Maurene proudly displays her Pass Notification Letter (click on the photo if you want to read the letter)

Naturalisation -Step 4

Today we journeyed to Bristol to take the next step toward becoming British citizens. Actually, this is the final difficult hurdle, the rest is making sure our paperwork is in order and sending the money to the Home Office.

The first step was completed in May of 2000 when we were given an entry visa from the British consulate in Chicago.

Step two required us to travel to Croydon in south London each June for the next 4 years to be interviewed and have our visas updated. They verified that we hadn't committed any criminal acts, that I was still employed, and that we were not making use of the rather generous welfare system. (Part of granting our visas initially was a promise that we would not go on the 'dole').

Step three was taken in June of 2004 when we made our last trip to Croydon. Again, we were interviewed, produced the appropriate letters and were given a Residence Permit. This gave us 'indefinite leave to remain.' Although that step enables us to live in the UK permanently without having to report to Croydon, it does not give us voting rights. But, yes, we could now sponge off the welfare system!

With today's test we took the next significant step. The test covered a bit of British history, demographic profile questions, customs and traditions of the UK, governmental functions, the European Union, the British Commonwealth, and practical matters (i.e. how do you register to vote). You were required to score 75% to pass. Fortunately, we both passed.

Upon our return to Bath in mid-September we will submit our paperwork for naturalisation (all sixteen pages), a tidy sum of money and the names of two referees who have known us for over 3 years. Hopefully, by the time we next travel to the US we will have duel citizenship which makes things move much quicker on both ends as we negotiate airport security. God save the Queen!