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Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

Last Updated: Wednesday, 20 February 2008, 16:11 GMT

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British citizenship tests planned

Mr Brown is due to outline the rights and responsibilities of new citizens

Jacqui Smith
Immigrants who want to become British and settle permanently in the UK will need to pass more tests to "prove their worth" to the country under new plans.
Some migrants may also have to pay into a fund towards public services and have a period of "probationary citizenship".

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK should expect a "demonstration of commitment" and the process of becoming a citizen should be "more exacting".

The Tories called the plans, which do not cover EU citizens, a "gimmick".

Unveiling the proposals, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said future migrants would need to "earn" citizenship.

This scraps the current system which allows people to apply for naturalisation on the basis of how long they have lived in the UK.

'Transitional fund'

Ms Smith said migrants from outside the European Economic Area would be encouraged to "move on" through a system that leads to citizenship - or choose ultimately to leave the country.

The package of measures includes:

Raising visa fees for a special "transitional impact" fund

More English language testing ahead of nationality

Requirements to prove integration into communities

Increasing how long it takes to become British

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7253933.stm

Czarjorge · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject:

What's your opinion of this? Has this not been standard in Britain? We do the same in the US. I say the more tests the better.

I would like to see tests for voting rights, or a service requirement of some sort. That's one of the things that the Romans got right, and a number of nations require. The tweak I would like to see is service options. Sure military service is obvious, and a distinct possibility in the US if enrollment numbers stay low, but why not allow people to fulfill that requirement by teaching, doing social work, NGO type work or anything else that provides a service to the country.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

Czarjorge · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:58 am Post subject:

The English learning is done on a community by community basis. In my city/town there is an adult education center that is free and provides everything up to GED level education. Then there is a GED center.

I agree with the voting incentive. I would like to see a 20-50 dollar tax credit for voting and the same amount as penalty for non-voters. That might get some people off the couch.