#citizenship naturalisation applications

[coatessolicitors]

Court Rules Only Ground To Challenge Naturalisation Refusals Is Irrationality

Justice Mostyn ruled that challenges to the Home Secretary’s decision to refuse citizenship naturalisation applications can only be brought on grounds of irrationality.

[chterzidislaw]

Providing legal assistance to refugees and immigrants (Migration Law)

⚖️ Christos M. Terzidis, Greek lawyer, holding a PhD title from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, is greatly experienced in Refugee/Immigration Law.

💼 As a greek law office,we undertake:

✔️Refugee and immigrant residence permits (issuance and renewal) ✔️Application for political asylum and support at all stages of the process

✔️Appeals

✔️protection from deportation

✔️protection from administrative detention

✔️deposition applications and their presentation and support before the Administrative Courts

✔️pleadings

✔️presentation and representation before the Appeals Authority and its competent committees

✔️passports (issuance-renewal)

✔️family reunifications

✔️naturalization-acquisition of Greek citizenship and support at all stages of the process

✔️Golden Visa cases , etc.

✍ We prepare each case methodically with the outmost care and attention. 💼 We serve by appointment, while there is a 24-hour service available for emergency cases. 📞 Contact us today and schedule your appointment, so that we can help you resolve your legal issues.

[lexlawuk]

Comprehensive Guide to British Citizenship by Naturalisation

British Citizenship by naturalisation is a significant milestone for many individuals who have made the United Kingdom their home. As a leading London immigration law firm, we are dedicated to guiding you through every step of this complex process. This detailed guide will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the requirements and procedures involved in applying for British Citizenship by…

[onelawchamber]

The Ultimate Guide on How to Become a British Citizen

In order to be eligible to apply for British citizenship, you will need to meet certain eligibility requirements. Some of these criteria include having lived in the UK for a certain length of time, having an approved visa, and having a good knowledge of language and life in the UK.

[junawer]

By Hebh Jamal. Nov 9, 2023

It is no secret Germany has taken a vehement pro-Israel stance with unconditional support for their genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. However, their weaponization of antisemitism against migrant communities has presented itself as vehemently authoritarian, anti-democratic, and just plain racist.

So here’s a list just so you know. Each bullet point can have its own dissertation written on it.

Ban the pro-Palestinian organization Samidoun in Germany

Ban pro- Palestinian or anti-Israel protests across the country, leading to many instances of police violence, brutality and racial profiling

Ban keffiyehs, colors of the Palestinian flag, or stickers that say “Free Palestine” in Berlin primary and secondary schools. If violated, the teacher holds the right to call the police.

CDU Leader, Freidrich Merz says: “If there are refugees from Gaza then these are initially an issue for the neighboring countries. Germany cannot absorb any more refugees. We have enough antisemitic young men in the country.”

German President Steinmeier calls for Arab communities to condemn antisemitism

FDP Vice President Kubicki calls for an upper limit for migrants in city districts

“A quarter of the city must not have more than 25 percent migrants, so that no parallel societies emerge. What we see on German streets today is the result of parallel societies that developed because people came together in certain neighborhoods.”

“we can already legally deport people to third countries that are willing to accept them, and i would recommend that the federal government not only talk to countries of origin, but also to African countries, for example of which we know that theyd be willing to take people for a small fee. And we could do that today.”

Olaf Scholz vowing to “deport people on a large scale”

Then he does it. German government passed a “historic cross party deal” to clamp down on immigration and will “explore setting up asylum processing centres outside the EU”

it will open migrant centres in Albania

scales back social benefits for refugees, increases federal financial support for state governments and sets ambitious targets to speed up deportations

CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann says Scholz’s plan is not enough

“Asylum seekers should only be distributed among the municipalities if there is a right to remain. In addition, family reunification should be restricted and asylum procedures should be carried out in third countries.”

CDU General Linnemann calls for migrant quotas in schools

“35 percent - in the opinion of CDU General Secretary Linnemann, there should not be more migrants in German schools. He can also imagine a quota for residential areas.”

Linnemann advocated the introduction of compulsory preschool education followed by a language test . “I would only enroll young people who really know the German language.”

“Liberal” politician calls for stripping of German citizenship for people who he believes is “antisemitic.” He also urges that an antisemitism test be present in German naturalisation applications.

Give Israel an extra 300 million euros to continue their genocide of Palestinians

ARD tells its journalists how to talk about dead Palestinians - you guessed it, only in the context of its Hamas’ fault.

Berlin Senate is trying to strip funding from a cultural center in Berlin, Oyoun, because it gave space to anti-Zionist Jews.

I can go on and on and on, but it seems gravely more clear that Germany is utilizing the war on Gaza to carry out their right wing authoritarian fantasies. We can see and expect more to come.

[xxxjarchiexxx]

Germany’s Bundestag will discuss, on Friday, two draft laws that propose imposing harsher penalties for alleged anti-Semitic expression and making citizenship conditional on recognising Israel’s right to exist and steering clear of criticising the Occupation State. According to a document published on the German Bundestag’s website, the federal parliament will “discuss for the first time two draft laws submitted by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group” on changing the criminal code on “combatting anti-Semitism, terror, hatred and incitement” and ending “the residence and preventing the naturalisation of anti-Semitic foreigners”. The first bill is reportedly a reaction to the operation carried out by Palestinian Resistance group, Hamas, in Israeli-held territory on 7 October, which the Bundestag says “exacerbates the threat level for Jewish citizens in Germany as well. It is intolerable and unacceptable that Hamas terrorism and anti-Semitism are cheered and propagated, that Israel’s right to exist is publicly denied at demonstrations and that the destruction of the State of Israel is called for.” The governmental body also reiterated Germany’s belief that “the protection of Jewish life is a state responsibility and non-negotiable. Jews should be able to feel safe in Germany. Furthermore, such acts damaged community cohesion and threatened the stability of society as a whole. The state is therefore particularly called upon to act here”. The draft will also ensure that “the protection gaps in the event of a breach of the peace are to be closed and the current penalty range is to be increased and the criminal liability of … appealing for sympathy is to be restored”. It further stated that there should be an increase in “the range of penalties for sedition”, which it defined as “punishment for denying the right to exist of the State of Israel and for calling for the abolition of the State of Israel”. Regarding the second bill, the draft advocates that changes should be made to Germany’s residence, asylum and nationality law in order to “provide better protection against the further entrenchment and spread of anti-Semitism that has ‘immigrated’ from abroad”. The parliamentary group reportedly aims to introduce into the country’s residence law the requirement that not only will an anti-Semitic crime result in expulsion of the alleged perpetrator, but also results in a conviction leading to “a prison sentence of at least six months and to the denial or loss of humanitarian protection in Germany”. Under that second draft bill, the acquisition of German citizenship by refugees, asylum seekers or migrants will “be dependent on a commitment to Israel’s right to exist and a declaration that the naturalisation applicant has not pursued or pursued any endeavours directed against the existence of the State of Israel.” As a consequence, if there are “actual, unshakable indications of an anti-Semitic attitude on the part of the applicant”, according to the bill’s goal, “naturalisation according to their will should be expressly excluded.” There would also reportedly be a new offence introduced into nationality law in which “people with at least one other nationality lose their German nationality if they are convicted of an anti-Semitic crime and given a prison sentence of at least one year.”

16 November 2023

[beardedmrbean]

The new government's programme includes the introduction of a citizenship test as part of its plans to tighten the requirements for obtaining Finnish citizenship or permanent residence in Finland.

In its programme for government published last month, Finland's right-wing ruling coalition said it plans to introduce a citizenship test as part of efforts to tighten rules around the granting of permanent residence and citizenship permits.

"Passing a citizenship test and a language test will be made a requirement for naturalisation," the programme states.

The Finnish citizenship test will be modelled on similar evaluations used in other European countries.

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen (Finns) told Yle that her ministry has started work on drafting the citizenship test, but the process will take time.

Examples from across Europe

Among the EU's 27 countries, nearly half — or 13 — currently have a citizenship test. They include the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary and Estonia.

In addition, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein — which are not members of the EU but are part of the Schengen area — also have a citizenship test.

In general, the tests feature questions about the history, culture, society and population of the host country. The assessments may also ask about living in a democracy and other aspects of a particular country's politics, such as in Estonia and Greece, or about the country's national anthem, as in Latvia.

In each country, the test is organised by an official body.

Rantanen previously told tabloid Ilta-Sanomat that the exams could be organised by community colleges, for example.

From multiple choice quizzes to interviews

In an interview with Yle soon after taking office, Rantanen said that her ministry will perform a "u-turn" on immigration and refugee policies during her term, and she reiterated that position this week.

"I am glad that we are reaching the pan-Nordic level, and that we will not be the only country in the Nordic region with lax rules," she said.

Among the Nordic countries, the citizenship test is used in Denmark and Norway.

The Danish test has 45 multiple-choice questions about the country's society, culture and history — 35 of which are based on provided study material while 5 questions deal with topical issues taken from Danish media and politics. There are also five questions on Danish values.

