UK immigration bill changes announced

July 15 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Houses of Parliament uk immigration bill

Parliament debates UK immigration bill

In the UK, the Border, Citizenship and Immigration Bill is being considered by parliament at the moment and several changes to the British Nationality Act 1981 are being proposed.

One of the changes to the UK immigration bill will officially rule that children born in the UK to parents in the Armed Force will automatically be UK citizens, which is already the case but will be made official law 'to put the matter beyond doubt,' according to the UK Border Agency statement.

A new addition to the UK immigration bill will allow children born abroad to foreign parents serving as Foreign and Commonwealth members of the UK Armed Forces to become UK citizens if both parents consent. The serving parent(s) must also have been serving in the Armed Forces outside of the UK at the time of the birth.

Section 3(2) of the British Nationality Act will also be changed to allow children of British citizens by decent to register as UK citizens any time before their 18th birthday. Currently, this registration can only be made in the first year after the birth or up to 6 years of age at the Home Secretary’s discretion.

If the proposed changes go through parliament, they will also enable people born to a British mother before 1961 to register as a British national under section 4C the British Nationality Act.

British nationals living overseas will be able to register under section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981 providing they do not hold another nationality or citizenship. They will not qualify for registration under 4B if they have done something after 19 March 2009 that has caused them to lose their other nationality.

The government is planning to introduce 'earned citizenship' for people who who live and work in the UK for some years and want to apply for citizenship.

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