Word: citizenship
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Becoming British just got trickier. Under a new government proposal announced on Aug. 3, would-be Brits may have to work a little bit harder to get their citizenship when a second test is added to the country's points-based immigration system. If the plan goes through, applicants would serve a term as "probationary citizens," winning or losing points on the path to the passport depending on how well they fit into British society...
...Even so, the new test would cover only a fraction of the people who go to work and live in the U.K. Last year about 129,000 immigrants were granted British citizenship. Yet the nation is also home to an estimated 725,000 illegal immigrants and attracts many workers from across the European Economic Area who have less incentive to seek citizenship since they can legally work in the country without visas. (Read "Britain's Clown Shortage: Visa Rules Hit the Circus...
...Currently, barring any criminal record, most who settle in the U.K. can apply for citizenship after about five years. The new probationary-citizen plan would lengthen an immigrant's total wait to an estimated six to 10 years, according to the Home Office. (The wait for those immigrating on the basis of family ties would jump from two years to between three and seven...
GENEVA, Switzerland — I came to Geneva to study international relations and learned a little lesson about citizenship in the process. In addition to studying at a hub of diplomatic activity, I’ve had the privilege to observe how the Swiss envision their obligations to their country and to each other...
...Claims the document Obama has released proving his citizenship - a Hawaiian Certification of Live Birth - is not sufficient evidence and is a forgery, despite independent certification that the document is legitimate...