"Professonal People"

h4rm0ny

h4rm0ny

h4rm0ny

Soldato
Joined
25 Jun 2011
Posts
5,526
Location
Yorkshire and proud of it!
A close friend of mine is applying for British citizenship. They've passed the (surprisingly difficult, I found) citizenship test and stumped up the £1,300 required. They now need two referees. The problem is it specifies 'people of professional standing'. Giving examples of being a magistrate, doctor, solicitor (not your own) or accountant.

I was going to be one of her referees but now we're worried that me - a humble "Senior Programmer" - would be rejected. It's the same sort of mumbo-jumbo I recall from my first passport application long, long ago. Basically, someone with a "professional" reputation who would vouch for you. Trouble is, we no longer all live in little villages with a family doctor we've known for years, we never meet our bank manager, and short of heaving a brick with our names on it through the nearest window, we're unlikely to meet a magistrate.

So my question is how strict do you think they'll be on this? She's worried if we try and it falls through, they might reject the application and she'll lose the money having to try again. I suspect they'd simply ask for a different referee but do you think they'd actually reject someone who wasn't a doctor or similar? I'm self-employed, pay a tonne of tax and think I'm pretty upstanding personally. But now she's got me worried about it also.
 
Rilot said:
If you're self employed than you're surely a company director? That's good enough.
Click to expand...

Well, a company of one. Which is probably for the best, I would be the worst boss ever. You're probably joking but settling on an actual job title is something I find quite difficult. I do so many different things, including project management. Collapsing everything down to a clearly defined role just doesn't happen.

jsmoke said:
Look likes it's a bit more strict than your thinking according to this, you need to know them personally for 3 years and be a respected member of a community.

https://www.liuk.co.uk/uk-naturalisation/

List

https://www.gov.im/media/624353/listofreferees.pdf

I'd just phone them up ask if you would qualify.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I've known my friend for nearly a decade and I have no problem vouching for them. They're at "running through a field of wheat" levels of misbehaviour and they're a close friend. Yes - that list is the same as is on the form she has to fill out. The comments on the page show a lot of people in a similar position which is interesting. Thanks a lot.
 
Tough one, good chance she won't get in really, you can see why people get annoyed when immigrants get in and also get all the benefits.
 
A doctor is one. If she has a GP and as been seeing them for the required time then ask them to vouch for her. If shes seen multiple doctors then ask the others. Some might charge a fee.

The list @jsmoke posted seems to be the official list.
 
I've done this before for a friend in a similar situation - however I was a member of the BCS.
You could probably join as a Professional member if you've been working in IT for a while - automatic elevation to respected member of the community ;)
 
Says director of a limited company as an option so you could change from sole trader to limited company, better double check on fraud status etc.
 
Only one of the referees has to be a professional person. The other just has to be over 25.

https://assets.publishing.service.g...ata/file/766538/AN_Guide_-_December_2018_.pdf

One referee must be a person of any nationality who has professional standing, such as a minister of religion, civil servant or a member of a professional body, for example, accountant or solicitor (but not representing you with this application). A list of acceptable professional persons can be found on our website. The other referee must be the holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or over the age of 25.
Click to expand...

The list of approved professions further up is actually from the Manx government website so may not necessarily be correct.

Another edit, list from above link of acceptable professions:

