Canadian advantage of obtaining British nationality

[MikawaObasan]

Hello, I am a Canadian citizen with no British ancestry. However, I am seeking to become British. I was made in England but not born there. I wish to be recognized as a British national, and wish to naturalize. How tough is it compared to an American or a Japanese? How much advantage do we have over others? Are we classifed as foreigners or aliens when we go through immigration or do we line up with the British nationals when arriving at Hethrow airport. I plan to find a nice English lady when I go there, and hope to marry and raise a family. I am a full blooded Caucasian, but I have a B.A. in Japanese, and wish to become a Japanese teacher in England. Is it possible?

[Maciamo]

I don't think you have any advantage over anybody else. You certainly have a disadvantage compared to EU citizens, as you do not have automatic permanent residency in the UK. To become a British citizen you must first be living in the UK for 5 years, then apply for naturalisation. I am not sure whether they have already implemented the "Britishness test", but if they haven't they probably will until you've done your 5 years, so you should learn in detail about British legislation, institutions, culture, history, etc. (the proposed test is difficult even for British people).

More info on British nationality law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nationality_law).

[Mycernius]

While, as Maciamo says, you are not an EU member, you do have a slight advantage of being Canadian because it is a commonwealth country and it works in favour over someone who is not of a commonwealth country.

[MikawaObasan]

While, as Maciamo says, you are not an EU member, you do have a slight advantage of being Canadian because it is a commonwealth country and it works in favour over someone who is not of a commonwealth country.

How? UK seems to be kissing feet on the Yankee more, being the most powerful country in the world, even though they have betrayed England. With Canada being good loyal subjects always faithful until the very end, we got nothing for it. Canada too got screwed by the USA by kissing its feet. The only advantage is, if a WWIII does happen, Canada will be one country that will not get bombed and Canadians will not be drafted no matter what. Even in the event of a Nuclear War, Canada will be one place as safe as Switzerland.

If they want to give Canada something like what the Japanese give Japanese descendents who are not Japanese nationals like the Nikkeijin Visa, that would be more like respect. Like a Commonwealth Realm Visa for Australians, New Zeland, and Canadians, with the similar advantages as the Nikkeijin Visa.

[Maciamo]

With Canada being good loyal subjects always faithful until the very end, we got nothing for it.

Why should a Canadian be able to become more easily British than a Brit could become Canadian ?

I don't think that Europeans from any country have more advantage in obtaining the Canadian or US citizenship than the reverse, eventhough the US and Canada were colonised by Europeans and are people majoritarily by people of European descent, who migrated with their part of European culture, language, traditions and sciences.

After all the countries built on European immigration were Canada and the USA, so why suddenly change policy ?

Nowadays, when Europeans (and maybe Canadians too) travel to the USA they are treated like terrorist suspects.

[MikawaObasan]

Why should a Canadian be able to become more easily British than a Brit could become Canadian ?

I don't think that Europeans from any country have more advantage in obtaining the Canadian or US citizenship than the reverse, eventhough the US and Canada were colonised by Europeans and are people majoritarily by people of European descent, who migrated with their part of European culture, language, traditions and sciences.

After all the countries built on European immigration were Canada and the USA, so why suddenly change policy ?

Nowadays, when Europeans (and maybe Canadians too) travel to the USA they are treated like terrorist suspects.

Because we have eurpean blood in us. And now that EU joined up, the should be giving us the same as what Japan gives their Nikkeijin a special visa.

If Canadians had a law that if the second country of citizenship went to war with Canada, or the US, they should be made to declare a single nationality, then, we wouldn't have this problem. The Japanese who were interned here have even mentioned that they would have perferred if they simply made them declare a single nationality and those who would choose to be only Canadian should have been left alone. Only those who chose to keep their Japanese nationality under such circumstances due to patriotism or whatever should have been deported, according to one Japanese American.

[MikawaObasan]

Why should a Canadian be able to become more easily British than a Brit could become Canadian ?

