Last week, I received an email I’ve been waiting for.
My UK citizenship has been approved.
I didn’t open it right away. I just stared at it for a few seconds. After everything that came before this moment, the waiting, the process, the uncertainty, I wanted to take it in.
When I finally opened it and read the confirmation, it didn’t feel loud or dramatic. It was quiet. A deep sense of relief.
After all these years, this part of the journey is finally complete.
It Didn’t Start Here
This journey didn’t begin with the citizenship application.
It started years ago when we first came to the UK on a work visa. At that time, everything felt temporary. One opportunity. One step at a time. No clear picture yet of what the future would look like.
Then life happened.
We adjusted to a new environment. New systems. New ways of doing things. From work, to taxes, to healthcare, everything felt different in the beginning.
But slowly, it became normal.
Then came the next big step. Indefinite Leave to Remain.
That already felt like a milestone. It gave us stability. It gave us the sense that we could stay. But it still felt like we were not fully there yet.
The Citizenship Process
Applying for citizenship was another journey on its own.
Filling out the form was not simple. Every section needed attention. Every answer had to be accurate.
Then came the documents.
Diploma
Transcript
Proof of English
Identity documents
I even had to go through verification for my degree. Even though I had an IELTS result before, I still needed to make sure everything matched what was required.
After that, everything had to be uploaded.
Then the biometrics appointment.
And after that, nothing.
Just waiting.
No updates. No clear timeline. Just hoping everything was correct and complete.
The Wait
I think this was the hardest part.
You check your email. You wait. You think about it at random times during the day.
Did I submit everything correctly?
Will there be any issues?
How long will it take?
Life continues, but the thought is always there in the background.
The Approval
And then last 4th of May after 4 months, the email came.
Approved.
After all the steps, all the waiting, and all the small worries along the way, it finally happened.
The Next Step
I’ve already booked my citizenship ceremony on the 13th of May.
This will be the final step of the process.
The moment I take the oath and officially become a British citizen.
Even just writing that feels different.
DadBuhay Reflection
Looking back, this journey is not only about paperwork or applications.
It’s about time.
Years of working.
Years of adjusting.
Years of building a life far from where you started.
There were moments of doubt. Moments where things felt uncertain. Moments where you questioned if everything would work out.
But you keep going.
Not only for yourself, but for your family.
This approval feels like more than a personal achievement. It feels like something we reached as a family.
From arriving here with one opportunity, to reaching this point today, it makes you realise how far you’ve come.
And on the 13th of May, when I take that oath, it will not only mark the end of a process. But wait I have to apply for a passport. That is another story.
It will mark the beginning of a new chapter.
– Until then, love you bye! And that’s #Dadbuhay.
DadBuhay 
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