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Brexit

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Original poster

If you made your life here, why didn't you become a British citizen?

552 replies

DorothyL · 18/10/2016 06:32

How do you respond to that as an EU citizen?

I came to the UK in 98. I never applied for British citizenship because I didn't see the need - I truly felt that the fact we were all EU meant it didn't matter!

Now I'm scared because in spite of being here so long I would probably not qualify for a permanent residency card because I wasn't working (SAHM/carer).

Wish I knew what will happen Sad

OP posts:
hazelnutlatte · 18/10/2016 08:17

Some horrible comments on this thread. My cousin is Danish, but has lived in the UK since she was 4. It has simply never been necessary for her to apply for British citizenship before now so why would she have done so? It doesn't mean she is somehow less committed to living her life in the UK!

IamWendy · 18/10/2016 08:18

The cost is not really an issue over 18 years though, she could easily have found it in that time. She didn't because she wanted to feel 'European', my point is that countries can leave and have always had the choice to. She ignored this risk. That's life.

Original poster
DorothyL · 18/10/2016 08:25

The point is though that even if I wanted to as of today I could not become a British citizen because I was a carer/SAHM for most of my time here so I do not qualify. In spite of being a teacher, a governor, married to a Brit, British children

OP posts:
MrsPeterDoherty · 18/10/2016 08:25

Your zenophobia is causing you to miss the point, Wendy. The rug is being pulled out from under people's feet, and they are scared about the future. Why not try to be pleasant, caring, understanding?

Natsku · 18/10/2016 08:26

Urgh some horrible, ignorant posts here.

My mum comes from a European country but has lived in the UK over 40 years. She doesn't have British citizenship because until roughly 15 years ago she could not without losing the citizenship of her birth country, which is perfectly understandable. Until now she's never had the need to get British citizenship. I don't know what she'll do now but I'd understand if she never chooses to take citizenship.

prettybird · 18/10/2016 08:27

I think people will be impressed at IamWendy's compassion Hmm

BertrandRussell · 18/10/2016 08:29

My mother immigrated in the 1950s. When she died three years ago she as still an Australian citizen with "indefinite leave to remain" I have two brothers who are also Australian citizens even thought they have lived in the U.K since they were children. Why should they change their nationality after years of being net contributors?

IamWendy · 18/10/2016 08:31

I'm not xenophobic thanks, just struggling to find sympathy for someone who refused to become a citizen, preferring to feel 'European'. That's all.

Original poster
DorothyL · 18/10/2016 08:31

So IamWendy what about that then - no ring for me so just take it on the chin?

OP posts:
Original poster
DorothyL · 18/10/2016 08:31

I CANNOT become a British citizen

OP posts:
Veterinari · 18/10/2016 08:31

What a lovely, helpful, constructive and empathetic post Wendy
Or not.

I'm afraid I don't understand the need to take such satisfaction in sneering at someone else's anxiety - if it helps I'm British and it wouldn't have occurred to me that my European friends, living and working here for years would need to take citizenship to protect their livelihoods. Clearly naively, I thought Britain was more tolerant and sensible than that.

Your deeply unpleasant smugness at someone else's misfortune makes me sad for the future.

OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay · 18/10/2016 08:33

We're in the same boat OP. Over a grand of our savings and honestly weeks of digging out paperwork, and it's still not done. We didn't do it before as there was simply no bloody need to - trust me, if we could avoid this we would!

JassyRadlett · 18/10/2016 08:33

She didn't because she wanted to feel 'European'

Where has she said that? British citizenship (until the last few months) also came with the benefit of European citizenship, so your misrepresentation doesn't make sense anyway.

Have you spent £1500 on non-perishable food in case of nuclear war? Pretty unlikely to happen but surely you should be prepared for very unlikely things, even if they're not on the horizon now...

HeadDreamer · 18/10/2016 08:34

I'm from NZ and I can tell you plenty of British never got kiwi citizenship. (Basically as BertrandRussell says). This includes my in laws and my PhD supervisor. All of them have lived in NZ for over 20/30 years. Just look at the outcry of delayed passports when all expats have to send their passports back to the UK to process. Do you really think all of them are just working there for a few years?

