UK Citizenship and Spousal Eligibility

chiaro
New Member



Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Saitama

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:43 pm

 

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My wife and I (who are both Canadian) are currently residing in Japan and are considering a move to the UK. My wife is specifically interested in going to university there. I have dual Canadian/British citizenship, but my wife does not. Is she automatically eligible for UK citizenship through being married to me and as such able to apply to university as a non-international student?

Thanks

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LDN
New Member



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 4

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:23 am

 

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It is easy for you to bring your wife to the UK, the application process is quick and straightforward. BUT, she will have to reside in the UK before she is eligible to become a citizen.

On the other hand, she doesn't need to be citizen to be exempt from international student fees, she just needs to be a UK resident for 3 years prior to applying - or have an Indefinite Leave to Remain visa.

You can to apply for her visa from the British Consulate in Japan. AFAIK they will either give her a 2 year visa OR an Indefinite Leave to Remain one, depending on how long you have been married and some other criteria. Obviously in your case it would be better to get the Indefinite one right away.

With either, she will be able to work right away, and even vote - since she is a commonwealth citizen. If she gets the 2 year visa, when it expires she can get the Indefinite Leave to Remain one, so long as she is still in the UK. After five years (from the time she got the first visa), your wife will be eligible for UK citizenship, provided you are still residents in the UK. She is allowed to be out of the country for a period of time during those five years (see the Home Office's Border and Immigration Agency's website on Naturalisation for more info).

At some point she will have to take a "Life in the UK" test, and I believe that they have just changed the rules so she may need to take it before they give her an indefinite leave to remain visa. However, I can assure you the test is dead easy, and really they only do it to check you have a minimum level of understanding of English. I read the book once and finished the test in 10 minutes.

I'm a Canadian who just got my UK citizenship this year, and I found the process, as well as the various visa processes I had to go through over the past 7 years in the UK, very quick, easy and straightforward. NOTHING like what my (British) husband and I are going through now to try to get his papers for us to move to Canada - that is a real nightmare!

Hope this is helpful and best of luck!

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oohmercyme
Moderator



Joined: 21 Mar 2004
Posts: 312
Location: London, England

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:53 am

 

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No- she can't pay resident fees. She will be considered an international student. As noted above, you need to reside in UK (or EU) for 3 years. The international fees are outrageous!
_________________
Lori

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chiaro
New Member



Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Saitama

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:27 pm

 

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Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

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