New citizenship and ILR laws to take effect in late 2009
The Home Office has announced time frames for introducing the new earned citizenship laws. The new legalisation will affect anyone wishing to live permanently in the UK.On 20 February 2008 the Government published the Green Paper ‘The Path to Citizenship: Next Steps in Reforming the Immigration System’. In this document the Home Office outlined proposals for changing the way that someone can become a British citizen or remain in the UK as a permanent resident. These proposals are collectively called ‘Earned citizenship’. These proposals will, if agreed by Parliament, lead to change late in 2009. Thereafter, migrants will be expected to pass through 3 key stages and demonstrate certain requirements in order to progress between these. The three stages are set out below:
1. Temporary residence
2. Probationary citizenship
3. British citizenship/permanent residence
In the meantime, existing laws for naturalisation and ILR will continue.
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