I'm a US citizen who moved to London, England exactly 2 years ago. I am on a 5 year work visa. I've been told that if I've been here for 4 years, I can automatically apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. So it looks like that will happen in 2009. It's also possible that I may marry a British citizen in the near future, looking like that will happen in the next year or so. So when may be the earliest I could become a British citizen. Also, I imagine this means that I can keep my US citizenship? I wouldn't give that up. I'd really like for my future children to have both US and British citizenship. Is there anyone out there who has gone through this process and can advise who I would contact for further support and information? Will I need a solicitor or can I do everything myself?
2007-03-18 05:23:16 · 3 answers · asked by Steph717 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
After asking my own question, I researched my question about dual citizenship.
Basically I found out it is possible to be a dual citizen of both the US and Britain if I were to become a naturalized British citizen. However if it were the other way around, a British citizen seeking US citizenship, in order to become a naturalized US citizen, one must renounce their other citizenship.
2007-03-18 06:44:25 · update #1
You will get PR (Permanent Residency) through WP (Work Permit) route early than marriage. As after getting married you need to live with your partner for 2 year (you would need to prove that, on papers) to Home-Office. After 2 years they would give you stamp of PR (so 2008 marriage + 2010) and after 1 more year you can apply for British Passport. But If you go through WP route first and most important you dnt have to depend on your partner for that, and secondly you will get PR early than marriage route.
I would suggest you to go through WP route. Many of my friends applied for PR on their own, Home-Office people just need to know that all the papers are in proper format and all are valid. Once you get through paper work, you just need to send your passport and they will issue you a PR stamp.
One thing Home-office had increased the duration from 4 years to five years, that means 60 month on the soil of UK, including any official business trips to other land. Excluding holidays, that mean if you stay out of UK for 3/4 (holiday) in last 60 month than you need to wait for another 3/4 month to make up that gap.
2007-03-18 05:38:21 · answer #1 · answered by Scoute M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should check with the US counsul in London. I do know that you can not have duplicate citizenship with the US. We don't honor duplicate citizenship. If you wanted your children to have American citizenship it would be best to have them born in the US, then, I know there would be no issues. There is some way that you can keep your US passport, but I'm not sure how you do this if you become a British citizen, so check it out. A lot of other countries recogognize dual citizenship, not sure about England. Double check before you do anything.
2007-03-18 05:42:45 · answer #2 · answered by lochmessy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're living in London, why don't you walk over to the US Embassy and ask your question there?
You might also want to log onto the UK government website, which is excellent, and find out there.
2007-03-18 05:43:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