With regard to the updating of the Act of 1956, this has had a big effect on our family. When we arrived from South AFrica in 2001, our children were 3, 12 and 14. They went to school as all children do. The 2 oldest went to college as we all want our children to do. How can you explain why they were declined citizenship based on the fact that most of the 5 years prior to application was in school or education? They never chose to come here. They came as minors with ourselves, they obeyed the law, 1 was a prefect in school, they made friends and became part of the community. All this and they can't be citizens because they were educated. Now at 21 and 22, the same children who still live in the family home, can't travel to the UK without having to get a visa, which is a major problem and very expensive. This is the difference between long term residency and citizenship.
Renee Jenkins
Posted on 10 Oct 2009 9:47 am
With regard to the updating of the Act of 1956, this has had a big effect on our family. When we arrived from South AFrica in 2001, our children were 3, 12 and 14. They went to school as all children do. The 2 oldest went to college as we all want our children to do. How can you explain why they were declined citizenship based on the fact that most of the 5 years prior to application was in school or education? They never chose to come here. They came as minors with ourselves, they obeyed the law, 1 was a prefect in school, they made friends and became part of the community. All this and they can't be citizens because they were educated. Now at 21 and 22, the same children who still live in the family home, can't travel to the UK without having to get a visa, which is a major problem and very expensive. This is the difference between long term residency and citizenship.