Early this year, there are proposals in British immigration rule , as authorities are trying to make some changes. Previously,for instance, if you have been in the UK for 4 years with work permit or on High skilled migrant programmes, you are entitled to apply for Indefinite leave to remain in the UK (Permanent residency). 1 year after qualifying that status, you can apply for British citizenship. That means you can become a British citizen in maximum 5 years (plus application process), provided that you are clear from criminal offences.
But early this year, the government proposed the new system with 3 steps of immigration status.
1. Temporary residence
2. Probationary citizenship
3. British citizenship/permanent residence
For example, if you are on work permit or Tier 1 (former High skilled migrant status), you need to wait for 5 years. After that, you are entitled for probational citizenship.
The issue is variation of duration of probational citizenship. According to government immigration website, those who participate in voluntary work/ community work, it takes only one year and those who do not bother those works, it will take up to 3 years before applying for citizenship.
Probably, this new system will start in 2009 after approval at parliament is Ok.
That means the the journal to British citizenship will take from 6 years to 8 years if you have got all requirements.
Related news :
Daily Mail
Guardian
Related forum
UK Immigration
Related website:
UK Border Agency
You may think that the process is rather lengthy and complicated. In fact, you can sort out step by step while living and working in Britain. That is we normally do. In 2007, 164,635 citizen applications were approved - the equivalent of one every three minutes.
A friend of mine claimed that becoming a Burmese citizen is more difficult. He is an elder brother of Chinese family as his father moved from China to Burma 50 years previously. He and his siblings were born in Yangon, former capital of Burma. But he is still foreigner there. No right to attend professional schools. On the other hand, his younger brother who moved to the USA after matriculation in Myanmar (former Burma) has already got a US passport long ago.
1 comment:
Yes, i agree with you.
i am one of the chinese people who live in Myanmar/Burma.
We are totally foreigners to Burma Policy.
And we are also absolutely tourists for China.
We can't go back to China and also can't get the Citizenship ID in Burma.
So, guess who are we?
We are someone who lost the way back to their home.
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