rich_edwards79 ([info]rich_edwards79) wrote in [info]brits_americans,
2008-02-20 13:35:00
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More British Citizenship Tests Planned - BBC News

According to the BBC's top story immigrants who want to become British and settle permanently in the UK will soon need to pass more tests to "prove their worth" to the country.

No longer will an individual's right to apply for naturalisation be dependent solely on how long they have lived in the UK (though this will increase to five years). Future migrants will have to 'earn' their right to call themselves British by making a demonstrable and quantifiable commitment to British society and to their community.

At this stage they've confirmed that visa fees will rise dramatically in order to provide a special "transitional impact" fund for public services. There will be more cultural and language testing, a full medical exam and those with a record of crime or anti-social behaviour will be barred from becoming citizens.

The system will see migrants with dependents expected to pay higher application fees, and all applicants expected to demonstrate that they are 'active' citizens through proof of charity work, involvement in the local community and letters from referees before they can apply.

Ultimately this seems designed to appease the growing right-wing sentiment in the UK and will probably slam the door in the face of many non-EU migrants. Unlike previously it will also penalise those who wish to marry a UK citizen (ie many on this board).

From Home Secretary Jacqui Smith: "Our new deal for citizenship is clear and fair. The rights and benefits of citizenship will be available to those who can demonstrate a commitment to our shared values and a willingness to contribute to our community. This is a country of liberty and tolerance, opportunity and diversity. These values are reinforced by the expectation that all who live here should learn our language, play by the rules, obey the law and contribute to the economy."

Words which ring rather hollow for this bitterly disappointed Brit who now has yet another reason to loathe our sorry excuse for a Government. How they can consider this fair or tolerant is beyond me; the tragedy is that the majority with no stake in the issue will doubtless support this wholeheartedly. Ultimately I suppose if they wanted to build a huge wall around Britain they're in charge and there's nothing any of us can do about it - doesn't mean I have to like it one little bit.
Tags: citizenship, heated debate, immigration (to uk), politics

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  • 66 comments

[info]trainedn00b

February 20 2008, 14:10:32 UTC 4 years ago

Oh god. What. The. Hell.
As if us in LDR's don't have enough obstacles already. Increased fees. Fantastic.

[info]tisiphone

February 20 2008, 14:14:08 UTC 4 years ago

Hmmm, how is this going to impact those who marry UK citizens any more than anyone else who wants UK citizenship? It's not like you can get citizenship with your marriage license and a £1K pound check anyhow.

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[info]tisiphone

4 years ago

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[info]trainedn00b

4 years ago

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[info]raketje

4 years ago

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[info]paranoidandroid

4 years ago

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[info]sioneva

4 years ago

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[info]unimag

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[info]sioneva

4 years ago

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[info]unimag

4 years ago

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[info]thekumquat

4 years ago

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[info]tronochick

February 20 2008, 14:16:58 UTC 4 years ago

like everything else British, it's a gatekeeping function designed to keep the doors open for only the few and the privileged.

It may be annoying but it's really not all that different than those crazies who camp out on the US/Mexico border and play vigilante to people trying to cross. It's border protection, no matter how much it looks like the BNP is now running things.

[info]sensaes

February 20 2008, 14:23:42 UTC 4 years ago

"...expected to demonstrate that they are 'active' citizens through proof of charity work, involvement in the local community and letters from referees..."

Well, that rules out most of the indigenous population.

Let's send 'em all to the Moon.

[info]trainedn00b

February 20 2008, 14:43:01 UTC 4 years ago

The ultimate solution!

[info]sensaes

4 years ago

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[info]trainedn00b

4 years ago

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[info]raketje

4 years ago

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[info]sensaes

4 years ago

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[info]janewilliams20

4 years ago

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[info]sensaes

4 years ago

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[info]a_d_medievalist

February 20 2008, 14:47:22 UTC 4 years ago

As I understand it, this was merely a Green Paper, which is still under discussion. The coverage on the Today Programme certainly suggested that the government might have a hard time getting the proposal through.

[info]aless02

February 20 2008, 14:50:27 UTC 4 years ago

*pukes*

As if the outrageous visa-free increases haven't been ENOUGH? How are supposed to become meaningful members of society (buy houses, pay bills, etc.) AND save up enough money to pay for our citizenship?!?! ARRRRRRRRRRGH.

Proof once again at the total THICKNESS of the HO.

[info]trainedn00b

February 20 2008, 14:53:18 UTC 4 years ago

And in the free time of not slaving away at a job to earn enough money to keep things going so you don't get deported, you have to do CHARITY WORK????? =O

[info]aless02

4 years ago

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[info]lithiumkitsune

February 20 2008, 14:57:19 UTC 4 years ago

..those with...anti-social behaviour will be barred from becoming citizens.

..all applicants expected to demonstrate that they are 'active' citizens through proof of charity work, involvement in the local community and letters from referees before they can apply.

Riiiight. Um, wtf? It's like non-EU immigrants are going to be punished with being forced to do community service simply because they *gasp* want to become citizens? Bullshit. I think only about 10-20% of the entire legal population does this (willingly), why force new comers?

The only bit out of this entire thing I agree with is having people fluent in the country's native language: English.

[info]mrs_ralph

February 20 2008, 15:42:39 UTC 4 years ago

I guess it is safe to assume this would prevent the disabled people who have migrated from becoming citizens, especially the ones who have become disabled in the years after they moved here and are receiving disablity. Really great...one more door slammed in the face of the disabled.