I don't think that Europeans from any country have more advantage in obtaining the Canadian or US citizenship than the reverse, eventhough the US and Canada were colonised by Europeans and are people majoritarily by people of European descent, who migrated with their part of European culture, language, traditions and sciences.

After all the countries built on European immigration were Canada and the USA, so why suddenly change policy ?

Nowadays, when Europeans (and maybe Canadians too) travel to the USA they are treated like terrorist suspects.

Canada does roll the red carpet for England. As a British, it is your right to come to Canada. It just doesn't work in the reverse.

[MikawaObasan]

Immigration is one of the greatest cause of concern for a lot of Europeans nowadays. Extreme-right parties are becoming increasingly popular as governments seem unable to control the influx of third world immigrants. The EU, and more specifically the Schengen zone, has also greatly facilitated cross-border movements, but also illegal immigration. EU leaders are already discussing the urgency of having a single Schengen-visa with the same acceptance criteria for all member states, so as to prevent "visa shopping" around EU embassies around the world. But what direc should Europe take more generally for its immigration policy ?

Personally, I am extremely pro-European, and so I am naturally in favour of intra-European migration. Regarding extra-European immigration, I would like to see a policy closer to that of Japan, i.e. allowing people only if a company sponsor them for their working visa, and set a minimum level of education (in Japan it is a 4-year university diploma) for prospective foreign workers. I would freeze completely immigration from third world countries (e.g. all Africa) as well as from the Islamic world.

A lot of the legal immigrants from the third world to Europe nowadays come through the principle of "family reunification". I want to see much stricter rules in this regard. It is alright to come with your spouse and children, but not with your siblings, cousins, parents, grand-parents, uncles, aunts, second-cousins, etc. Only people who are have a job that permit them to support their family (spouse and children) decently would be granted a visa for them. Each family member would have to take the oath to follow the integration course as long as it takes to become fluent in the local language and aware of legal and cultural matters of the host country. If the sponsor of the family (e.g. the father) loses his job, (s)he and his/her family would have to return to their home country if they haven't found a new job with a sufficient income (proved by taxes) within 6 months or 1 year. This is also similar to the way things work in Japan.

As for political refugees and asylum seekers, I would only accept those that take the oath to learn the language and culture of the European region that is welcoming them by following (free) compulsory integration courses. There should be annual checks, and anybody that would not respect this oath would be liable to be send back to their home country, even if it is at war. After all, accepting people as refugees is doing them a favour, it is not a right, and even less an obligation. The least refugees could do to thank their host country is to adapt to their new home.

Permanent residency should only been granted to people with a stable job and sufficient income over the last 5 years, who has in addition proven their language and integrational abilities (with official test results as a proof).

One more important thing, no amnesty for failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants. This only encourages some unscrupulous mafia to continue their human trafficking between Africa and Europe. It has happened frequently (every 5 or 10 years) in countries like Italy, Spain, France or the Benelux, and this has probably been one of the worst error in immigration policies after WWII.

Maciamo, Canadians and Americans should be excepted in the rule for Extra European rule of yours. We are honorary Europeans. We should be seen in equal stature to that of the UK even. Wanna put that imposition on the Japanese, okay. That is one G-8 country that deserves no special priviledges after denying any foreigners who lack Japanese blood citizenship. At least it is still easier for a third world citizen to become a full British citizen than it is for even an Englishmen to become Japanese nationality. They do it to us, so we can do it to them. And they are Asians, and not Europeans so you owe them nothing. After all, they wouldn't let us become citizens of their country all that easily, so to treat them likewise as they treat us is fair game, and they can stay on their tiny island of theirs and stay put. But Canadians and Americans, we are G-8 Brothers of Europe. You gotta help out the Aussies and the Kiwis too.

I wish that the EU offer is extended to these G8 European Brothers in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Many Canadians would be happy to join.

[Brett142]

Canadians do actually get priority over other immigrants if they can prove British ancestry. I met 2 Canadians once who automatically got a visa in the UK because of this. They proved their ancestry back to an expelled Scottish clan.