UK plan to put forward tougher rules for citizenship.

The UK plans to unveil tougher rules for citizenship under which immigrants will have to ‘earn’ their right to stay by integrating themselves completely to the British society, which includes acquiring a sound knowledge of English.

Under the proposed changes to rules, immigrants will have to ‘earn’ the right to a passport instead of achieving it simply thorough five years’ residence. This measure will end up the automatic right to stay and will replace it with a new system of ‘earned citizenship’ and temporary residence in the UK.

The latest measure announced by the Home office proposed that immigrants making little effort to integrate into the British society will have to wait for a longer period in order to acquire citizenship. Immigrants who are convicted of serious criminal offenses could be barred from acquiring citizenship and those found guilty of minor crimes will face delays in processing of the applications.

Also, those seeking citizenship will have to demonstrate a good ability in English and good knowledge of life in Britain. Immigrants who do no charitable work will qualify only after eight years and those immigrants who become unemployed will be asked to leave.

The government proposes to levy a top-up fee on immigrants in order to create a fun, which is expected to run to 200 mn pounds. Cash generated from the fund will be districted to local authorities who are facing short-term pressure due to an influx of migrants.

The proposed Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill will deny full access to social benefits, such as social housing, to those who have not completed a new period of probationary citizenship of between one to five years.

Thus, all applicants will have to pass a tougher set of laws to acquire Canadian citizenship.