I'm naturalised!

[gemloving]

I know it's silly to post but been in the UK for 10 years, met hubby at uni and then stayed in London and today I received the confirmation that my application for British citizenship has been successful and it makes me happy.

My children and I are both, British & German.

Congratulations! That's lovely 💐

Congrats!

Congratulations and welcome to being British ! X

Congratulations!!

Im also British German, with 2 dual citizen children. Got naturalized in 2019.

Did you get a ceremony? Did mine in a London bprough and they really tried to make it memorable.

I'm delighted for you and for us that people are still deciding to stay. Welcome to being British.

That's really great! Well done.
I am not brave enough to go for it - I am from an EU country & have settled status.

Das ist wunderbar!

Glückwunsch!

@Ylvamoon

That's really great! Well done. I am not brave enough to go for it - I am from an EU country & have settled status.

It was less stressful than I thought it would be actually. The test is fairly easy as long as you spend some time with the official book, and the paperwork is doable (at least if you've got a relatively straightforward employment history).

The major hurdle used to be the requirement to show proof of private insurance for any period of non-employment, including studying at a UK university. This requirement wasn't communicated to anyone (via the university or otherwise) and a lot of people were unable to aquire citizenship just because of this. Thankfully they dropped that in about 2018.

My top tip: Do keep every scrap pf paper showing proof or address if you plan on applying in future - I spent a good few hours trying to dig up old rental contracts, council tax bills etc.

Thank you everyone!

@DoubleHelix79 ah sehr gut & Glückwunsch auch an dich! I only received my letter which says:

Government restrictions in relation to COVID-19 have understandably restricted the ability of local authorities to provide citizenship ceremonies, as the safety of customers must be paramount. However, citizenship ceremonies will continue to be held where they can do so safely in line with local restrictions and health and safety guidance.
We have also been working with local authorities to maximise the availability of ceremonies in a COVID-19 safe environment and to minimise any delays.

We are in London, let's see what happens due to COVID.

@Ylvamoon I thought it was straightforward, i found it easy to provide everything they asked for but I have been in the same job for 5 years + bought this house in 2017. The one thing that put me off initially was the £1600 you're paying + an additional £150 for a language test if you didn't go to University in the UK. Settled status is just fine, I wanted it as I couldn't have applied for it after brexit or I could have and would have lost my German citizenship which I would not have been willing to give up. If you have any worries about the process, let me know.

Vielen Dank! Fingers crossed they manage to organise one. It is nice to not just be handed a certificate.

Welcome!

That's great news, congratulations!

Congratulations!

Congratulations and welcome!

Good news!

Congratulations! I would if I could, but my country (Netherlands) won't let me keep my Dutch citizenship if I naturalise. The risk is too high.

Brilliant! I’m happy that people still want to be here after Brexit fiasco.

Thanks everyone.

@Poorlykitten it's home away from home.

@pointythings I applied before brexit and that's why I could keep my German citizenship xx

gemloving that rule does not apply in the Netherlands. It's no naturalisation allowed at all - until such time as the UK government starts treating Dutch citizens in the UK especially badly. What that means isn't defined - this was a badly drafted piece of emergency legislation.

Outside of Brexit, the Netherlands doesn't allow dual nationality at all unless someone is born with it. It's one of the few things the Dutch are parochial and backwards about.

@pointythings

gemloving that rule does not apply in the Netherlands. It's no naturalisation allowed at all - until such time as the UK government starts treating Dutch citizens in the UK especially badly. What that means isn't defined - this was a badly drafted piece of emergency legislation.

Outside of Brexit, the Netherlands doesn't allow dual nationality at all unless someone is born with it. It's one of the few things the Dutch are parochial and backwards about.

There's an exemption for those married to British spouses or grew up in the UK for 5 years before the age of 18. Other than that, it is not allowed as you say..

I had to confirm this with the embassy and a Dutch lawyer

I used to work in the Nationality department and it was lovely to hear the stories of people who have been granted their citizenship. I'm very pleased for you gemloving.

Featherbirds my DDs could naturalise; they were born here and have lived here all their lives. I can't - my spouse was a US national.

But to be fair we don't want to - we don't really see the UK as our forever home anymore since the Referendum.

@pointythings I'm sorry you feel like that! I hope you'll find a place that you will call home again given that you don't see the UK to be that.

I'll probably go back home at some point. The UK stopped feeling like home on June 24th 2016, when my kids who were born in the UK, were told by several classmates to 'fuck off back to where you came from'.
And yes, I know that came from their parents - but that really doesn't make it any better.