Another news for taking british passport/citizenship

[pennybarry]

Plans For Immigration Points System Unveiled

Immigrants who want to take on British citizenship will have to earn their passports as part of plans for a new points-based system.


Under the scheme migrants will be able to gain points towards their nationality application through their skills, jobs and qualifications, but bad behaviour will cost them points.

Until now, obtaining British nationality has been virtually automatic after five years working in the country, as long as applicants have paid taxes, learned to speak English and obeyed the law.

But the tough new rules will mean that, in future, it could be as long as 10 years before foreigners become eligible.

Speaking ahead of the launch of a consultation on the new citizenship proposals, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said they would "require people to earn points for, among other things, their skills, their job and their qualifications".

"Bad behaviour will be penalised, and only those with enough points will earn the right to a British passport," he said.

"No longer will there be an automatic link between temporary work and becoming a permanent UK citizen."

Would-be migrants from outside the EU are already subject to a points-based system, introduced last year, which permits access to the UK only if they have skills needed by the British economy.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The points-based system has already proved to be a powerful tool for controlling migration for the benefit of British people and the economy.

"We have already announced our intention to consult on applying these principles to the path to citizenship.

"New laws require migrants to earn citizenship by playing by the rules, speaking English and contributing to the community.

We intend to consult on how we can further strengthen these reforms and provide flexibility for the Government to respond to the changing economic needs of the country."

But Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green said: "This is pure spin. There never has been an automatic right to British citizenship.

"It is simply that this Government that has let an unprecedented number of people obtain citizenship, issuing someone with a British passport every five minutes.

"This is an act of desperation by a Government that knows it has let immigration run out of control for more than a decade."

source: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090803/...m-45dbed5.html

[Mrs Daddy]

Is it same rules for wives then?

[kimmi]

Plans For Immigration Points System Unveiled

Immigrants who want to take on British citizenship will have to earn their passports as part of plans for a new points-based system.


Under the scheme migrants will be able to gain points towards their nationality application through their skills, jobs and qualifications, but bad behaviour will cost them points.

Until now, obtaining British nationality has been virtually automatic after five years working in the country, as long as applicants have paid taxes, learned to speak English and obeyed the law.

But the tough new rules will mean that, in future, it could be as long as 10 years before foreigners become eligible.

Speaking ahead of the launch of a consultation on the new citizenship proposals, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said they would "require people to earn points for, among other things, their skills, their job and their qualifications".

"Bad behaviour will be penalised, and only those with enough points will earn the right to a British passport," he said.

"No longer will there be an automatic link between temporary work and becoming a permanent UK citizen."

Would-be migrants from outside the EU are already subject to a points-based system, introduced last year, which permits access to the UK only if they have skills needed by the British economy.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The points-based system has already proved to be a powerful tool for controlling migration for the benefit of British people and the economy.

"We have already announced our intention to consult on applying these principles to the path to citizenship.

"New laws require migrants to earn citizenship by playing by the rules, speaking English and contributing to the community.

We intend to consult on how we can further strengthen these reforms and provide flexibility for the Government to respond to the changing economic needs of the country."

But Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green said: "This is pure spin. There never has been an automatic right to British citizenship.

"It is simply that this Government that has let an unprecedented number of people obtain citizenship, issuing someone with a British passport every five minutes.

"This is an act of desperation by a Government that knows it has let immigration run out of control for more than a decade."

source: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090803/...m-45dbed5.html

thanks for sharing te Pen..

Is it same rules for wives then?

I am also wondering about that sis, not sure if it applies to everyone who wanted to become british citizens but no definite dates yet when it will be implemented?

[joebloggs]

rules might be the same, but time period you have to wait will probably be smaller for spouses of brits


and dom it does effect your misses if she wants to be a british citizen and a british passport, as citizenship is dealt with by British immigration law not EU law.

[kimmi]

rules might be the same, but time period you have to wait will probably be smaller for spouses of brits

thanks for that MOD JOE that was a good relief..

[joebloggs]

thanks for that MOD JOE that was a good relief..

looks to me kimmi you might need to do a bit of voluntary work to get citizenship sooner, but talk of being 'of good character' has always been part of the citizenship process anyway.

[xebec]

Is there any indication so far as to whether those already part way on the journey, e.g fiance or spouse visas, FLR, ILR, will be affected? Or whether this is just for those arriving in the future?

[darren-b]

Is there any indication so far as to whether those already part way on the journey, e.g fiance or spouse visas, FLR, ILR, will be affected? Or whether this is just for those arriving in the future?

Basically if you are elligible to apply for ILR prior to July 2011 you can apply under the existing rules.