ILR route visas and qualifying periods are:
· Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visas –5 years.
· Tier 1 Investor Visas –5 years. Can be accelerated to 2 years with a £10 million investment, 3 years with a £5 million investment and 4 years with a £2 million investment.
· Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa –3 years.
· Tier 2 Worker Visas – 5 years.
· Spouse Visas- upon completion of 5 years residence as a spouse.
· Unmarried Partner Visas –5 years.
· PBS Dependant Visas –5 years.
· UK Ancestry Visas –5 years.
· Long Residence –10 years
Applying for Citizenship
Once you have settled status, the final stage of your journey to becoming a UK citizen is to make an application for citizenship. This can be done after 12 months of settled status if you satisfy the residency criteria.
The eligibility criteria for Naturalisation are:
· Proficient in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic;
· Demonstrate knowledge of UK Life;
· Have ‘good character’
· Possess ILR or an EEA Permanent Residence for a year or more;
· Be 18 or older;
· Not have broken immigration law;
· Have lived within the UK for 5 years (3 years if married to a British Citizen)
This involves submitting a large amount of documentation. Some documents will have already been submitted in your ILR application but it is vital you send everything you are asked for. It takes about 12 weeks for a decision. If you are successful, you will be invited to a naturalisation ceremony. After that, you can apply for a British passport.
Scarsdale Solicitors – Manchester, Rochdale and Oldham
For advice on immigration issues from local experts, call the team at Scarsdale Solicitors Manchester, Scarsdale Solicitors Oldham & Scarsdale Solicitors Rochdale. We are proud to be there for clients in the Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester areas. We combine unparalleled expertise in legal matters with the highest level of customer service. Should you need the help of Rochdale immigration solicitors, Manchester Immigration solicitors or Oldham immigration solicitors, call us today on 0161 660 6050.
