British Citizenship Refused? UK Government Lists Steps You Can Take to Overturn Decision
- The UK Home Office outlined a formal reconsideration process for applicants whose British citizenship was refused
- Applicants could challenge a refusal using Form NR if they believed the decision was not soundly based on law, policy, or procedure
- The UK government specified which grounds qualified for review and which reasons would not be considered for reconsideration
Anyone who has had a British citizenship application turned down does not necessarily have to accept the outcome as final.
The UK Home Office published a formal process through which refused applicants could request that their case be looked at again, provided certain conditions were met.
Source: UGC
The process was outlined in an official government document, which covered reconsideration of decisions to refuse British citizenship and other types of nationality.
Completed forms, along with the applicable fee, had to be posted to Department 73, UK Visas and Immigration, The Capital, New Hall Place, Liverpool, L3 9PP.
What Qualifies for Reconsideration
The Home Office was clear that there was no automatic legal right of appeal against a nationality decision.
However, applicants who believed a refusal was based on an error in law, policy, or procedure could submit a formal request to have the decision reviewed.
According to the form's guidance, the Home Office could reopen a case where the wrong requirements were applied, where a response to enquiries was received but not linked to the file, where insufficient time was allowed for documentation to be submitted, where a refusal on character grounds involved a conviction that was later quashed or a case of mistaken identity, or where relevant documents already in the department's possession were not taken into account.
Importantly, the guidance also set out what would not be reconsidered.
Long residence alone, where statutory requirements were not otherwise satisfied, did not constitute valid grounds.
Neither did the convenience of holding a British passport for business purposes, cultural ties, ancestry, or past service in the armed forces.
How to Build a Reconsideration Case
The article published by the Home Office served as the primary reference point for applicants assessing whether their refusal could be challenged.
The guidance strongly recommended that anyone whose circumstances fell outside standard policy seek advice from a solicitor or immigration agent registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner before submitting a review request.
A small fee applied for reconsideration. If the decision was reversed and citizenship was granted, that fee was returned, minus the citizenship ceremony fee where relevant.
Applicants were also reminded that a review request was not the same as a fresh application.
If a reconsideration was unsuccessful and an applicant still wished to pursue British citizenship, a new application and a separate fee had to be submitted.
UK shares ways to qualify for citizenship
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that United Kingdom explained seven ways foreigners can become British citizens, including by birth, marriage, descent, and Irish citizenship.
The UK said some Commonwealth citizens and stateless people may also qualify for British citizenship if they meet the rules.
Source: Legit.ng