At least 36 correct answers are needed in order to pass the Danish test. In addition, they must correctly answer at least four of the 10 questions that are not included in the study material.

The citizenship test in Norway has 36 questions, of which 24 must be correct. Norwegian authorities also offer the option of completing a social studies course (75 hours) with a final exam in Norwegian.

Luxembourg also provides the option of taking a social studies course instead of the citizenship test.

In Slovakia, there is no formal citizenship test but the required language test does ask basic information about the country.

Study material helps participants

In almost every European country where a citizenship test is mandatory, participants are provided with study material.

In Spain, the test consists of 25 multiple-choice questions selected from a list of 300, which can be practised in advance with an app.

The tests are also often multiple-choice, although one notable exception to this is France, where the 'test' is conducted as an interview.

In Europe, the citizenship test is often multiple-choice, but one exception is France, where the exam is conducted as an interview. Study material is also provided.

In addition to the citizenship test, each country has other conditions which must be met if the applicant is to receive citizenship or a permanent residence permit — such as a certain income threshold.

Although Austria has no citizenship exam, people applying for citizenship or permanent residence must have lived continuously in the country for at least 10 years and prove their intentions to stay.

Rantanen noted that the proposed citizenship test is also intended to help speed up integration into Finnish society.

"The idea is for people to integrate into Finland, to learn our language and our social system. With integration, the citizenship and language tests should not prove to be too difficult," Rantanen said.

Citizenship test previously proposed in 2019

The possibility of Finland introducing a citizenship test has been mooted before.

In 2019, then-Interior Minister Kai Mykkänen (NCP) presented a package of measures he said was aimed at preventing and combating crimes committed by foreign-background individuals, especially sexual offences.

The draft bill at the time stated that "the practices of other countries in the use of citizenship tests will be studied and a test suitable for Finland will be introduced".

However, the citizenship test was not advanced during the following government's term in office.

[inwarvictory]

wait sorry if this is too personal but how does that work? if you were born and raised in denmark how are you not a citizen?

no worries! denmark doesn’t have naturalisation by law which means that the only two ways of getting citizenship nowadays is by

a) having one parent who has danish citizenship

or b) fulfilling requirements such as having lived in the country for nine consecutive years (eight of those being legal) and you need to have been in full time employment or run your own business for 3 1/2 years out of 4 years. having a criminal record is not allowed. the only way to avoid the full time job requirement is if you’ve studied uninterrupted (so no sabbaticals). you must have had permanent residency for 2 years I think it is before you can apply for citizenship. you can’t be in debt. there are some other things too I think. but once you meet those requirements, THEN you can apply to take two tests (one if you’ve already been through the danish school system) which I don’t remember how much cost. the main one consists of 45 questions where you need to answer 36 correctly. if you pass those, THEN you can apply to become a citizen which costs 4000 DKK. the processing for that application takes over a year and if that gets approved, it’s then added to this law thingy that gets taken up in government and once that is done you have to meet up for a ceremony where you have to shake the official’s hand.

so while I do fulfil most of the requirements to apply for citizenship, I don’t fulfil the full time employment/interrupted studying part.

tl;dr: in order to get danish citizenship either have a danish parent or fulfil a bunch of requirements plus take a test and pay some money to become one

[maykop1010]

Since you decided to delete my comment here are the pillars of apartheid

The first pillar demarcates people into different groups – Jews and non-Jews. This is done through the Law of Return of 1950 (the same year that South Africa passed the Population Registration Act, for the same purpose). It defines who is a Jew and grants Jews all over the world the right to immigrate to Israel (or the OPT). In the occupied territories, unlike apartheid South Africa which transferred the citizenship of ’Africans’ to new fictitious political entities, Palestinians are deprived of any status.

The ‘Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People’ declares Israel to be a ‘Jewish state’ – despite more than 20 percent of its population not being Jewish. It also entrenches the idea, contrary to the understanding of all democracies, that there is a difference between citizenship and nationality. We cannot imagine a situation in which South Africa would have declared that White people from around the world had nationality in South Africa, while Black people (including those classified ‘Coloured’ and “Indian”) could be citizens but not nationals.

DISCRIMINATION IN EVERYDAY LIFE

In Israel, the discrimination includes a denial of full-welfare benefits, restrictions on what might be taught and learnt in schools, restriction on certain types of jobs being held by Palestinians. The 2003 Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law banning Palestinian family unification is another example of discriminatory legislation. In the OPT, Palestinians are denied the right to leave and return to their country, freedom of movement and residence, and access to land. This also applies to Palestinians of East Jerusalem, who have a separate status. The disparity in the treatment of the two groups is highlighted through the application of harsher laws and different courts for OPT Palestinians than for Jewish settlers, and through restrictions imposed by the permit and ID systems. The discrimination is also illustrated by the access to water in the OPT for Palestinians and Jewish settlers, with settlers being allocated the bulk of West Bank water, at a fraction of the price that Palestinians are charged.

