In 2004, the United Kingdom introduced citizenship ceremonies as part of the process needed to be undertaken when becoming naturalized or registered as a British citizen. Before this time, an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the country was made in private and a certificate of naturalization or registration as a citizen was then sent to the person. However, becoming a UK citizen is a significant event and it was felt that it should be celebrated as such, leading to the introduction of citizenship ceremonies.
If you are in the process of obtaining your UK citizenship, or if you have plans to obtain one, it will be helpful to understand what the citizenship ceremony is all about.

When will I need to attend one?

After your application to become a citizen has been approved, you will be sent an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony. They are normally held at your local register office or conducted by the diplomatic post in your country of residence if you live outside of the UK. You will be required to attend a ceremony within 90 days of receiving your invitation. It is a compulsory event that you must attend in order to fulfill your citizenship requirements. However, children under the age of 18 are not required to attend a ceremony.

What happens during the ceremony?

There will usually be other people present who are becoming citizens at the same time. During the ceremony you will be asked to do two things. The first is to make an oath of allegiance or an affirmation of allegiance (if you prefer not to swear by God) to the Queen and any successors, which states your loyalty to the United Kingdom. Secondly, you will be asked to pledge your commitment to being a good and law-abiding citizen. Full wording for the oath, affirmation and pledge can be found on the UK Border Agency website.

During the ceremony, speeches will be made by a local or national spokesperson, you will be presented with a certificate of British citizenship and you will be asked to stand while the national anthem is played. You may also receive a commemorative gift.

How can I prepare for it?

You will need to bring a form of photo identification and the written invite you received along with you. It may also be a good idea to read over the words of the oath/affirmation and pledge.

What else do I need to know?

Each candidate is allowed to bring two guests to the ceremony. You may also request to have a private ceremony though this may incur a fee.

If you are currently looking to become a UK citizen, it is always advisable to contact UK immigration lawyers who will help you complete your application correctly, advise you and take you through the process and answer any queries you may have.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source.

Disclaimer: Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

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Foreign students who have no indefinite leave to remain in the UK or students from countries other than EEA need a student visa if they wish to study in the United Kingdom. If this is your case, then
1.    Get an admission letter from a UK institution.
•    Start by choosing a study plan with at least 15 hours per week. The same institution must offer these. Evening classes do not count.
•    Make sure you can demonstrate that you will be able to follow the course, generally speaking, that you have the necessary financial support to pay the fees required by the institution.
•    Gather all the documentation you can find to show that you will not need to depend on public funds for your maintenance, including any dependants. Bank statements will help. Maybe a letter from your sponsor, if you have one, will do too; and one from friends or relatives already in the UK willing to help and support you will add some credibility.
•    Also, whenever possible, get a receipt from your institution. Showing that you paid the fees in advance also pays when it comes to visa issues, especially if you have an unconditional admittance offer from an approved UK institution.

2.    Find an immigration lawyer in the UK. Yes, you can go through the entire process on your own; however, visa matters and UK immigration law are complex and your chances improve exponentially if you hire a competent lawyer.
3.    Apply for a visa online or at the nearest British embassy in your country.
•    Download the form from the UK Border Agency: www.ukvisas.gov.uk
To submit a visa application online successfully, gather the following BEFORE logging in to the UK Border Agency website:
•    passport number
•    photograph
•    visa fee

4.    Get an interview date.
If you submit a visa application online, at the end of the process you will get a date for an interview at the nearest embassy. As you wait for this important date, all the submitted documentation will pass a screening process; meanwhile, you can learn how to introduce yourself. To have a good chance, you need to impress your interviewer favorably.
The immigration officer at the embassy will ask questions to find out:
a) whether you intend to work or do business. Foreigners cannot work in the UK without  permit; as a student, you will not get such authorization.
b) whether you intend to stay in the UK after finishing your course. The government expects foreign students to return to their countries of origin (unless they meet certain criteria).

How do you demonstrate your willingness to return to your country? Usually, you need to show some form of ties to your homeland; for instance: property you own (land, home or business). Other evidence could be a letter from an employer stating that the company or organization will preserve the post for you until you return from a study leave. This could work if you have a high quality job (one you would hardly quit).

