IMMIGRATION NATIONALITY AND ASYLUM

Immigration Nationality and Asylum

Immigration Nationality and Asylum

ANSWER 01

This section provides information about British citizenship and other forms of British nationality. It explains whether you are a British citizen, how you can apply for British citizenship and other forms of British nationality, and how you can give up your citizenship.

Depending on your current citizenship or nationality, you may be able to apply in several ways. You should read the requirements for each type of application that is relevant and decide which is best for you.

If you are unsure if you meet the requirements, you may want to take professional advice from a solicitor or from an immigration adviser registered by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). Other forms of British nationality have existed, but they are not current - for example, citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies (CUKC) or British Dependent Territories citizenship.

Only British citizens, and certain British subjects with right of abode through qualifying connections under the Immigration Act 1971, have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom. People holding one of the other forms of nationality may live and work in the United Kingdom if their immigration status allows it.

British nationality is defined in law. Whether a person has a claim to British nationality can be determined by applying the definitions and requirements of the British Nationality Act 1981 and related legislation to the facts of their date and place of birth and descent.

If you are over 18 and have been living in the United Kingdom for the last five years (or three years if you are married to or a civil partner of a British citizen) you may be able to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen. You may also be able to apply for naturalisation if you or your husband, wife or civil partner is in crown or designated service outside the United Kingdom. Applications for naturalisation are made using application form AN.

his page explains whether you can appeal against our decision if your application for citizenship or other form of nationality is unsuccessful.

If your application is unsuccessful we will write to tell you why. Although there is no legal right of appeal or review you may write to us if you believe that our decision to refuse your application was wrong. You will need to show that our decision was not soundly based on nationality law or the current policy or procedure. These are described in the relevant guides to applicants and in any other communication you have received from us.

If you write to ask us to review our decision, you must explain why you think we have not correctly applied the law and policy in your case. We will reply and will:

confirm that we have correctly applied the law and policy; or

answer particular points you raised about how we applied the law and policy.

ANSWER 02

Immigration control is about how and why people from countries outside the UK are allowed to come to the UK and how ...