{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/775231.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":775231,"attributes":{"action":"Shorter Citizenship Pathway for foreign-born Spouses of British Citizens","background":"Create a new shorter pathway for foreign spouses of British Citizens to apply for citizenship. The current 5 year visa, followed by an application for ILR before being allowed to apply for Citizenship is, we believe, costly and distressing for couples trying to settle in the UK.","additional_details":"Many Commonwealth nations have specific paths for foreign born spouses gaining sponsorship and residency. In Australia, Spouses can apply immediately with a 2 year visa that ends with eligibility to apply for Permanent Residency. The only delay beyond this is processing time. The process is the same in Canada, whereby a Canadian Citizen can sponsor their spouse for 2 years whilst awaiting their PR application to process. We do not understand why the UK insists on a minimum of 5+ years and what we consider to be extortionate fees.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":11,"closing_date":"2027-01-30","created_at":"2026-06-26T18:00:38.103Z","updated_at":"2026-07-30T22:12:30.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-07-30T08:35:56.108Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-07-03T11:10:20.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Jade Winterhoff","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"HO","name":"Home Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":11}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Epsom and Ewell","ons_code":"E14001227","mp":"Helen Maguire MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Mid Sussex","ons_code":"E14001366","mp":"Alison Bennett MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Oxford East","ons_code":"E14001419","mp":"Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"St Albans","ons_code":"E14001507","mp":"Daisy Cooper MP","signature_count":5},{"name":"York Central","ons_code":"E14001604","mp":"Rachael Maskell MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":5},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":4}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}