To be worried about my indefinite leave to remain. Should I get British citizenship?

One of my friends with settled status says she won’t bother applying for citizenship because she believes Reform would strip it from anyone not born here anyway. She might be right.

That is even MORE reason to get it done fast. The more naturalised British citizens there are, the less likely Reform would succeed at getting it through Parliament and through the legal appeals of the UK Supreme Court and the ECHR (which would take years to remove ourselves from).

It is important to note that several MPs were either not born here and/or are also naturalised British citizens. They are not without connections and they would hardly vote aye on a law that would strip them & their children of their British citizenship and deport them and their families.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/a58uul/are_there_any_naturalized_citizens_in_parliament/

I moved here when I was 6 months old. I was adopted.

I thought for the majority of EU countries that don’t just allow dual citizenship, the rule was that if you were born a citizen of that country then you can assume another citizenship as a dual citizen, but if you’re a foreigner moving to that country you have to rescind your other citizenship (although happy to be corrected!)

If you’re not a citizen then you’ve never had the rights to live here permanently. Your right has always been subject to a change of law. It is unfortunate you don’t appreciate that. But now you know.

There is a cost associated with processing and granting citizenship. That’s life and also entirely reasonable.

Citizenship is a privilege. It is entirely reasonable for a country to impose requirements and a cost for someone to obtain that privilege.

Nothing about the above is racist. It applies as much to Australians who are white as Australians who are aboriginals.

the way in which Reform want to implement it is racist. Confusing the matters is unhelpful. And plays into their hands entirely.

This is exactly how I feel too.

I think anything I do will ultimately be pointless.

Thankyou for hearing me, and I'm so sorry you and your friend feel the same way.

It feels so dystopian, and it feels so fast. And it's all based on where you were born, you can only escape if you're rich. But we're not allowed to say it because we'll be doubly condemned.

Well whether "no protests" makes you not a person of good character is very debatable. Surely we want active citizens. There is nothing more British I hope than speaking out and being counted. If we have really got to this point I think I might just give up and go and live in Japan.

@Toastandbutterand

I’ve read all of your posts on this and while I agree we shouldn’t be facing what seems likely under Reform, there really isn’t anything we can do right now. One of my friends with settled status says she won’t bother applying for citizenship because she believes Reform would strip it from anyone not born here anyway. She might be right.
The truth is, nobody would really stand up for us. At best, people will politely say: “You must understand, it’s a small island, therefore off you go.”
It is what it is. We can only hope for the best… or, with a bit of dark humour, not even be around by 2029.

Ok, thankyou.

I'm meeting up with someone next week to go through it, but you've somewhat put my mind at rest from a personal perspective!

I dont mind doing it, I can't afford to.

And asking me to constrict my finances so I can pay to sign for a privilege I both have always held and always worked for feels like a massive slap in the face.

My loyalty to this country is in doubt because politicians are wandering to racists. They seem more important than me. I can't even begin to explain how marginalised I've felt the last few weeks. Ive experienced racist abuse for the first time in my life. And far from feeling a part of this country, which I have never doubted, I am now starting to feel that many people view me as lesser, and this government does too.

You are in the lucky position of being able to be a dual citizen. My DH is Japanese and they don't allow dual citizenship, so he would have to revoke his to get British. It's a horrible situation we find ourselves in despite him having IDLR for 20 years, and never taken a penny from the tax payer. If he takes British citizenship, then gives up his Japanese and then decides he wants to return to Japan at some point it's a nightmare. But if Japanese immigration find out and tell him to choose, and he chooses Japanese then we are worse off as he won't have his IDLR.

I think this is so horrible as I am now really worried about if we carry on as we are, and what happens if I can't work any longer to sponsor him? What happens when we retire? Are all the older people on IDLR who are past working age going to be thrown out?

@Milliemoons Do it asap. The only reason to stay with ILR is when your origin country prohibits dual citizenship. If you don't have that issue, do it immediately.

You need to be careful of absence limits over the 5 years before application, as well as a requirement to be of good character - so no speeding or protests.

Read up on the process, do your IELTS test - harder than you think even you are basically native - and double check your application before submitting as mistakes can lead to delay or rejection.

Act now.

Naturalisation is how you get your British citizenship.

My DH got his a couple of years ago.

It is really easy.

No she would not be a British citizen if born here before 1983.
The laws got more relaxed.
Pre1983 you could only be a British citizen if your father were a British citizen- born here or abroad.

