[2024] UKUT 00144 (IAC)

The Secretary of State initiated citizenship deprivation proceedings, this dishonesty having come to light. The deprivation decision takes the view that the appellant’s life in the UK was built on deception. It was likely that he would have been refused settlement had the true facts been known, and he had against again been dishonest when applying for citizenship by ticking the box such as to indicate that he had not done anything that might cast doubt on his good character.

The appellant exercised his right of appeal. The First-tier Tribunal allowed his appeal, both in terms of the materiality of his dishonesty to the acquisition of citizenship, and on human rights grounds. As to the former, the Judge concluded that the appellant was granted ILR, and subsequently British citizenship, mainly on the basis of the delays and maladministration in his case, rather than due to the specifics of his nationality. As to the latter, the Judge found that the appellant’s long residence and family life in the UK rendered the decision disproportionate. Permission to appeal was granted to the Upper Tribunal where the matter came before Judge Canavan and myself.