As for a British passport worth millions. Well none of us are going to auction it are we? And I'm sure a kiwi passport is very desirable as well. Afterall, it gives you the right to work and live and NZ and Australia. Aren't they near the top of countries british wants to migrate to?

There are many reasons people don't apply for citizenship. It costs a lot of money and effort. And if you don't need it, there isn't a reason to throw £2k away, is there?

ExceptInExtremis · 18/10/2016 08:36

"Have you spent £1500 on non-perishable food in case of nuclear war? "

This.

Glastokitty · 18/10/2016 08:39

I'll tell you what, even though I already have my UK and Irish passports, this Brexit nonsense has made me decide that as soon as I am entitled to my Aussie citizenship I will be getting my application in despite the expense. (I already paid thousands for my visa, despite being married to an Aussie). I'm not taking any chances!

prettybird · 18/10/2016 08:41

IamWendy does an excellent job of demonstrating why so many people are concerned about the sort of society that the UK England is becoming and the sort of attitudes that some people now feel emboldened to make.

Fortunately I've not come across anyone like that - but there again, I live in Scotland.

I am glad that he/she posts though - it is important that we are aware of such attitudes and have the opportunity to challenge them.

IamWendy · 18/10/2016 08:41

Are we all going to trot out silly questions about my life, with increasingly laughable 'risks' I should spend £1500 on mitigating?
Moving to a country not your own is something I'd certainly look to make secure if I planned on spending my life there!

And the first rule of being a prepper is never tell people youre a prepper! Wink

Bountybarsyuk · 18/10/2016 08:42

My husband does not have British citizenship even though lots of his friends have done it, he just feels essentially his own citizenship at an identity level. Til now, him paying large amounts of tax and contributing to the economy hasn't been an issue, now it is and he may take citizenship although as he has indefinite leave to remain, he doesn't have to, as I don't think this is going to be jeopardized.

Lico · 18/10/2016 08:43

Amwendy:
you have no idea what you are talking about!

The EU is not a State but is composed of 27 countries.

www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-the-status-of-eu-nationals-in-the-uk

**Little test 😄😄? Well try these
lifeintheuktests.co.uk/study-matériels
..
** Moreover prior to Citizenship, you have to apply for a Permanent Resident Card first which is another circa £1000 extra cost. In addition to the Life Test there is an English test which is also an extra cost. The £50 Life Test is a small part of these whole racketeering Home Office Requirements.

* Furthermore if you ask an immigration lawyer to help you it is a minimum of £2000 plus VAT plus Home Office Fees etc.. etc

*All previous posters have explained; there is absolutely no need to take up different Residence or Citizenship every time you choose to work or study in a different EU country.

Knightridergirl · 18/10/2016 08:44

OP, If you have British children then you DO have the right to apply for citizenship.
Under Article 8 of the European Court of Human Rights, the right to family life act will support your case.
The ECHR is independent from the EU and the UK will still be bound by these laws until the proposed "UK Bill of Rights" comes into force.

The Beyonce quoter will just have to sit tight with rage in the meantime...

JassyRadlett · 18/10/2016 08:45

Are we all going to trot out silly questions about my life, with increasingly laughable 'risks' I should spend £1500 on mitigating?

European countries have gone to war with each other an awful lot more times than any countries have left the EU and its predecessors.

Moving to a country not your own is something I'd certainly look to make secure if I planned on spending my life there!

It was secure until this year - more so than taking citizenship at the cost of one's own, given t
And the first rule of being a prepper is never tell people youre a prepper! wink

IamWendy · 18/10/2016 08:45

Where did I say Europe was a state?

user1476656305 · 18/10/2016 08:46

Over the years I have met people from Italy, Poland, Ireland, Croatia, France, Germany, Iran and Ireland slagging off the 'Brits' violently, telling me that we are all 'stupid' and that they are only here for the money. I even had an Irish bird coming over to a full pub table in London and saying 'if there are any English here they can fuck off'. Frankly people are sick of it. You mention it, and every liberal in the country (and they probably do live in the 'country') jumps up and shouts 'racist"' 'xenophobe'etc

JassyRadlett · 18/10/2016 08:46

Posted by mistake.

It was secure until this year - more so than taking citizenship at the cost of one's own, given the govt'a powers to strip naturalised citizens of that citizenship.

Any update on why you chose to misrepresent the OP?

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