The second pillar, in Israel, is bolstered by the Absentee Property Law, which ensured land theft on a grand scale. Today, land in Israel is divided into national lands – 93 percent of the land, and private lands – seven percent. National lands are comprised of state lands and JNF (Jewish National Fund) lands, and are for the exclusive use of Jews. Palestinians may only own land in the private land category. So, 20 percent of the population may only use seven percent of the land – and in that too, they compete with Jews for access.

And while Israel does not have a law similar to the South African Group Areas Act which forced different “racial” groups to live in their own areas, a number of Israeli court judgments have had the same effect, by preventing Palestinian families living in Jewish areas. Since there is no civil marriage in Israel (all marriages are religious), it is impossible for a Jew to marry a non-Jew. Israel’s Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law even prevent the spouses of its Palestinian citizens from being naturalised, forcing many Palestinian families to leave.

FRAGMENTATION OF THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

The second pillar in the OPT is reflected by Israel having fragmented the OPT for the purposes of segregation and domination. It includes Israel’s extensive theft of Palestinian land in various ways – including through the Apartheid Wall, thus shrinking the space available to Palestinians and forcing them into specific geographic fragments; the hermetic closure and isolation of Gaza; the severing of East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank; and appropriation and construction policies that have created a settlement infrastructure that carved up the West Bank into a network of connected settlements for Jewish-Israelis and besieged, non-contiguous Palestinian enclaves.

Israeli Jews are prohibited from entering those bantustans (as Whites were forbidden from entering African townships in South Africa), but enjoy freedom of movement throughout the rest of the Palestinian territory. South Africans find the idea of separate roads quite shocking; we never had roads for exclusive White use, and where blacks were excluded by force.

The third pillar on which Israel’s apartheid rests is its repressive “security” laws and machinery which bear little resemblance to South Africa. Sure, the extrajudicial killing (including on foreign territory), torture, administrative detention, etc. are similar to what we faced in South Africa. These policies are state-sanctioned, often approved by the Israeli judiciary, and supported by oppressive military laws and military courts. “Security” is effectively used to justify restrictions on Palestinian freedom of opinion, expression, assembly, association, and movement, and to suppress dissent and to control Palestinians. However, the deployment of Israel’s repressive machinery in the OPT is quite unfamiliar to South Africans. We never experienced, even in the worst days of apartheid, helicopter gunships and fighter jets flying over, or tanks patrolling, Black residential areas, bombing our homes and firing shells and missiles into our schools.

Hmm…

[shiva1906]

Steps to British Citizenship: A Guide to British Naturalisation

Discover the essentials of the British naturalisation process with our step-by-step guide. From understanding eligibility requirements to preparing your British naturalisation application, we cover each detail to make the journey toward UK citizenship easier. Learn about the residency criteria, language requirements, Life in the UK test, and important documents you'll need. Take the first steps toward British citizenship confidently and understand the privileges and responsibilities it brings.

[intimeimmigration]

Feeling overwhelmed by the intricate process of obtaining British citizenship? 

Let Intime Immigration Solicitors guide you every step of the way!

With our wealth of knowledge and experience, we specialise in assisting immigrants through the entire application process for British citizenship. From navigating visa requirements to settling in the UK, we ensure a smooth and successful journey for all applicants. Our expertise lies in helping you understand the requirements, overcoming challenges and securing a positive outcome.

We understand that the costs of naturalisation can be daunting. Rest assured, we'll ensure your application is error-free from the start, saving you from unnecessary expenses.

For more details, visit us at https://intimeimmigration.co.uk/british-nationality/

[lexlawuk]

Unlocking the Path to British Citizenship: A Comprehensive Guide to Naturalisation

Becoming a British citizen is a significant milestone that opens doors to various privileges, including the ability to vote, work, and live in the UK without immigration controls. This article aims to provide a detailed overview of the naturalisation process, requirements, and key considerations for individuals seeking British citizenship. Understanding the Naturalisation Process Eligibility…

[bearballing]

we were talking about voting and immigration and citizenship and such at work and apparently i qualify for the lower naturalisation application fee because our income is below 400% of the federal poverty threshold (the fee would be $380 instead of $760)

🤔

[eucitizen]

How to Become an Eu Citizen-European Citizenship

There are millions of non-EU citizens who would like to apply and become EU citizens, but how do they get it? The rules are strict and the application itself must be accurate with all the correct documentation. If you are in search of EU citizenship info, this guide will help you know more about how to become an EU citizen.

