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My sister lives and works and Scotland on visa (we're American). She (and others in her position) are worried that this passing may well end up with her visa n

My sister lives and works and Scotland on visa (we're American). She (and others in her position) are worried that this passing may well end up with her visa not getting renewed or cancelled as they are UK viasas rather than Scottish ones. Could be interesting times for ex-pats living in Scotland!

christop 12y ago
If it passes, Scotland won't actually become independent until 2016, so there's no worry there. But in any case, there would be no reason for Scotland to make the existing UK and European standards stricter, especially for people who were already legally in the country before independence.
scottmcf 12y ago
The plan is for Scotland to honour all current visas. Any reapplications/extensions/etc would then just go through the Scottish system thereafter rather than the UK system. The intention is also to make immigration to Scotland easier and more forgiving, and expand the number of visas granted, not tighten up the rules. http://scotreferendum.com/questions/i-am-living-in-scotland-on-a-uk-visa-what-would-happen-to-me-at-day-one-of-independence-would-i-need-to-get-a-scottish-visa-straight-away/ http://scotreferendum.com/questions/i-am-living-in-scotland-... http://scotreferendum.com/questions/what-will-an-independent-scotlands-policy-be-on-immigration-how-will-it-be-different-from-the-rest-of-the-uk/ http://scotreferendum.com/questions/what-will-an-independent...
k-mcgrady 12y ago
AFAIK an independent Scotland would be more open on immigration, plus independence will take several years to sort out, so I wouldn't worry.
Finbarr 12y ago
As a Scot living in the US, I'm curious to know what's going to happen the other way around. I'm concerned about what will happen to my British citizenship in the event of independence. It seems like Scotland would introduce its own citizenship and passport with independence, but it is unclear what would happen to existing British passport holders of Scottish descent. If the answer is dual citizenship, I wonder how this will affect the availability of public services over time. For example, as a holder of both passports, would I be free to pick and choose which country I draw a pension from, get healthcare from, and pay tax to? For me, there are too many unanswered questions. Currency is the tip of the iceberg.
- sparkzilla 12y ago
  You are not the only one with this concern. Despite being out of the country for a long time I would prefer to keep my British passport. I'm also annoyed that I don't get a vote on whether my nationality will change.
  - peteretep 12y ago
    Why would your nationality change? You would simply gain an option on another nationality.
    - sparkzilla 12y ago
      I am British and have a British passport. If there is a Yes votes I will have to change to a Scottish passport, which I believe will have less value, or an English passport, which is not my identity. Neither of those is a good choice. Ex-pat Scots, whose nationality will be affected by the result, were specifically denied the vote, while English people and other nationalities, including Germans and other Europeans living in Scotland, have been allowed to vote. Complete insanity.
      - dragonwriter 12y ago
        > I am British and have a British passport. If there is a Yes votes I will have to change to a Scottish passport, which I believe will have less value, or an English passport, which is not my identity. Er, no one has proposed that England become independent of the UK -- if Scotland leaves, you could have a Scottish passport or end up with a British passport. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -- comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland -- without Scotland will still be the United Kingdom of (most of) Great Britain and Northern Ireland -- comprised of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
        sparkzilla 12y ago
        I don't think you get my point.

christop 12y ago

If it passes, Scotland won't actually become independent until 2016, so there's no worry there. But in any case, there would be no reason for Scotland to make the existing UK and European standards stricter, especially for people who were already legally in the country before independence.

scottmcf 12y ago

The plan is for Scotland to honour all current visas. Any reapplications/extensions/etc would then just go through the Scottish system thereafter rather than the UK system. The intention is also to make immigration to Scotland easier and more forgiving, and expand the number of visas granted, not tighten up the rules. http://scotreferendum.com/questions/i-am-living-in-scotland-on-a-uk-visa-what-would-happen-to-me-at-day-one-of-independence-would-i-need-to-get-a-scottish-visa-straight-away/ http://scotreferendum.com/questions/i-am-living-in-scotland-... http://scotreferendum.com/questions/what-will-an-independent-scotlands-policy-be-on-immigration-how-will-it-be-different-from-the-rest-of-the-uk/ http://scotreferendum.com/questions/what-will-an-independent...

k-mcgrady 12y ago

AFAIK an independent Scotland would be more open on immigration, plus independence will take several years to sort out, so I wouldn't worry.

Finbarr 12y ago

As a Scot living in the US, I'm curious to know what's going to happen the other way around. I'm concerned about what will happen to my British citizenship in the event of independence. It seems like Scotland would introduce its own citizenship and passport with independence, but it is unclear what would happen to existing British passport holders of Scottish descent. If the answer is dual citizenship, I wonder how this will affect the availability of public services over time. For example, as a holder of both passports, would I be free to pick and choose which country I draw a pension from, get healthcare from, and pay tax to? For me, there are too many unanswered questions. Currency is the tip of the iceberg.

sparkzilla 12y ago
You are not the only one with this concern. Despite being out of the country for a long time I would prefer to keep my British passport. I'm also annoyed that I don't get a vote on whether my nationality will change.
- peteretep 12y ago
  Why would your nationality change? You would simply gain an option on another nationality.
  - sparkzilla 12y ago
    I am British and have a British passport. If there is a Yes votes I will have to change to a Scottish passport, which I believe will have less value, or an English passport, which is not my identity. Neither of those is a good choice. Ex-pat Scots, whose nationality will be affected by the result, were specifically denied the vote, while English people and other nationalities, including Germans and other Europeans living in Scotland, have been allowed to vote. Complete insanity.
    - dragonwriter 12y ago
      > I am British and have a British passport. If there is a Yes votes I will have to change to a Scottish passport, which I believe will have less value, or an English passport, which is not my identity. Er, no one has proposed that England become independent of the UK -- if Scotland leaves, you could have a Scottish passport or end up with a British passport. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -- comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland -- without Scotland will still be the United Kingdom of (most of) Great Britain and Northern Ireland -- comprised of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
      - sparkzilla 12y ago
        I don't think you get my point.