What should you do after passing life in the UK test?

Permanent citizenship in the United Kingdom is possible if you clear the Life in the UK test. The test is based on British history. And, it is indeed a challenge for the candidate. Register for the test if you wish to settle in the UK permanently. The test is taken on the appointed date. Upon completion of the test, the candidate is issued a letter by the supervisor. It signifies the pass or fail status of the candidate. For passing, it is advised to take the Life in the UK test practice.

If you clear the test, a pass notification will be provided. It will require your signature. This letter is of great significance as it has some vital information. Most importantly, it carries a unique ID. After clearing the test, the candidate is suggested to submit the application for naturalization as a British citizen or permanent residence soon.

Upon completing this application, you are required to attach the pass notification letter to Home Office. Then, you are requested to start the process for indefinite leave to remain (IRL). It is done for settling in the United Kingdom. Even if you have passed your test, further proof of your professional language skills is required.

Cheers, you have successfully passed the Life in The UK test. But, the question is, what should you do now? Honestly speaking, most people are unaware of the further steps. They don't know about the challenges they have to face.

Points To Remember!

You should keep some critical points in mind. These can help you proceed with the application after the clearance of the Life in the UK Test:

- Do not misplace or lose the pass notification letter 

- Home Office will not facilitate the candidate if the letter is lost

The duplicate certificate will not be provided in any case

- The pass certificate is of great importance as it is to be attached with the form for indefinite leave to remain

- Keep a copy of the certificate for your own ease and reference

After the Life in the UK Test:

Life in the UK test is just the beginning stage of your new journey. It is the first step in attaining permanent residence in the United Kingdom. After the clearance of the test, you are asked to get your form for ILR in the UK or for naturalization as a British citizen. Choose the form depending upon your demand. 

The information regarding this domain can be attained from the website of the home office which can be accessed through www.gov.uk.

B1 English Test:

After the passing of the UK life test, now you need to clear the B1 English test. After the clearance of both these exams, you are then eligible to initiate your application for British citizenship. The two certificates for the UK settlement or ILR application are:

- A Life in the UK test certificate

- A B1 English test certificate

- Applying For British Citizenship or Permanent Residency

There are three effortless and efficient ways to apply for British Citizenship after the Life in UK test. One way is to apply through National Checking Service. It is a service that the local authorities provide, e.g., city or county council. People prefer using the NCS as it has excellent service. Besides, it lets your documents be with you, such as your passport. One of the multiple benefits of this fantastic service is that it ensures the accuracy of your form.

The second way is to apply through an agent or representative. And, the third way is to apply through the individual application.

Here is the website that you need to consult for further information.

Fill up the form:

There are forms available on the UKBA website. There are various types of forms depending upon the category. Pick the form that suits your status. You can find the document in PDF format. All you have to do is download it, print it out, and fill it in accordingly. The best part is that the UKBA website offers full-time general guidance links it helps you fill each form.

Do it right:

The Home Office demands that the application must be submitted correctly. Otherwise, they will not refund the application fee. In case of wrong or invalid application submission, the Home Office will not take responsibility. Therefore, it is suggested to read up the guide to get the answers correct. Also, double-check the application to avoid rejection.

It is advised to keep all the significant or mandatory documents ready and at the easy access of the British citizenship test. Moreover, you can get your application form checked by some professionals. It is advised if you are having doubts about the English language.

A good tip: Get yourself a duplicate of the form. Take the copy as a rough draft and practice keenly before filling out the original form.

Send off your application:

After completing your application and double-checking it to avoid mistakes, now is the time to finally submit your application. You can also post it through the post office or use the National Checking Service or Settlement Checking Service to submit the form. The local council will check if the form is filled aptly, and all the documents are attached accordingly. They will responsibly return all the original documents after getting a copy of that document. It is an efficient way to avoid any convenience for the candidate.

This service costs you not more than £40. It is comparatively cheaper than the Life in the UK test exam that costs £50.

Citizenship Ceremony:

After submitting the application, you will receive the invitation to attend the citizenship ceremony. This ceremony is essential as well as compulsory to participate in as it is the last step of the procedure. After this, you’ll officially be a British Citizen. This ceremony is hosted by Superintendent's Registrar, and local dignitaries are also part of it. After receiving the invitation, you need to book yourself a seat in the ceremony with your council. You must see your Citizenship Invitation letter for the necessary information. You can bring two guests along.

The plan of the ceremony typically varies as per the venue. But mainly, the ceremony will start with a welcome speech. After this, the new citizens will be asked to stand and swear the oath of allegiance. You will also be asked to take the Citizenship Pledge. This might be done in a group or individually. Truly speaking, it may be worth your time to read The words of the Oath, Affirmation, and Pledge to ensure that you remember them. Then, the national anthem is played as a closing formality.

Finally, you will get a citizenship certificate along with the further information kit. This is the reward for all the hard work you did to attain the settlement procedure.

British Passport – The Last Step:

After all, the process is completed, and the certificate is handed over, you can officially apply for a British passport. The procedure to apply for a British passport was not a difficult task in the past. But, due to passport frauds and identity thefts acknowledged in recent years, the government has put more checks to evaluate the new applications.

Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has made it a rule to interview all the first-time applicants for a British passport. This is to ensure the identity of the candidate to avoid fraud by confirming the past history details. IPS suggests waiting for six weeks for the passport application to get processed. The candidate should wait for the interview call and receive the passport. Then he is officially a British citizen. Details for an interview are usually sent after the application has reached the HM Passport Office. The interview usually takes about half an hour and is free of cost.

The last but not the least task for the candidate is that their photographs must conform to the biometric regulations. The guidelines for photographs are strict, just like the Life in the UK test. Therefore, it is suggested to get a passport photograph from professionals to avoid the inconvenience.