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AIBU?

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Original poster

UK citizenship application - friend wants me to be a referee and say I've known her longer than I really have

241 replies

northernstar0412 · 16/07/2020 14:14

Hi,
A friend from overseas who is applying for British citizenship asked me to be a referee.

My job is included in the list of acceptable occupations but I have only known her for 2 years and 8 months. The government's website says we need to have known each other for at least 3 years.

My friend said - "You can just say you've known me longer - how can they prove it?"

I can be fined £5k or receive a prison term if I knowingly give false information, according to the official website. So I told my friend I was happy to be a referee but I would be stating on the form that I'd known her 2 years and 8 months.

She doesn't want to delay her application for four months and is now looking for another referee, but doesn't know many people here.

Am I BU?

OP posts:
QuestionMarkNow · 16/07/2020 16:38

@genteelwoman, I doubt the Home office will be as helpful as the passport office. Different issues (many people needing passports will struggle to find someone).
If there is one thing that is sure is that the HO is making sure things as hard as possible for anyone applying for naturalisation

Puzzledandpissedoff · 16/07/2020 16:38

Yes, that makes sense about the difficulties of finding refereees who tick all the boxes

I'm just not sure how that's OP's problem, given that she doesn't know this lady very well at all

SchrodingersImmigrant · 16/07/2020 16:40

She may be hurrying because her LitUK or English test are due to run out. Such a pita to sort them.

Alaimo · 16/07/2020 16:43

@northernstar0412 Also: tell your friend to double check the eligibility requirements. When I applied for citizenship a few years ago, the 'professional' referee did not have to be a British citizen (I can't remember if they had to live in the UK). The requirement was: 1 British citizen and 1 professional referee of any nationality. So if she knows a non-Brit who has a profession that is on the list, she could potentially ask them instead?

Charleyhorses · 16/07/2020 16:45

"I can't be your referee until I have known you for 3 years".
Nothing more to this is there?

Fressia123 · 16/07/2020 16:54

I think there's some lack of empathy here. All of my referees had been through my exH. When my new baby was born and I knew ZERO people who could be seen as referees. Someone who I've known on and off for a few years ended up signing. My other option was the post office. But I definitely would struggle for citizenship this right moment

HooNoes · 16/07/2020 16:54

Why does she want British citizenship if she's flitting here and there unimpeded?

shartsi · 16/07/2020 16:58

I have been a referee 3 times in the past. Immigration have never called me once. I also sign passport forms and I am never contacted.

RedOasis · 16/07/2020 16:58

Jobs not worth risking. Say you’ll do it in for months or put the truth in the application. I doubt they will throw a fit over the non covered months and if they do then you will have been right to tell the truth!

HooNoes · 16/07/2020 16:59

I can't understand why she'd want it in the first place and secondly why the enormous rush.

You've said she travels a lot so is rarely in the UK for 90 days (if at all), so what's pressing her to get British citizenship now?

That is what would bother me more than anything else that you've mentioned. Approx. 8 years I'd be willing to write. If it required specific dates, I wouldn't lie. But who the hell knows how long they know someone for!

HooNoes · 16/07/2020 17:00

approx. 3 years lol. Not 8.

Original poster
northernstar0412 · 16/07/2020 17:01

HooNoes - I asked her this, as she has been resident here on and off for over 20 years - and she said she just wants it. A bit like marriage and living together - not much difference in reality but some /many people just want that official recognition.

She also said she wants to be a British citizen, that this is her home, and that it's a hassle travelling on her existing passport from her country of origin.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 16/07/2020 17:01

Personally I’d just round it up to three and wouldn’t think twice about this.

AdelaideK · 16/07/2020 17:02

I worked here and it was pretty uncommon to check the referees.

I'm not saying it never ever happened but the chances are she'd be absolutely fine if the rest of her application was in order.

Of course it is up to you whether to go through with it though.

HooNoes · 16/07/2020 17:03

Hang on, she's retired, has only really been here fleetingly on and off for 20 years. There's more to this than wanting to be British as this is her home. Would I heck sign it.

HooNoes · 16/07/2020 17:06

How is it a hassle having to travel? That I could believe I suppose if she's outside Schengen area or something and frequently travels to Schengen area. I don't know. I don't buy it. I wouldn't sign it.

Viviennemary · 16/07/2020 17:06

It doesn't sound as if you know her anywhere near well enough to sign these forms. Don't lie but it's up to you whether you want to be her referee. Don't think I'd be keen under the circumstances

SimonJT · 16/07/2020 17:07

@HooNoes

I can't understand why she'd want it in the first place and secondly why the enormous rush. You've said she travels a lot so is rarely in the UK for 90 days (if at all), so what's pressing her to get British citizenship now? That is what would bother me more than anything else that you've mentioned. Approx. 8 years I'd be willing to write. If it required specific dates, I wouldn't lie. But who the hell knows how long they know someone for!
I think the OP has misread the rules. The OPs post said she is rarely in the UK for 90 days without the odd holiday. That doesn’t mean she spends more than 90 days outside of the UK each year. She doesn’t need to spend 90 consecutive days in the UK as long as her total days outside of the UK don’t exceed 90 days.

There are exceptions as well, I spent more than 90 days outside of the UK due to work, but as I was working for a UK company and sent on small contracts abroad it didn’t count in my 90 day holiday allowance.

Shayisgreat · 16/07/2020 17:07

No point in writing reference saying you know her less than the required time. A bit cheeky of her to ask you to lie! A ridiculous overreaction to report her for it. But I certainly wouldn't lie as, along with other pps, I'd be struck off if it was found out. The witness for my DS's passport application - DH's best friend - was contacted when they were processing the application so if he'd been lying about the length of time he's known DH he could be struck off as well. (He obviously didn't lie.) YANBU OP and fair play to you for not ignoring the requirements.

HooNoes · 16/07/2020 17:07

Anyway, apart from saying that you know her for 3 years (Lie 1), you can't very well say that she's of good character (Lie 2), when she has asked you to lie and jeopardise your career potentially. I'd be losing her as a friend and signing nothing. Chancer.

SimonJT · 16/07/2020 17:09

@HooNoes

How is it a hassle having to travel? That I could believe I suppose if she's outside Schengen area or something and frequently travels to Schengen area. I don't know. I don't buy it. I wouldn't sign it.
You haven’t tried travelling on a Pakistani passport have you 😂 some passports make getting a visa for a holiday really difficult and costly.
HooNoes · 16/07/2020 17:12

No, I haven't travelled on a Pakistani passport as I'm not Pakistani. But wanting British citizenship to travel easily in her twilight years is a bit much tbh. I'm not British either! She doesn't sound like she lives here much anyway.

PermanentTemporary · 16/07/2020 17:13

I'd do it.

HooNoes · 16/07/2020 17:14

Does she have a second home or is it just that she goes on holidays a lot?

HooNoes · 16/07/2020 17:16

If she actually genuinely lives here and just happens to have a lot of disposable income enabling her to travel a lot, then I guess I'd sign, A, if I had known her 3 years and B. if she hadn't asked me to lie.
But now, I wouldn't sign it. Because? CFery.