British Naturalisation – the Procedure.

 Since, in a recent post, our focus was on becoming a Greek citizen, I thought it might be of interest to have a look at how to go about the equivalent procedure to acquire British citizenship.

Given our history there are different types of British nationality, just as there are different types of residency:  Indefinite Leave to Remain Family, Indefinite Leave to Remain Employment, UK Settlement – which is Citizenship. This is our focus: the process of naturalization or becoming a British Citizen.

 The Standard Eligibility Requirements are:

• Be over 18 years of age
• Be of sound mind
• Intend to continue living in the UK
• Have sufficient proficiency in the English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic language
• Have sufficient knowledge of  life in the UK
• Be of good character
• Meet the residential requirements

 The Residency Requirements are:

• 3 continuous years before the date of applying
• Not spent more than 270 days outside of the UK during these 3 years
• Not spent more than 90 days outside of the UK in the year before applying
• Have been living within the laws of the UK Immigration Rules during the entirety of this 3-year period.

All applicants have to pass the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK Test. (KOLL)

All citizenship applicants are required to be able to speak, understand and read (Scottish Gaelic or Welsh if applying there) English, to be demonstrated in one of 4 ways:

•  Be  national of a Majority English-speaking country
• Have obtained a degree taught in English
• Prove a knowledge of English equivalent to  the Common European Framework of Reference  for languages  of B1 ( Intermediate)
• Obtain an ESOL speaking and listening qualification in English at Entry level 1,2 or 3 from an accredited institution using citizenship-based teaching materials. 

Life in the UK Test

This tests your knowledge of UK customs, government, law and values.

 The following topics are covered:

• The values and principles of the UK
• Traditions and cultures from around the UK
• Events and people that have shaped the UK’s history
• UK government and law
• How to get involved in the UK community.

The test, which must be booked 3 days beforehand and costs 50 pounds, is taken online in one of over 60 designated testing facilities in the UK. It lasts 45 minutes in which 24 questions must be answered. The pass mark is 75%.

 

 Below are 10 sample questions:

Top of Form

Which British novelist created the fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes?

 Evelyn Waugh

 Graham Greene

 Robert Louis Stevenson

 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Which of the following countries did not help to set up the EEC?

 Ireland

 Germany

 Luxembourg

 Belgium

How many people emigrated from the UK during Victoria’s reign between 1853-1913?

 500 million

 2 million

 100,000

 13 million

What event in 1851 took place at the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park and showed goods and exhibits from Britain and across the world?

 The Great Show

 The Great Event

 The Great Exhibition

 The Great Occasion

Which Anglo-Saxon poem tells of its hero’s battles against monsters?

 The Fight at Finnsburh

 Deor

 Beowulf

 Waldere

Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel and Julian Barnes have all won which literary prize?

 The Mercury Prize

 The Turner Prize

 The Man Booker Prize

 The Nobel Prize in Literature

What do you accept and agree to when you become a permanent resident of the UK?

 Traditions of the UK

 Protestant beliefs and values

 Catholic beliefs and values

 The right to be tried for crimes in your country of origin

How are the local authorities funded?

 By funding from central government only

 By taxation only

 Local authorities are unfunded

 By central government funding and by taxation

In a Crown Court, who decides what the penalty will be, in the case of a guilty verdict?

 A police officer

 The jury

 The judge

 A solicitor

The Battle of Boyne is celebrated with a bank holiday in which country?

 Scotland

 Wales

 England

 Northern IrelandBottom of Form

 

 

 

 

Greek Coronovirus Stats and Summer Living

 Just when things were going well and new cases and deaths recorded were low,- we opened up the country to tourism from selected countries and eased up on some of the restrictions. Then – wham! – the stuff hits the fan! Since the end of July the number of new cases has continued to soar. And we must be clear on this: it’s no good laying the blame on tourists. Certainly, particularly on the islands, we see night clubs and beach bar clientele ignoring the safety measures imposed. But it’s mainly Greek citizens who can be seen to play a major part in this deteriorating state. At local levels we have seen parties, concerts, weddings, etc. where large crowds of young people prioritised their enjoyment  and blatantly flouted what common sense demands: social-distancing and mask-wearing.

                      

Statistics released on Wednesday 5^th August suggest that tourists comprise only 10% of the Covid-19 cases announced. We’ve gone from recording the daily number of new cases on one hand, to recording figures of over 200!  The average patient age has dropped from 72 to 52, and efforts to reduce both the increasing number of new cases and soaring contagion pace have caused new stricter measures to be imposed.  Tourists from certain countries will be allowed entry only on production of recent negative test results, inside  in all public places masks must be worn, a cap has been placed on the number of people allowed to attend social gatherings, a curfew of 11pm has been imposed on bars, restaurants and cafeterias where clients must all be seated, so that the number at  such venues at one time is reduced.

 As the major holiday of the Virgin Mary on August 15^th fast approaches, we are in the middle of the main summer leave period. The statistics over the next few days will be monitored carefully as indicators of how we should progress. Currently it looks like lockdown may have to be imposed at local levels where incidence is high.

 The situation is perilously approaching the point where it may get out of control. It is so frustrating to see the sterling work done being ruined by reckless, selfish irresponsible behaviour. Sadly, there is no therapy for stoopid!

                           

            

 Our response is mainly to stay at home, fully occupied with the demands of home and garden. Our pear trees have gone into super-production. I love this shot of ripening pears covered in drops of fresh-fallen rain, their blush amber contrasts with the lush green leaf.  Only Mother Nature can get away with such colour combos – the red of the fragrant night flower and the regal purple of the morning glory are reminiscent of the fuchsia or ‘skoulariki’ – earring – as it is known here.

            

                  

 

 

 

 Even our modest cactus had produced delightful, delicate pink blooms, glowing in the morning sunshine. At this time of year the weather can be changeable and sudden wind gusts can send leaves cascading into the pool. Here Z fishes some out while Leondaris looks on with great interest!  He sees the pool as his very own drinking vessel, though it is shared by swallows by day and bats by night.  

                      

 

 

 

 And we greatly enjoy our produce. Here is a lunch time ouzo meze:  cherry tomatoes with a zing of flavour, a salad of prosciutto (bought!) , pear and cucumber and our own version of an  egg-roll filled with cream cheese and red pepper. Onion rings were caramelized first as a base for our omelette and they produced a lovely design once it was rolled up! Along with moussakas, my joint-summer favourite dish is that of stuffed tomatoes and peppers; potato wedges help keep everything upright in the baking tray and absorb flavour from the other vegetables.  With a glass of chilled white wine – and Z has so far accumulated 13 boxes of the stuff in the basement to ensure a steady lockdown supply! - we enjoy our meals and put the pandemic on hold for the time being.  

      

 

 Kali orexi – bon appétit!