No Time Limit Residence in UK versus Dual Citizenship
Hello,
I am a US Citizen and DH is British. I have Indefinate Leave to Remain in the UK since June 2009, and am now available in June this year to apply for Citizenship for the UK. However, I was wondering what the real benefits of me getting the UK Citizenship will be. My husband and I have purchased a home in SW Florida and will emigrate there in late 2011 at the latest. I wanted to get the Citizenship here because if (when) we move and my husband can't handle being away from Blighty, (hubby is older than me I'm 39, he's 59) will I have to go through all the hassle of a visa to return to the UK if he or I can't handle being away from the UK once we move back to the US.
I'm not real sure how the Indefinate Leave to Remain works to be honest. If I leave the UK for say 2 years or 3 does that nullify my ILR then, and I have to go through all the hassle and expense of Visas to return, or even if I obtain Citizenship and will I have to do the same. I was under the understanding that with Dual then I won't be under the scrutiny of Immigration anymore but I just want to make sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If you leave the UK as residence for two years or more, your ILR will no longer be valid. It is explained briefly in your ILR letter frm the home office.
Getting citizenship before you leave the UK will enable you to come back to live without any imigration processes.
If you leave the UK as residence for two years or more, your ILR will no longer be valid. It is explained briefly in your ILR letter frm the home office.
Getting citizenship before you leave the UK will enable you to come back to live without any imigration processes.
The funny thing was, I only received the stamp in my passport, never received a letter with it. I was wondering that when my passport was returned to me, I did get all my paperwork back that I had submitted, but nothing else. I thought it was weird.
Citizenship would enable you to come back to the UK at any time, and would also permit you to live and work in another EU country if you so chose. It allows you to vote in British and European elections and to hold a Civil Service job, although those would be more of a benefit if you were planning to stay here long-term. These are the main advantages over ILR that I'm aware of.
I don't see any real downsides to UK citisenship, there is no need to file taxes as a non resident as required by the US for example.
You never know what the future holds and as the wife of a Brit it may be useful to be able to return if you wish without going through all the immigration process, and expense, from scratch.
Thank you Everyone! I've decided to go ahead and get the Citisenship afterall. From the way things are looking, if I don't it will cost a right bomb in the future.
No Time Limit Residence in UK versus Dual Citizenship
I was wondering that when my passport was returned to me, I did get all my paperwork back that I had submitted, but nothing else. I thought it was weird.
