Global Immigration, has started to provide consultancy and advice on revolutionary changes to naturalisation laws, the process by which UK citizenship is granted. This is due to the introduction of the Nationality, Immigration, Asylum Act 2002, sections of which have already been enforced, with the remainder coming into force on 1st April 2003. Under the 2002 act anyone wishing to apply for British Citizenship will need to have a knowledge of British society and have sufficient knowledge of English, Welsh or Gaelic. Applicants will need to pass a test after having attended a course, and will also need to take an oath of allegiance and attend a citizenship ceremony.
Liam Clifford, Director of Global Immigration and the Global Visas Groups said, ìWe have been aware of the proposed changes for sometime. Unfortunately the Government is yet to give any clear guidelines on what levels of English an applicant will need to have or where the English classes or public oaths will take place, or who will pay for the courses or exams. However, I am in complete agreement with the new Act because I think itís time to look at the bigger picture with regard to naturalisation, as the Government has been concentrating on asylum issues and economic refugees for far too long.
ìIn my opinion the changes to the law will benefit the country through helping to homogenise society, as well as encouraging people with dual nationalities to learn the British language and culture. It will also ensure that we look more closely at the people that we are inviting to join us as citizens of the UK, as well as punishing existing dual nationality citizens who act against the nation. The Governmentís objective is to ensure that those who wish to become British citizens by way of naturalisation must demonstrate some commitment to the United Kingdomî
He added, ìThis is the largest transformation of citizenship law to be seen in the UK since 1981. We are aware that some candidates will be confused or worried about the new measures, but with the new systems and processes that we have in place, and with the team of qualified consultants employed at Global Immigration who have access to a number of leading education establishments, we will continue to provide a seamless and easy to use service. We determine the easiest way for an individual to meet the requirements of the law, ensuring that it fits into their lifestyle while reducing the time and effort they need to spend on obtaining British Citizenship.î
One major addition to the law will see the powers of the Home Secretary extended so that people who were born in the UK but have a dual nationality, can be stripped of their British nationality if they are seen to be acting in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the interests of the country. At present the Home Secretary only has the power to deprive British citizenship if it was obtained by fraud or if the person is sentenced to imprisonment of a year or more within five years of obtaining citizenship.
Liam Clifford commented, ìI think that this particular section of the new Act is a major move for British nationality law as it will assist in deterring British citizens with dual nationality from fighting against British forces in war situations and from performing acts of terrorism against our country, which is particularly topical at the moment. It will also help to prove that citizenship is to be valued and not abused.î
He added, ìThe citizenship ceremony, oath and pledge may be viewed by some people as an attempt by the UK to follow in the footsteps of the USA, but in reality I think that citizenship classes and open pledges mean that people will have to show that they are seriously committed to becoming a British citizen. There are a number of people living in the UK, including well known business figures, who hold foreign passports and whose primary language is not British, and will see the new legislation as an inconvenience. In these cases I would encourage people to apply for naturalisation before this section of the Act comes into force. The changes to the law address serious citizenship issues, and I think that an entry level requirement is overdue and should have been put in place before now. However, to make this more effective I feel that the Government should have given more, clearer guidelines before the Act comes into effect.î
Global Immigration Ltd prepared for revolutionary UK citizenship laws
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