UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

Integrate or wait to obtain UK citizenship

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

The UK government has announced that immigrants who commit 'even minor crimes' or make no effort to integrate to society will have a longer wait to become a UK citizen

The purpose of the proposed Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill (The Bill) is to replace all existing immigration legislation with a simplified, clear and coherent legal framework to control the UK borders, manage migration and reform the path to citizenship.

The Home Office promised that the Bill, unveiled in the Queen's Speech on 3 December 08, would ensure a 'firm but fair' system is in place and said 'there will be a number of changes to nationality law, allowing us to shorten or lengthen the qualifying period according to behaviour'.

Immigrants must 'earn' British passports by carrying out voluntary work, paying taxes and learning to speak English. Those who make a greater effort to integrate by, for example, helping out at community centres or taking old-aged pensioners shopping could be 'fast-tracked'. However migrants who commit crimes or do not work will be sent home.

Under the Bill, applicants must have lived in the UK for minimum six years before being granted 'earned citizenship'. Currently non-EEA migrants coming to the UK to work are allowed to stay after five years but there is no obligation to become citizens. This will be replaced by five years' temporary residence followed by a period of between one and five years of 'probationary' citizenship.

If the Bill is passed by Parliament, it would make the Border Agency look after the welfare of children involved in immigration.

The Bill would also reduce the restrictions on people from overseas, but who have a British-born mother, applying to become a UK citizen. It would end the 'historic cut-off point' which means it only applies to those born after 1961.

If you are interested in UK Visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to the UK.