The law in 1983 changed that to either mother or father.

There have been more law changes since then.

For anyone with IDL, the passport office told me yesterday I can still get a British passport with certain documents, so it's worth looking at that route if you're worried. it's cheaper.

Theres also naturalisation which I currently know nothing about, but I'm meeting up with someone next week to discuss the possibility of.

Again. This is really stupid though. It's needless paperwork that costs everyone time and money that's only being implemented because some racist twats are shouting loudly. it will end up costing everyone.

I think it might be wise. I really hope Farage and his nasty lot don't get into power, but if they did, then rules might change fast. If you can afford it and can do it now, then do it.

So how do you propose that commitment and loyalty to Britain be determined?? Signing the form clearly DOES mean something if you don’t want to do it. Citizenship mostly matters in times of war.

How do you think Ukrainia is mustering its army?

Again that’s totally a reasonable position - but the flip side of not wanting to be a British citizen is that you then don’t get the rights of a citizen which is an inviolable right to remain in the UK.

That - in itself - is not a racist position. And I agree with it.

in an ideal world everyone would be lovely and we’d all get along - but that’s not reality and borders and immigration controls are an important aspect of maintaining the security of countries. The EU works because its countries with the same fundamental political/cultural systems and with common defence goals. it is not inherently racist to have immigration controls. And it is not inherently racist to have a different level of rights for people who commit to citizenship and those who won’t. A commitment to citizenship is a committent to that society and thereby its security. By not wanting to commit to citizenship the OP is indicating that ultimately loyalty to another country is more important. Which is totally reasonable of her. But must have consequences or what is the point of citizenship.

of course in day to day life that means very little because the UK is not at war so it seems like ridiculous hyperbole. But that doesn’t make it unimportant. We are one of the first generations ever to which this does seem to mean very little.

Reform are awful racists for the way in which they are likely to in fact target their policies. And they’re not very bright and being led by people who are very cynically manipulating their followers for their own private gain.

And again, just because I sign a form doesn't mean I actually hold a duty to Britain.

Surely the fact I've lived here nearly my entire life bar six months, ive worked, I've contributed, I've volunteered, I've raised two British kids, surely that means more.

And if it doesn't, then why should I have any belief that you saying if I sign piece of paper it will be ok is true?

After Brexit, she was asked to fill in a form, she can become a British citizen just by doing that

I think there are some wires crossed somewhere, you can't just fill in a form to become a British citizen as a European national even if you have settled status.

Or if I'm in fact wrong, please tell me how as my husband could save a couple of grand.

No but I hope/imagine you somehow felt British enough.
And that’s not how the OP feels.

Ofc reason says she should be getting the British citizenship, it won’t change anything. It’s just a piece of paper.
And it does change things. You’re not just <insert country> you’ve become that AND British.
As it should be really.

I agree, but being told you have to. Having the threat hanging over you if you dont, all because a group of people are shouting really loudly aboutthings that makes no sense or are racist, feels really really really wrong.

People don’t understand why I don’t just get citizenship

Getting UK citizenship doesn't mean giving up your own heritage, identity or emotional attachment to where you grew up though! I already said up thread that I'm a dual national and don't feel by ALSO becoming a British citizen that I've given anything up of my own identity.

I vote in general elections and have idl.

Am I not allowed? They've never asked me anything about my immigration status.

This bit below is not important, sorry.

Mind you, I was also sent a ni number and card at 16. My idl has NEVER been an issue in the 48 years I've lived here until just before Brexit. Then my employer asked for confirmation I could work in the UK. I didn't know how to do this, so spoke to a judge I know.
I went to court and have a document stating my right to reside and work in the UK.

It is signed by a judge.

The thing that worries me is that reform are saying they will retrospectively remove my rights.

My argument and issue isn't about changing the law going forwards. It is about changing the law in the past.

I think anyone that supports or campaigns for that is a total shit.

This is exactly how I feel! People don’t understand why I don’t just get citizenship (in my case it should be fairly easy). But I’m country I grew up in and I feel emotionally attached to that. I live in the UK, love the UK, have paid a shit load of tax in the UK and I have British children…..but I’m not British in my heart so I’ve never gone for citizenship. I feel I may need to now.

I’m sorry you’re worried about this OP! I hate the rhetoric around at the moment & the fact that it’s upsetting people! 💐