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source.

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

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If you intend to be naturalized as a British Citizen or to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you might need to take a Life in the UK Test. The test was first introduced in November 2005 and comprises of 24 multiple-choice questions based on specific knowledge relating to life in the UK. Question examples include, ‘What percentage of children in the UK live with both parents?’ or ‘Who does not have to pay for a sight test in England?’ Questions are routinely written in English (Welsh or Scottish Gaelic may be used if requested). The purpose of the test is to ensure that the person applying to reside in the UK has a good understanding of the English language and enough knowledge about the UK to become a healthy and productive resident.

When would I need to take it?

The test is required for those applying for naturalization as a British Citizen or for indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Your English level should be ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Entry Level 3 or above. If it is lower than ESOL Entry 3, you will need to attend both English language (ESOL) and citizenship classes instead. These are held at local further education colleges. If you are unsure about your ESOL level, you can take an initial assessment at a local college. Contact the Life in the UK Test Helpline on 0800 0154 245 for more information. The test will need to be taken before applications for naturalization and indefinite leave to remain have been completed.

What does the test involve?

The test is conducted at a test center local to you. It is taken on a computer and involves 24 multiple-choice questions that need to be answered within 45 minutes. You can obtain the official handbook for the test, ‘Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship’, on which the questions and answers will be based. You can also obtain practice questions for the test by visiting www.tsoshop.co.uk/LIFE.

What if I fail the test?

You will be given your results shortly after you take the test. The pass mark is around 75%. If you fail, you must wait a minimum of seven days to retake the test. You should not submit an application for naturalization or indefinite leave to remain if this happens. You may need to apply for further leave to remain if your existing leave to remain is close to expiring. Once you pass, you will receive a pass notification letter which you can attach to your application for naturalization or indefinite leave to remain.

If you are planning on applying for naturalization as a British Citizen or indefinite leave to remain in the UK, it is wise to seek the advice of professional and experienced UK immigration lawyers who will advise you on all aspects of your application and help you complete it successfully.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source.

Disclaimer: Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

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It’s inevitable that we all grow old. As this happens to your parents, you may find that in time they have become your dependents. If one or both of your parents live abroad you may want them to join you in the UK so that you can take care of them. If you’re in this situation, it’s essential to understand the immigration rules that apply:

When would my parent(s) be allowed to join me in the UK?

If your mother or father is aged 65 or over, they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. If both parents are applying to join you and will be travelling together, at least one of them should be aged 65 or over. If one or both of your parents are under this age, they can still apply to live in the UK with you, but it must be deemed to be under the ‘most exceptional compassionate circumstances’. In all cases, applying parents should have no close relatives in their own country whom they could turn to for support.

What if my parent has remarried, can their spouse join us too?

If your parent is 65 or over and has remarried, they should be in a situation where their spouse or civil partner is also unable to support them financially. They will be allowed to bring their spouse or civil partner to the UK, along with any dependent children from the relationship.

What are the requirements that involve me?

If you are calling a dependent parent to live with you, you must be present and settled in the UK. Your parent should be fully or largely financially dependent on you. In addition, you should be able to support and maintain them - along with any spouse, civil partner or dependent children they bring with them - without anyone having needs to apply for public funds. This includes housing them in a place which you own or live in and which proves to be adequate accommodation for them.

Is there anything else they will need to do?

Your parent(s) should be in possession of a valid Entry Clearance when entering the UK. Entry Clearance is the procedure used to determine whether the applicant successfully meets the criteria required to reside in the UK as a dependent. Your parent may have to visit the British Embassy Government Consulate in their local area for this clearance to be obtained.

The application to enter and reside in the UK as a dependent needs to be made in the country of residence of the parent who is applying. It is wise to obtain the advice of a professional UK immigration lawyer who can help applicants and their sponsors understand the application procedure, assist with filing applications correctly and offer counsel concerning any issues that may be problematic to their application.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source.

Disclaimer: Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

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