Immigration

[flanker]

Moving on from the Q earlier in this section, a friend of mine has just taken the US citizen test (she's an academic and she stands a much better chance of keeping her research job at Berkeley if she's a US citizen), and apparently it is really hard - you have to really want it and be prepared to put in the work: so, my Q is, why the hell don't we do that here?

[morg_monster]

There are similar tests to become a UK citizen, or indeed a citizen of any country in the world. Though I know the US tests are supposed to be one of the hardest to get through.  It isn't just like someone decides 'oh i know what I'l do today I'll become a UK citizen'!!  And becoming a citizen isn't the same as being granted residency in the UK, but you probably knew that.

[natalie_I982]

Because Britain is soft and the immigration in this country will eventually become a major problem which needs sorting as soon as possible if it can be sorted!.

[senga-marie]

My sister took this test some 20years ago when she married an American and left the UK. I recall she had to go to citizenship classes of an afternoon, learning about Presidents, wars, constitution etc. There was a heavy emphasis on apreciating what a great privelege it would be to be granted citizenship, and in the end she passed her test but did admit she found it difficult. I agree that some similar obligation be placed on those who seek citizenship in the UK

[Yinzer]

The test in America is not really that difficult. My family is due for theirs in a few months and INS basically gives you the papers with all questions and corresponding answers (both languages), and practically 5 years to study. My gram is a bit of a slacker, only started studying 3 years ago LOL. The only thing that could be considered difficult is that all of the material is stuff that most Americans don't even care to know ie wars and colonies and govt. structure etc. I think the reason we have such a "hard" test is because we have so many people from all over the world, trying to immigrate because of our reputation. Gotta filter them out somehow?