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[info]mrs_ralph

4 years ago

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[info]dativesingular

4 years ago

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[info]mrs_ralph

4 years ago

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[info]dativesingular

4 years ago

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[info]mrs_ralph

4 years ago

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[info]dativesingular

4 years ago

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[info]dativesingular

4 years ago

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[info]goose_entity

February 20 2008, 15:47:26 UTC 4 years ago

wait, so how is this different than what I went through to get my green card, and what I will be going through to get US citizenship in a couple of years?

Six months to assemble the paperwork, over $1000 in fees to the embassy, and a waiting period of 3 years from arrival before I can go for citizenship, which tests me on the history of the USA - please explain how this is different to what is being proposed in this green paper?

[info]dativesingular

February 20 2008, 15:53:38 UTC 4 years ago

Were you required to perform community service? That's the one thing that sticks out for me.

[info]goose_entity

4 years ago

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[info]aless02

4 years ago

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[info]unimag

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[info]dativesingular

4 years ago

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[info]unimag

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[info]anerise

4 years ago

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[info]dativesingular

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[info]anerise

4 years ago

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[info]dativesingular

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[info]unimag

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[info]dativesingular

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[info]anerise

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[info]trainedn00b

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[info]goose_entity

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...and 5 more comments... from [info]rich_edwards79, [info]anerise, [info]aless02… Expand

[info]ktstar1

February 20 2008, 15:57:42 UTC 4 years ago

do you have a link to this story? i'm in a class discussing race, ethnicity and immigration in the UK and would love to read the article...

thanks.

[info]sensaes

February 20 2008, 16:00:17 UTC 4 years ago

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7253933.stm

[info]jessalyn

February 20 2008, 17:15:29 UTC 4 years ago

Nothing new.

Honestly I guess I'm spoilt by the fact that "I don't care". England is having it pretty rough with the whole EU thing so unless the UK can join forces with the US economically this is something they have to do.

Not to mention it'll be another 9 years before I'm up for Citizenship apparently. So who knows what will change during that time. No reason to get my panties in a knot at this time...

[info]unimag

February 20 2008, 18:13:40 UTC 4 years ago

Considering the UK is in a much stronger economic position than either the US or the EU, 'joining forces' with either would be a spectacularly bad idea.

We're in a pretty good position when it comes to choice of trading & business partners, though.

[info]unimag

February 20 2008, 18:24:11 UTC 4 years ago

Some of the stuff you've said up there doesn't match either the BBC report or the government proposal - you might want to do some fact-checking before scaring the shit out of people.

Specifically :

"those with a record of crime or anti-social behaviour will be barred from becoming citizens"

Is NOT true. Those who commit crimes in the UK will find the process of applying for citizenship 'far harder' and MAY be barred from citizenship.

Existing criminal records (in other nations) are already covered under their initial immigration applications, NOT applications for citizenship.

"all applicants expected to demonstrate that they are 'active' citizens through proof of charity work, involvement in the local community and letters from referees before they can apply"

Is similarly distorted from the government proposal as it currently stands.

BBC quote :"Migrants would find their route to citizenship [...] accelerated if they can prove they are "active" citizens.

This would include charity work, involvement in the local community and letters from referees." (emphasis mine)

-

Scaremongering and half-truths don't help the issue, especially when it's as controversial a subject as it is; if you're going to imply that you're quoting from the source, please make sure that you're quoting your sources correctly.

[info]trainedn00b

February 20 2008, 20:37:12 UTC 4 years ago

After reading this, I would like to say thanks for alleviating the heaviest of my worries regarding this.

Do you have a link to the BBC article? I'd like a gander myself.

[info]sara_mermaid

4 years ago

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[info]trainedn00b

4 years ago

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[info]anerise

February 20 2008, 18:26:56 UTC 4 years ago

if anyone wants to read the Green Paper (a consultation document) it's here- http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/consultations/pathtocitizenship/

[info]sara_mermaid

February 20 2008, 19:54:40 UTC 4 years ago

Great.
Like there aren't enough hurdles already. How... encouraging.

[info]llary

February 21 2008, 10:31:58 UTC 4 years ago

At the same time there's another movement going on to force immigrants to apply for citizenship within a certain time frame or effectively get kicked out. Sheesh, pick one or the other.

I left the UK some time ago mainly because of the stifling bureaucracy inflicted on small businesses and with every passing month I'm more satisfied with my decision. The government where I'm currently resident is very happy to have me and receive my tax money. My income tax here while self employed is around 8% - about 40% less than the UK, and I only have a single form to fill in each year versus several hundred pages for annual accounting to HMRC. British weather is lousy, crime is getting worse, housing and living costs are extortionate - I don't get why they are actively trying to push away immigrants.

I honestly don't know how the UK government intends to attract the sort of immigrants they are after with this kind of attitude. Desperate and/or poor immigrants are more likely to jump through all the hoops while professional workers etc. will not be bothered and simply pick another country.

[info]paranoidandroid

February 21 2008, 11:36:23 UTC 4 years ago

crime is getting worse, housing and living costs are extortionate - I don't get why they are actively trying to push away immigrants.

more immigrants means more demand for housing, more demand for housing means higher cost of housing, high cost of housing plus too many people ends in slums, slums end in increased crime.

[info]jeffs_odyssey

February 21 2008, 20:50:06 UTC 4 years ago

"No longer will an individual's right to apply for naturalisation be dependent solely on how long they have lived in the UK (though this will increase to five years)"

Isn't it currently a minimum of six years now anyway?
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