arrived, studied further at night when she got here and has also passed her driving test but has not been speaking english for 10 years at least like your man, he'll be fine as long as he works at it.

Good Luck

Moss

[Jasmine]

Thanks for all the replies and links.

Have followed up the info you all gave and it seems a bit less daunting now

Edited July 20, 2006 by Jasmine