British Citizenship Testing

So, My mate has lived in the UK for 10 years... acts more British than Brazillian and infact IS more British than he is Brazillian.
He needs to get British Citizenship before starting uni so then he doesn't get stitched up with uni fees etc.
However, I never realised the harrowing process he has to go through just to get a piece of paper saying he's British. It's insane. Testing, interviews, going to court to declare himself to the Queen, paying a fuck load of money etc. I mean, WTF... he's had all his schooling - bar 2 years - in the UK, he's got GCSE's, A levels... everything and yet he still needs to prove he's British enough to get citizenship. It's madness.

I can understand why the government have this system, but surely an interview followed by a test (if necessary) would be more effective.

What are your views and do you have any friends who have to deal with the same process? Any advice I can give to my mate etc?
it would be muchly appreciated.

 

''Testing, interviews, going to court to declare himself to the Queen, paying a fuck load of money etc''.

I think the ''''Testing, interviews, going to court to declare himself to the Queen'' is fair enough. It is just a formality. How much money does he have to spend ?. I've only heard about the 30 something quid for the test ?.

I did know somebody going through this.. but again he said his expense was the 'test' . I suppose he did spend money on 'lessons in english'. Your friend seems to not need this. I just do not know what money he would be spending ?.

 

I think America has it right, although it must believe far too many people are getting in ..

Yes, they pretty much do your idea.. 100 questions, or is 1,000?!?!?!? Obligatory spending of some money, and an interview..

I don't like the point in time that the Government decides a person needs to "become" British either.. It's almost as though they want to milk a little of a person's talents before being convinced that they would "fit in"..


Unfortunately, the only people I know born outside the UK and now British citizens have been here for awhile and the rules have been stricter AND more lenient over the last 40 years than they are now ..

 

It does help to ''fit in'' though do you not think.

''stricter AND more lenient over the last 40 years than they are now ''

How is that ?.

 

Remember Enoch Powell?

But don't forget how much support he had for the things he shouted from his bench...

He got what he wanted and virtually nobody was "allowed" in for 15 years...

Which is why the 80's over-compensated for his stupidy..

One day, the balance may be fair.. One day...

 

Enoch may have been a somewhat rascist nationalist fuck.. but i do think 'controls' are needed. Does that make ME a somewhat rascist nationalist fuck ?.

http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.more.migration.uk.html

 

!?! What you mean like pay for what you get, strange concept.

I think every country in the world asks you to become a citizen before you receive the national services, is that a bad thing ?

 

''national services'' ? I think tuition fees are relatively new.

''stitched up with uni fees '' seemed to be quite a popular thing to stick on a placard a few years ago.:nopity: bless 'um they did moan aboat it. Maybe they had a point ?.

 

Not for foreign students they ain't.

 

Well you learn something new everyday. I guess the reason this person wants to gain UK citizenship as quickly as possible. Is that wrong ?.

 

If it is solely for the purpose of achieving a cheap education paid for by the british public then I would propose yes. If it is just part of a delayed process where they wanted to be naturalised citizen anyway, then I would say no.

 

I would be surprised if there weren't rules against new citizens having subsidised access to HE. I'm guessing you'd need to have been a UK taxpayer for a certain number of years or born here or something like that. Just a guess...

 

More like £250

 

As I said before pab, he's been put through the UK education system except for 2 years between the ages of what 6 and 8.
He has paid into national insurance for years etc. He pretty much is British. His statistics of education (GCSEs, A Levels etc have been put into the UK tables not the international students tables. So how can he be British for all these things and then get insulted by having to do this test. Britain is more of a home to him than Brazil is... because he's lived here for most of his life. He's only 18 and arrived in the UK at the age of 8).
So actually. yes, it is a bad thing.

 

If you're talking about ym friend... you've got it all wrong. He wants to get citizenship because he's lived here longer than he's lived in Brazil, therefore Brazil appears more alien to him than the UK and therefore he should be entitled to citizenship. however, the system is wank.
I mean, they should interview you before making you take the test. He is proficient in English, has an accent, has integrated into society from a very early age. He basically is British, he just needs the paper to prove it.

 

I don't think he 'deserves' it. He should have a better entitlement to British citizenship, yes. He should have to go through the same process as any person wishing citizenship. The 'system' maybe 'wank' but it has to be fair. I do not doubt he has intergrated into society etc etc etc . dapablo makes a good point, if he only wants citizenship to get a cheap education, all this talk about him wanting citizenship is slighted skewed by the fact he could have done this a while ago. Did he need to leave it to the last minute.. conveniantly when his education was about to be charged for. If he was so intergrated etc etc .. i would have thought citizenship would be a priority a while ago. I don't wish to make a quick judgement though. I do not know the whol story. You did ask for opinions. These are mine with the information you give.

I do hope he gets his case sorted as quickly as possible.. even if it does leave a slight sour taste in my mouth. I just hope he did do it for the right reasons. From what you say, maybe not !!!!.

As i said, i was only aware of the 30+ pound test. My friend only told me about that cost. Again i said he may have had to pay for 'english lessons' that would have added more onto the expense...His english language and knowledge was poor. You don't say where that money was spent ?.

 

Um... well he's only just turned 18 so yes, he has only recently been able to apply and so NO he couldn't have done it any sooner either.

 

i feel bad for you trying to get advice. it's hard when so many seem negatively biased against people gaining citizenship to any country.

wish there were something i could tell you to help you ... but i don't know alot about this situation.

oh, and it's even more expensive to come over as someone's wife and i haven't even gotten to the whole citizenship thing... *urghs*

i've been keeping my mouth shut on this one on purpose as it's obvious people's stringent biases against anyone who may want to live or reside in a country that is not their own. and well ... honestly that pisses me off so figured i'd best keep my mouth shut.

good luck to your friend.

 

I can sound harsh I do know, sorry girls.

Just the phrase "stitched up for uni fees", was what sat uncomfortably in my conscience.

I have no issues with immigration, first born myself, just issues of something for nothing, good old protestant work ethic I'm afraid.

 

I hope you do not see any negative bias in my posts, i'm being honest and realistic imho.

Now it seems certain things have been cleared up. Maybe you could get on
'to the whole citizenship thing'

I hope you do not see any strident bias against anyone, in my posts. I'm not meaning to be. If it seems so, i apologise. I don't have any bias about anyone coming to this country for legitimate reasons, or anybody already here wishing to gain citizenship [just the system needs to be as fair as possible for ALL].

*lets be optimistic* yeah good luck.. but i still think her friend needs to go through the same hoops as anyone wishing citizenship..[with maybe a little leniancy for his contribution to this society].