Eu Citizen

A European citizen is a person who enjoys all the rights to reside in the country. They have the complete right to move freely, fetch employment opportunities, and settle there. To acquire citizenship, you should apply for EU citizenship in your first phase. The procedures vary from state to state as per their country’s rules and regulations. EU citizenship grants permission to the residents of EU member states to become EU citizens. This legal bond between an individual and the state can be approved by marriage, birth, naturalisation, etc. A person who was born in the EU is considered to be an EU citizen and through naturalisation, the state grants their citizenship application.

[competitionpedia]

CAA: Issues in the legal challenge to the law

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, passed by the Parliament of India, seeks to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955, which provides for the acquisition and determination of Indian citizenship.

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Citizenship Amendment Rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019

The CAA amends the Citizenship Act of 1955 to incorporate these provisions, marking a significant change in India's citizenship policy.

Aim: 

To give citizenship to the target group of migrants even if they do not have valid travel documents as mandated in The Citizenship Act, 1955.

To address the issue of persecution faced by religious minorities in neighbouring countries and provide them with refuge and citizenship in India.

The act provides a fast-track path to Indian citizenship for religious minorities – Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian – from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

The act has also cut the period of citizenship by naturalisation from 11 years to 5 i.e. eligible immigrants from these countries who entered India before December 31, 2014, can apply for citizenship under the CAA.

Thus, the amendment relaxed the requirements for certain categories of migrants, specifically based on religious lines, originating from three neighbouring countries with Muslim-majority populations.

It is noteworthy that the act does not include Muslims among the eligible religious groups for expedited citizenship.

Criticism: The act violates the secular principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution by discriminating against Muslims and undermining the idea of equal treatment under the law.

Exempted Areas: Certain categories of areas, such as tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, as well as areas safeguarded by the 'Inner Line' system, were excluded from the scope of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Eligibility

Under the CAA Rules, migrants from these nations are required to demonstrate their country of origin, their religion, the date of their entry into India, and proficiency in an Indian language as prerequisites for applying for Indian citizenship.

Additionally, any document indicating that "either of the parents or grandparents or great-grandparents of the applicant is or had been a citizen of one of the three countries" is also acceptable.

The Rules specify 20 documents that can establish the date of entry into India for admissible proof.

Challenges in the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)

Legal Challenges:

Constitutional Validity: The CAA has faced legal challenges regarding its constitutionality, particularly with respect to Articles 14 (equality before law) and 15 (prohibition of discrimination) of the Indian Constitution. By providing preferential treatment to certain religious groups while excluding others, the CAA contravenes these fundamental rights and is seen as discriminatory and contrary to the principle of equality.

Against Secularism: The CAA's focus on granting citizenship based on religious lines, specifically excluding Muslims, is seen as contrary to the secular ethos of the Indian Constitution.

State Opposition: Several states have opposed the implementation of the CAA, leading to potential legal conflicts between the central government and state governments.

Administrative Challenges:

Documentation Verification: Verifying the authenticity of documents proving the eligibility criteria specified in the CAA can pose a significant administrative burden.

Infrastructure: Lack of adequate infrastructure and resources in government departments responsible for processing citizenship applications may hinder the smooth implementation of the CAA.

Social and Political Challenges:

Communal Tensions: The exclusion of Muslims from the purview of the CAA has led to communal tensions and polarization, affecting social harmony in various parts of the country.

Citizenship Criteria: The religious-based criteria for citizenship under the CAA have sparked debates about the secular nature of the Indian state and have been criticized for undermining the principles of equality and inclusivity.

Protest and Opposition: Widespread protests against the CAA have created political challenges for the government, leading to public unrest and opposition from various civil society groups and political parties.

International Relations:

Diplomatic Fallout: The CAA has strained relations with neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, which have expressed concerns about its impact on bilateral relations and regional stability.

Refugee Crisis: The CAA's focus on granting citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries could exacerbate refugee crises and strain India's relations with international bodies and humanitarian organizations.

Economic Challenges:

Resource Allocation: Implementing the CAA may require significant financial resources for processing citizenship applications, accommodating new citizens, and addressing potential socio-economic challenges arising from demographic changes.

Section 6A of The Citizenship Act, 1955 and Assam: 

Section 6A was incorporated into the Citizenship Act subsequent to the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. The Accord outlines the criteria for identifying foreigners in the state of Assam, establishing March 24, 1971, as the cutoff date, which contradicts the cutoff date specified in the CAA 2019.