The Church of England has condemned the “prohibitive” costs of applying for British citizenship.
During the General Synod that was held this week in York, the delegates present at the meeting unanimously chose to investigate the current citizenship application process.
After taking a vote, in which all of the 310 present voted in favour of the motion, the C of E’s governing body has described the current norms as “unfair” and the cost “too high.”
At present, foreign residents in the UK are required to pay around £1,300 in order to receive citizenship. The fee was also criticised as potentially hampering integration.
Ben Franks, a lay member of the C of E’s governing body who initiated the debate, said that many of those who are eligible are “working in low-pay sectors” and, due to the “uncertain status” of their residency, “well paid employment [is] more difficult.”
People with indefinite leave to remain, but no citizenship, are still required to pay taxes, despite not being able to vote in elections or travel freely, the Synod heard.
Some of those who find themselves in this situation are asylum seekers.
Franks then went on to say how, due to the low pay of many potential citizenship applicants, many people have to "save over years to pay for their applications” and some are even forced to “go into long-term, high-interest debt from unscrupulous lenders.”
The Archbishops' Council of the C of E will make recommendations to the government and has encouraged its bishops to raise the issue in the House of Lords. The Synod also encouraged parishioners to raise the subject with their MPs.
PICTURE: Applicants are required to take a Life in the UK test as part of their application for British citizenship or settlement in the UK. The test costs £50.
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