In April this year, my wife Emily (also known as Fang-yi) took part in a Citizenship Ceremony to become a British Citizen at Surrey City Hall.  I was pleased to be able to go along as a witness to the occasion. It was an enjoyable ceremony at which a wide range of people from what seemed like all the continents in the world, swore an oath to be a faithful citizen, obeying the laws of the country.  The date was especially important for us as it was the last date Emily could have taken part in a ceremony if she wished to vote in the May 2010 election.  Fortunately all went to plan and Emily was able to register to vote the same day. Emily duly voted in the local and national elections.  At a celebration after the event my mum gave Emily a cake with the Union Jack on it, what we are calling a citizenship cake.

Emily has been living in the UK since June 2005 and we have been married since December 2006.  Obtaining citizenship has been a long and somewhat expensive process, but it was worth it.  Emily now has a British passport, making it much easier to travel around the EU.  It has been an education for us both about the lengths people are required to go to become British Citizens.