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

[DorothyL]

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

Yeah sorry, but no 'rage' here. I hope you do get to stay Dorothy, but don't expect everyone to get angry on your behalf for something you could have prevented. Sorry.

"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'."

Yeah, course you did.

Wendy, why did you misrepresent the OP?

iamwendy Have you attempted the life in the U.K. test? Please do, so you understand that it's not just about the cash. As A British citizen I struggled to pass, probably because I hadn't memorised the dates and key events of the Bronze Age.

The whole point of being an EU member state is that there was no need to apply for citizenship, so your comments are a little pointless.
It might have been more realistic to say 'If you liked it then you should've put a ring on it despite the fact that nobody really needed to and now the ring has become more difficult to get hold of so everyone is rushing for a ring which is precisely what the Priest didn't want'.

I think the comments of some people are thinly veiled glee at belonging to an exclusive group that they can exclude people from. Really no different to playground taunting -'you're different to me so you'll have to leave now'. There seems to be very little understanding of the massive impact that denying right to reside will have on the economy, in the short to mid term at least.

My other half will be applying for citizenship here, purely because the alternative is to drag the family halfway across Europe to a country that hasn't been called home for 20 years. Higher rate tax has been paid here. Employment is here (own company, so don't worry, hasn't 'taken' anyone else's job) Property is owned here. English learned and spoken fluently here.

Bertrand I know you couldnt make it up,, and yes she probably had a mental health problem, but it is no word of a lie,,,

Is it correct that if you have lived in UK for 5 years you can stay here indefinitely? If so why would you need to get citizenship?

Hahaa, really?? Are we in court now!?

"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."

Yeah, course you have

jumps up and shouts 'racist"' - it is racist to treat a whole nationality as one and not as individuals. So yes, basically you have defined yourself as a racist.

"Hahaa, really?? Are we in court now!?"

Nope. Just a place where people tend to be called on lies.

For the record, I'm a non-EU immigrant. I've had ILR for five years, and before that the Home Office has had the best part of £5k out of me for various visas.

I don't have citizenship, yet, because although I won't have to give up my home citizenship it's quite a big step to become 'British' rather than a foreigner who has the right to live here. And frankly, yes, I've always had better thinks to spend more than £1000 on. Life's a bit like that.

Now, because the public discourse has become so very ugly, I no longer trust that my legal right to remain is worth the paper it's written on so I will be pursuing citizenship. That piece of paper, and the ability to find £1200, won't make me any more British than taking the Life in the UK test did in 2011. However I'm not willing to risk my British husband and children having to leave the country and their lives year simply because their wife and mother is an immigrant, and people don't like her living here because of where she was born.

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.

Yes indeed. Depressing as it is to see that people like Wendy exist, it's important to recognise the problem.

My SIL was effectively kicked out of the country last year. The system is more complicated than the public are led to believe.

Married to my DB for 10yrs, 2dc's. Our whole family is devastated. She was given a matter of weeks to leave the country. They now live on the other side of the world. I am now trying to save the 2k in flight money to go and visit them. She wasn't allowed to work in the UK, and denied citizenship, regardless that they were married, owned properties, paid taxes, and had both children in private London schools.

Even though my db was born and raised here, he now says he will NEVER step foot in this country again unless he absolutely has to.

Hahaa, really?? Are we in court now!?

No, simply curious about why you felt the need to lie. Did this stop being a conversation where people are able to ask questions of each other?

clay It used to be the case that 5+ years usually meant indefinite leave to remain, but not sure if that has now changed. There is certainly a lot of 'in most circumstances' and 'usually' on the govt webpages, which gives them room for manoeuvre. The instructions aren't particularly clear though - we're struggling with the requirements to get a residency card with biometric record, which is needed to apply for citizenship. The instructions simply aren't clear. And this is for somebody who DID apply for right to indefinite leave in the early 2000s.

where was she from Sal?

Wendy I came here as a student and then postgraduate student. I've worked here, married a British man, have dual nationality children, and have never become a UK citizen because as a EU citizen that was enough. I am proud of that. Why is it so difficult for you to understand? You go through threads being nasty and entitled, and sounding increasingly xenophobic.

yes ~Bertrand I have. Why would I make it up?
My kids dad and his family are delighted to tell my children that 'all English are stupid' and they are not the only ones I have heard it from. Unpalatable perhaps but true.

Just a place where people tend to be called on lies
What lies? Op is not a citizen, she chose to move here. Countries can leave Europe, and as someone said earlier, governments can strip people of citizenship. It's just the way things are. I don't ask for sympathy if my car breaks down and I have no breakdown cover.

And yes, you should beware as people like me are everywhere! I call it being a realist

"She didn't because she wanted to feel 'European'" She didn't because she was European. Wendy clearly lacks empathy shall we hope that her and her family will never experience any life changing predicaments?

dailymail surely they can't go back on indefinite residency for people who've been here 5 years plus? What would happen to elderly people who have lived here years and possibly not worked e.g. sahm?

What lies?

Your repeated assertion that OP didn't save up for citizenship 'because she wanted to feel European'.

The trouble with a web forum is that people can check back, you see.

clay I hope not, but we don't want to take that chance. The stamp is in an old passport etc etc.

DP has been here 10 years; has permanent residency but is not a British Citizen.
He has not got around to applying and tbf the £1000.. we can always find use for other things.

surely they can't go back on indefinite residency for people who've been here 5 years plus?

Of course they can. The government would simply need to add to the list of reasons for curtailing ILR.