International immigration group, 1st Contact has its international offices ready for the large number of enquiries set to come through from eligible individuals in an attempt to obtain British Citizenship. Previously a wide range of foreign nationals who would not have qualified for such rights, now no longer need to go via the standard ancestral visa categories to earn British citizenship. After 13 January 2010 a person who has a British born mother will have the right to register as a British citizen under section 4C of the British Nationality Act of 198, an opportunity which previously only applied to paternal descent.

According to 1st Contact’s Visas manager Robyn Cory “The opportunities for working, living and travelling in the UK and throughout the world on a UK passport are immense, making this an exciting opportunity.”

Cory adds that 1st Contact tracks all the developments and changes in the UK immigration landscape  to ensure one of the fastest and smoothest acquisitions of British Citizenship for thousands of newly qualified individuals.

The reasoning behind this new development in UK immigration legislation is based on the logic that individuals with British born mothers would theoretically have become British citizens at the time of birth, had women been given equal opportunities to pass on citizenship rights through decent, in the same way as men.

Following this new development, an additional change includes the right of a child, born outside the United Kingdom after 13 January  2010 being able to register as a British citizen if he or she was born to a foreign and Commonwealth member of the United Kingdom Armed forces. It will be required that the parent be serving outside the United Kingdom at the time of birth, with both parents consent to the registration. 
Another dose of good news for current and prospective parents includes an opportunity for children born outside the United Kingdom to British citizens by descent after 13 January 2010 can be registered under section 3(2) of the British Nationality Act of 1981 if an application is made at any time before the child's 18th birthday.

For individuals who feel that they meet the criteria to pursue this opportunity, access to 1st Contact’s online web services can be initiated at any time for further information on procedure, precise details on who qualifies and a full range of services related to living, working and travelling in the UK and beyond visit  www.1stcontactvisas.com.

Two conmen, Rong Yang and Steven Lee were found sitting in their vehicle outside a test centre in Wimbledon, have been heavily fined after being convicted of using high-tech spy equipment to transmit answers to applicants writing the Life in the UK Test in 2008.

The Kingston Crown Court found Rong Yang and Steven Lee guilty, advising that fines of up £100,000 may be payable, with an alternative of up to 18 months in jail. Those who pass the ‘Life in the UK Test’ can apply for a UK passport. As a result desperate applicants had been willing to shell out thousands of pounds to increase their chances of success.

However, those keen to do well don’t need to resort to illegal means according to experts. International immigration group, 1st Contact has created a simulated ‘Life in the UK’ test, comprising a computer based exam for those wishing to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or for naturalisation (British Citizenship).

As a free simulated program, applicants can undertake it as many times as they see fit in order to obtain a "real life" feel for what to expect in the official test.

“We have presented the test in a similar format to the official test you will take,” says 1st Contact’s Visas manager Robyn Cory. “Whilst the questions you'll answer are not the actual questions in the test they will give you a feel for whether or not you are ready to take the test.”