When you are preparing to make an application for British citizenship there are several considerations to focus on, organise and make sure that each part of the application has a good chance of being successful to completion. Part of the process will include the rules around checking for bad credit such as CCJs when making an application for British citizenship to safeguard against the Home Office refusing to grant your application.
Good Character requirement
There are various substantive requirements that must be met if you are going to make a strong application for British citizenship or British naturalisation. There is a requirement called The Good Character guidance If you have good character, you are fine. If you don’t have good character, it is likely that your application will be refused as there are likely to be complex rules around it.
Financial Soundness
The Good Character guidance provides that you need to ensure all your financial affairs are in good order before you start the application process. Having debts is not in itself a ground for a refusal of an application. However, the matter of how those debts were accrued and how the debts are managed may lead to a refusal on Good Character grounds. For example if you have a multiple of bad credit on your record within the last 5 years of making the application and have not paid any off, that could be a serious matter for your British citizen application to be refused
Disclosure of a CCJ to the Home Office
It would therefore follow, that the Good Character guidance provides in principle, having a county court judgement wouldn’t normally result in a refusal of an application to acquiring British naturalisation. However, your application may be refused if you fail to disclose if a CCJ in your name is still on the Register of county court judgements or fail to disclose that you have paid off the debt or currently paying it off.
Deception and dishonesty
Failing to disclose a CCJ judgement may also be considered as a false statement or as a deception and result in the application being refused. So, while submitting your application you should be careful to be truthful with the Home Office. In a letter it should be explained when and why the CCJ was issued and the way it was dealt with.
Communicating with the Home Office
The takeaway lesson to be learnt is that the Home Office can access the Register https://www.trustonline.org.uk/for a small fee. It is important while submitting an application, clearly and truthfully describe your situation and provide supporting evidence. Explain the reasons for the debt and how it has been dealt with. If your current credit file is in bad shape usually because of a county court judgment, and you have not been able to get it removed, then the most positive approach is to do everything possible to start improving your credit score by repaying the debt by contacting the court and request a payment plan. You can also contact the creditor and negotiate how to settle the debt. It will be important to show evidence to the Home Office of how this is being managed. Start as soon as possible as this aspect will be crucial to the success of your British naturalisation application.
We welcome views and opinions about the issues raised in this blog.
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Winnie Onyekwere
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