British citizenship will take 5 years now

[flomike]

outlines new citizenship rules for immigrants

Under the proposals, outlined in a green paper, a limited number of migrant categories would be granted the status of probationary citizens for a set period in which they could earn full citizenship or permanent residence.

Full access to benefits - such as jobseeker's allowance and income support – would no longer be granted to some migrant categories until after the immigrants had been in the UK for five years.

government proposed to defer full access to benefits and services until migrants had successfully completed the probationary citizenship phase, so that they are expected to contribute economically and support themselves and their dependants until such time as they become British citizens or permanent residents.

there were new moves to review how European nationals in Britain were able to claim some benefits in the UK.

The government will set up a cross-departmental unit to look at access to benefits for European Economic Area nationals.A bill proposals is due this summer with full legislation expected in November.

Changes will apply to new arrivals after the new laws are passed, and not to foreigners already living in the UK, so reforms are only likely to affect migrants arriving from 2010.
More likely this bill will only affect the new comers from 2010, not us whose already here

how about that voluntary work is it only for the new comers as well?

[flomike]

Foreigners who planned to marry British citizens and settle in the UK would have to pass an English test.

They will introduce a new English language requirement for those applying for a marriage visa and planning to settle in the UK - both as part of their determination that everyone who comes to live in UK should be able to speak English and to make sure that they cannot be exploited.

[darren-b]

More likely this bill will only affect the new comers from 2010, not us whose already here

how about that voluntary work is it only for the new comers as well?

Can't personally see how the bill can only affect newcomers. Some parts will, but other parts would have to affect people already here otherwise the BIA would be having people applying under different rules and requirements forever.

[joebloggs]

Can't personally see how the bill can only affect newcomers. Some parts will, but other parts would have to affect people already here otherwise the BIA would be having people applying under different rules and requirements forever.

true, and as for 2010, they could do it a lot sooner, as they did with raising the age of a settlement visa to 21

[flomike]

Can't personally see how the bill can only affect newcomers. Some parts will, but other parts would have to affect people already here otherwise the BIA would be having people applying under different rules and requirements forever.

its hard to tell what's the future will be....but you know Home Office...unpredictable? I do agree with many that a simpler option would have been to put a limit on the number of immigrants allowed in to the UK.

[darren-b]

its hard to tell what's the future will be....but you know Home Office...unpredictable? I do agree with many that a simpler option would have been to put a limit on the number of immigrants allowed in to the UK.

In recent years the Home Office have been very predictable - every year they made immigration for non-EU harder and more expensive. Can't see that changing for a while.