Hi All. Have not been on to Thai visa forum for a while, but came on today and read, with interest the topic, of "7by7".

My wife and I married in 2005 and passed all the visa requirements for entry into the UK, a (I am British national, by the way). I year later we went back to the home office and for another £700, I think we/ she was granted IDR. That is as far as we went. However just recently I have been having some major health issues with Leukemia and we had a look at this life in the UK test. Unbelievable! For my own piece of mind, I would like to get my wife a UK passport before my health gets any worse and I have to go upstairs, or even down!

My wife didn’t have any schooling from the age of 10 and she is 52 now and despite working part time in the UK has no chance or willingness to study to take this test. She does not read / write English, but speaks very well. In fact I went to school until the age of 18 and even I could not pass it.

If I am reading 7BY7 'S post correctly in that "regarding if we applied for a visa before 2013 old rules would apply" does this mean after 10 year. IE 2015 she would automatically get her UK passport under residency rules? If not can anybody please advice?

Many thanks.

Brad & Noi

I am no expert my wife became a uk citizen in 2009 before all the changes, having first entered the uk on a settlement visa in 2006, so my knowledge good at the time is now old, but i have been looking on line and found this - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-naturalise-as-a-british-citizen-form-an

i downloaded the notes the last link '' the requirements'' 212kb section 8 page 16 towards the top states this

'' If you were exempted from the knowledge of language and life requirements when you
applied for settlement you must now meet the requirement before applying for
naturalisation unless you are exempted on grounds of age or physical or mental impairment.''

this doesn't help you really and may not apply in your case.

Someone will be along who is full of Knowledge regarding citizenship

all the best with your quest

I'm afraid that to the best of my knowledge, Steve187 is correct.

Unless exempt all applicants for naturalisation need to the speaking and listening requirement.

To be exempt one needs to be either over 65 or physically or mentally incapable of taking the tests; in which case medical evidence will be required to prove this.

However, you say that your wife obtained her ILR (settlement) in 2005.

I must admit that my memory is letting me down here, and I cannot remember when the LitUK test became a requirement for ILR. But, if she did pass it for ILR then that pass is still valid; people only need to pass it once. In which case she will only need to pass the speaking and listening test for naturalisation.