Securing British citizenship is a common dream for many people. Nearly 200,000 people apply every year and the success rate is very high. This means that only around 4.3% of applicants are rejected.
To make sure you’re not in this small minority of people, we recommend getting to grips with the common issues that can lead to rejection. From simple mistakes to misinterpretation of the rules, these are some of the most common reasons that individuals have their applications turned down.
What happens if your application is rejected?
If your application is rejected, you can either request a judicial review of the application, or you can submit a fresh application. You can only request a review if you believe that the person making a decision on your case is mistaken in some way. There is no right to appeal a British naturalisation application. This is why it’s so important to get it right the first time.
Common Mistakes in the British Naturalisation Application
Knowing the common mistakes can help you to improve your application. When you know what you’re looking for, it will become easier to spot errors that could lead to rejection. That said, it also helps to have an expert’s opinion.
This is why we always recommend working with expert UK immigration lawyers to help identify and fix issues on your application before you submit it. These are some of the most common issues we spot:
Applying too soon
You’d be surprised how many individuals apply before they are eligible. Simple mistakes in calculating when you arrived in the UK can quickly derail an application. This is more common in cases where individuals have travelled and spent time outside of the UK. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible yet, speak with our expert UK immigration lawyers.
Missing travel information
As part of the application process, you need to demonstrate when you arrived and where you have been in the last five years. If you travel a lot, this can be incredibly complex. It’s important to be thorough in your application and make sure you present the information clearly.
Poorly presented evidence can also lead to your application being rejected. If the caseworker reviewing your application has to work hard to interpret the evidence that you provide, then there is a good chance your application will be rejected and you will need to submit a new one.
Failing to show you plan to stay
One of the key aspects of the British naturalisation application process is showing that you actually plan to make the UK your home. The Home Office doesn’t want to issue citizenship to individuals who don’t plan on staying in the UK. This is why it’s important to show your links to the UK and that you have firm plans to stay once you have attained citizenship.
This could include evidence such as:
- Evidence of ongoing work commitments
- Family ties in the UK
- An ongoing property lease or mortgage
- Links to your community
It’s always better to provide more evidence than you think is required, rather than risking not providing enough evidence to support your case. If you are worried about this aspect of your application, get in touch with our team to find out how we can help.
Failing to meet the referee requirements
All adult applicants need to provide two referees to verify their identity. There are strict rules about who can be a referee for your application. Both must have known you for at least three years, and one of them must be a professional person. There is a list of eligible professions, and it includes things like chemist, dentist, journalist, police officer, social worker, teacher or trade union official.
Your referees cannot be related to you, nor can they be related to each other. They also cannot be a legal representative handling your immigration application. They cannot be employed by the Home Office. And finally, they cannot have been convicted of an imprisonable offence in the past 10 years.
It might take some time to find the right referee for your application, but it makes sense to be thorough.
Concealing minor offences
Another common mistake that individuals make on their British naturalisation application is failing to disclose minor offences. That speeding ticket you got three years ago might feel like ancient history, but it can be relevant to your application.
Part of the decision process is made based on something known as “good character”. A minor traffic offence is unlikely to rule you out and make you ineligible for British citizenship. However, appearing to try to conceal this on your application could.
It’s always best to be honest and upfront about anything that might be uncovered about you during background checks. You can assume that they will find out everything they need to know about you, so it’s better to be open in your disclosure.
How can I avoid these mistakes?
The best way to avoid making these common mistakes is to make sure you have read and understood the guidance. Everything you need to know is provided in the guidance, you simply need to follow it.
However, we recognise that legal text can often be difficult to understand. If you have any doubts about your application, we recommend consulting with a UK immigration lawyer before submitting your application.
We can review your application and look for signs that it could be rejected. We can then work with you to fix these before you submit them. When you consider that the cost of a single application is £1,330 it makes sense to take your time to get it right.
If your application is rejected because you have provided incorrect or insufficient evidence, your only option will be to submit a new application. And this means you will need to pay again. To help avoid this expensive mistake, get in touch with our team today. We can guide you through the application to increase your chances of a successful outcome. Stay Connect with our legal blog & you can write for us law
