The end of the visa journey.

[Leslie]

Yesterday the postman delivered an unassuming white envelope.  Inside was a New biometric British passport for my wife.  It’s arrival marked the end of our “Visa Journey” which began almost 5 years ago.

The expensive bureaucratic paper chase is over.  We have become experts in this now redundant process.  I will backtrack a little to give some perspective.  The last major hurdle was “UK permanent resident” status (equivalent to a 10 year green card)  our comments at the time were posted here –

http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=1073.0

The life in UK test is a one foot high hurdle.  In all honesty it is a typical example of Blair spin.  Marketed as a significant improvement to the citizenship process it practically achieves nothing whatsoever!

The study book “Life in the UK” is a puerile tome of socialist political correctness.  Written by civil servants at the behest of their sound bite obsessed political master – David Blunkett (who ended his own political career by committing visa fraud for his girl friend’s Pilipino nanny). It should be condemned to the bonfire of New Labour Vanities at the earliest opportunity.  However you are not tested on the whole book but just 70 pages of it which consist of simple facts and statistics.  Tasha spent several evenings committing these to memory and then took the computer based multiple choice test.  She finished this in 10 minutes.  Went through it again in 5 and clicked finish.  You are given 45 minutes to complete this test.  Immediate pass.  Absurdly easy test.  Designed so that virtually no one would fail.  So here we are a test heralded as a difficult hurdle to attain citizenship is nothing of the sort.  As long as you have reasonable knowledge of English and spend a few hours studying you will pass.  In reality it adds NO VALUE WHATSOEVER.  It is all spin and no substance.

The 52 page citizenship application form presented few difficulties.  We are “champion” IND form fillers by now.  The only point I will draw attention to is the residency requirement.  This is complex but as long as you are not out of UK for more than 90 days in any 12 month period it is not a problem. 

The citizenship ceremony was a good experience.  Brits know how to hold ceremonies. The Venue was Crewe Hall,  a suitably grand aristocratic pile. The lord Lieutenant of Cheshire was there in full dress uniform as the Queen’s  representative to take the oath of allegiance.  After that Natasha got her Certificate of Naturalisation.

Then the final form – the passport application, easy peasy.  3 weeks later it arrives…

The end of the visa journey. 

It is also significant milestone in other ways. The building a bi-cultural marriage phase is done. Natasha is assimilated into UK culture.  We are just a regular married couple now.  Whether we stay that way will depend on us.  A relationship requires constant effort. The next phase for us will be another child. 

Yes, we can claim success.  

You can do it too if you are prepared to put in the effort required...

[Rvrwind]

Congrats Leslie & especially Natasha!!!
Been a long road but I bet it was all worth it!!!

[Simoni]

Congrats, Leslie! Persistence paid off 

[catzenmouse]

That's great news Leslie! Life without dealing with immigrations services. Congratulations to both of you!

Will Natasha keep her Ukrainian passport? Does the British government allow her to?

Ken

[jb]

Great news, Les.

Etna will be filing for US citizenship next month.  I'll be detailing the process from our side of the pond as it unfolds.

[wiz]

Lesley

Congratulations.

You are absolutely right that the new Bliar spin is a pile of *snip*e. it must be one of his legacies now that he is going.......... together with all the other rubbish he piled up on us.

When I was ready to apply from my British citizenship, all I had to do is to go to a solicitor, paid £5, and sweared my allegiance to the Queen. Send the document and received my naturalisation and citizenship back very quickly.

After that straight forward. Application, copy of my citizenship and the passport application and long behold my passport back in 14 days.

Ken

In UK you are allowed to have Dual Nationality. I do have Greek Nationality Also and passport to use if I want but can't be bothered, because renewing my British Passport is very easy and I can do that from Home, where to get and renew my Greek passport I have to spent 2-3 days in the Greek Consulate in London...... so sodd it!

[Leslie]

Thanks for all the congratulations !

UK is quite flexible on Dual nationality.  Ukraine is not.  However the Ukraine system is the reverse of the UK one so it is possible to retain the Blue and Red Ukraine passports even though it is "illegal" We know several people who have done this.  It is important if you have real estate in Ukraine.  Natasha will formally renounce her Ukraine citizenship as soon as she can get down to the consulate in Notting Hill. (Yet another fee  )
It is her decision.

JB We will be interested to read Etna's citizenship story.  It must surely be more sensible than the UK system.

Wiz £5   

The prices went up by over 50% again this spring.  Citizenship application is now nearly £700.  So Fiance visa, spouse visa, Indefinite leave to remain, citizenship will cost £5K at TODAYS prices.  Oh and take 5 years by which time the price will maybe have trebled again...

Amazing that the socialists by their own actions restrict international relationships to the rich?

[Jazzyclassy]

Oh Leslie that is great that this visa thing ended for your wife now you can trully enjoy your time together

[Bruce]

Congratulations!!!  Every once in a while the good guys do win  .  Continued good luck!!!

[Leslie]

Jazzy - If I remember correctly your guy is from UK?  Ah then you too have 4-5 years of toil with HM Immigration and Nationality Directorate. :burnedup:

Bruce - Thanks for the kind words.  How is your wife's 10 year green card application going?  Last I heard you were having some problems.  Hope you have worked them out.

[Jazzyclassy]

Jazzy - If I remember correctly your guy is from UK?  Ah then you too have 4-5 years of toil with HM Immigration and Nationality Directorate. :burnedup:

Bruce - Thanks for the kind words.  How is your wife's 10 year green card application going?  Last I heard you were having some problems.  Hope you have worked them out.

well probably year Dear Leslie but that is little thing, that is so  not important we would like to be together soon cos 2 years of being apart you know he is coming to me and for few weeks and then again I am living only with the thought and hope for him to come back to me it is a difficult thing to  bear, it is like am living from visit to visit, I do not care about this nationality directorate thing really , we want family:) if they need 4-5 years oh well  we  will try to be patient with it

[Jumper]

Sorry i missed this,,

Congrats Les and Nat!   

[Leslie]

No Problem AJ !

All the best to you and your beautiful wife !

PS We must catch up some time soon...