Nationality checking service

Shropshire Council is delighted to offer a nationality checking service in partnership with the Home Office. The aim of this partnership is to ensure that the application process is speeded up for its applicants.

The Nationality Checking Service will be available through the Shropshire Registration Service at its head office in Shrewsbury. Applications submitted via this service have fewer errors or omissions requiring them to be rejected or additional information to be provided.

For a fee, as part of the service we will:

• check that application forms have been completed fully and correctly
• check that all relevant documents are present
• check that the correct fee has been submitted
• photocopy valuable documents, such as passports and marriage certificates
• collect in and submit Life in the UK certificates and other evidence as competence in the English language
• certify the copies and return the originals to you
• forward applications to the Nationality Group by special delivery

Our advisors will not:

• act as agents for you - our officer involvement is complete when the application is sent to the Home Office
• offer any advice on nationality, other than in respect of the correct completion of the application form
• offer any advice on matters such as visas, immigration or asylum

Fee's

Please follow the Border and Immigration Agency link to check citizenship application fees.

• Adult who submits a single application: £45.00
• Husband and wife living together who apply at same time: £65.00
• Husband and wife and up to four children who apply at the same time: £75.00
• Additional child on parents application who apply at the same time as their parents: £20.00
• Child under the age of 18 who apply separately from their parents: £20.00

Payment for the appointment is required in advance at the time of booking by credit or debit card and is subject to a cancellation policy, which you will be notified of at the time of booking and in writing after making the booking.

This service is provided strictly by appointment only. Appointments can be made by contacting the Shropshire Registration Service on 0345 678 9016.

All appointments will be held at the Shropshire Register Office, Column Lodge, Preston Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 5NY.

Earned Citizenship

Please note that proposed changes to the way people become British citizens will not be introduced until late 2010. Until then existing arrangements for naturalisation will continue.

The following information is reproduced from a Home Office information flyer:

Naturalising as a British citizen in the future

What are the proposed changes?

On 20th February 2008 the Government published the Green Paper 'The path to Citizenship: Next Steps in Reforming the Immigration System'. In this document we outlined our proposals for changing the way that someone can become a British citizen or remain here as a permanent resident. These proposals are collectively called 'Earned Citizenship'. Under these proposals migrants will be expected to pass through three key stages and demonstrate certain requirements. Our aim is to make the journey clearer, simpler and easier for migrants and the public to understand.

The three stages are:
1) Temporary residence.
2) Probationary citizenship.
3) British citizenship/permanent residence.

Further information on the implementation of the proposed changes will be announced following parliamentary approval in 2009. Existing arrangements for naturalisation will continue until these proposals come into effect.

Please follow the Border and Immigration Agency link for the UKBA website and further information.

Useful information
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) helpline: 0845 000 0046
Other useful websites can be found by following the links below.

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