The real “Life in the UK”

Immigration tests are fashion these days. In the past almost no nation had a test for immigrants, just the paperwork and a few taxes and you were a citizen. UK was one of the first to add a citizenship test to the mixture. The main idea was to create a integration tool that ensured new citizens to acquire the minimum knowledge required to be a citizens. In other words the immigrants needed to know how and who to vote and pay taxes. Do not misunderstand behind this there is always the money factor and the political interest. The “Life in the UK” test began to be paid not that long age. Many are puzzled by this fact. To apply for a visa or to marry a Briton the test is necessary and paid, that we can understand but the fact that after paying a small fortune to become a citizen you need to pay for the test separately, before even sending the lodge? What is the point?

Let’s compare the Canadian and Australian citizenship process.

In Canada you need to be resident for 3 years, pennies less, to start the citizenship application. You gather all the paperwork and send the application to the CIC. After about 5 months you get called to a NON CHARGE test in one of the CIC offices. Almost the same display 25 questions with a 70% passing score. A week later or so you receive a letter telling you if you pass or not. The trick in Canada is the fact that you can sit for the test only once. If you fail you need to have the test reviewed with a citizenship judge on an interview. Again free of charge test.

Australia is close to the Canadian process. After about 6 months you get called to sit for a test FREE OF CHARGE. The Australian citizenship test can be taken as many times needed. Some times you can even retake it the same day or on the spot of the failing. So you have more chances. The only downside of this is that until you pass the test the application won’t be finally approved and you can keep in the loop for eternity. Well not really, the application has 18 months period after which it gets abandoned, you need to start all over again. Another example of a free citizenship test.

Canada and Australia don’t have a big difference in application fees and forms either, so why aren’t they charging for the test? Australia is even testing mid-school students to level up the test with their own citizens.

This would be one of those questions we will not have an answer for. Food for thought: UK is approving a law to start charging the applicant when a citizenship application is reviewed by the immigration services. Meaning if they bounced you off due to an error you will be the one paying the revision and the final approval. This would be one of the strongest lessons to have in mind, nothing in the UK is for free. This is the real Life in the UK that tests your patience.