Code: 
• accountant
• airline pilot
• articled clerk of a limited company
• assurance agent of recognised company
• bank or building society official
• barrister
• British Computer Society (BCS) - professional grades which are Associate
(AMBCS), Member (MBCS), Fellow (FBCS) (PN 25/2003)
• broker
• chairman or director of limited company
• chemist
• chiropodist
• christian science practitioner
• commissioner for oaths
• councillor: local or county
• civil servant (permanent)
• dentist
• designated premises supervisors
• director or Manager of a VAT registered charity
• director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT registered company
• driving instructor (approved)
• engineer (with professional qualifications)
• fire service official
• funeral director
• insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
• journalist
• justice of the Peace
• legal secretary (members and fellows of the Institute of legal secretaries)
• local government officer
• manager or Personnel officer (of limited company)
• member of Parliament
• member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces
• Merchant Navy officer
• minister of a recognised religion
• nurse (RN, SEN or holder of a BA in nursing)
• officer of the armed services (active or retired)
• optician
Page 25 of 34 Published for Home Office staff on 14 July 2017
• paralegal (certified or qualified paralegals, and associate members of the
Institute of Paralegals)
• person with honours (such as OBE, MBE and so on)
• personal licensee holders
• photographer (professional)
• police officer
• Post Office official
• president or secretary of a recognised organisation
• Salvation Army officer
• social worker
• solicitor
• surveyor
• teacher, lecturer
• trade union officer
• travel agency (qualified)
• valuers and auctioneers (fellow and associate members of the incorporated
society)
• warrant officers and chief petty officers
 
Last edited:
I often get asked to sign passport requests because a similar requirement exists. Chartered professions almost always covers it. Is the person an member of any clubs (Rugby, Squash, Bridge, Scouts, etc.)? Because if they are someone on the committee will almost certainly be a professional in my experience.
 
Pudney said:
Only one of the referees has to be a professional person. The other just has to be over 25.

https://assets.publishing.service.g...ata/file/766538/AN_Guide_-_December_2018_.pdf



The list of approved professions further up is actually from the Manx government website so may not necessarily be correct.

Another edit, list from above link of acceptable professions:

Code: 
• accountant
• airline pilot
• articled clerk of a limited company
• assurance agent of recognised company
• bank or building society official
• barrister
• British Computer Society (BCS) - professional grades which are Associate
(AMBCS), Member (MBCS), Fellow (FBCS) (PN 25/2003)
• broker
• chairman or director of limited company
• chemist
• chiropodist
• christian science practitioner
• commissioner for oaths
• councillor: local or county
• civil servant (permanent)
• dentist
• designated premises supervisors
• director or Manager of a VAT registered charity
• director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT registered company
• driving instructor (approved)
• engineer (with professional qualifications)
• fire service official
• funeral director
• insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
• journalist
• justice of the Peace
• legal secretary (members and fellows of the Institute of legal secretaries)
• local government officer
• manager or Personnel officer (of limited company)
• member of Parliament
• member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces
• Merchant Navy officer
• minister of a recognised religion
• nurse (RN, SEN or holder of a BA in nursing)
• officer of the armed services (active or retired)
• optician
Page 25 of 34 Published for Home Office staff on 14 July 2017
• paralegal (certified or qualified paralegals, and associate members of the
Institute of Paralegals)
• person with honours (such as OBE, MBE and so on)
• personal licensee holders
• photographer (professional)
• police officer
• Post Office official
• president or secretary of a recognised organisation
• Salvation Army officer
• social worker
• solicitor
• surveyor
• teacher, lecturer
• trade union officer
• travel agency (qualified)
• valuers and auctioneers (fellow and associate members of the incorporated
society)
• warrant officers and chief petty officers
Click to expand...


My word there are some scalley wags on that list - I wouldn't trust them to sign a bus ticket. :D:D

Why no plumbers- electricians- butchers - car dealers - grocers or candle stick makers :rolleyes:
 
Don't worry, he's not a dodgy guy, Debbie vouched for him and she's a travel agent, booked me a nice deal to Marbella. Granted the hotel was undergoing extensive building works but she swears blind she didn't know about that before hand. Not good enough? Well Debbie's husband Chad likes the guy too and he's a wedding photographer! I mean, hes not a good one, he's got pretty shaky hands and about half the time he doesn't show up at all because he's sleeping off a bender, but that's the brides fault for having a weekend wedding, nobody wants to work at the weekend!

Still not sure, well you could be right, his local MP absolutely hates him.....what.....that's all the evidence of good character you need? Excellent.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom